2003-2004 Regional Awards

Scholarship Recipients at the December  2003 WV Regional JSHS:  

1st Place:  Kellen Calinger, Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy

2nd Place:  Kelydra Welcker, Blennerhassett Junior High School

3rd Place:  Jennifer Worley, Keyser High School

Pictured here (left to right) are Kellen Calinger, Jennifer Worley, and Kelydra Welcker.  These three scholarship recipients, as well as Sarah Gutman (Mt. de Chantal Visitation Academy) and Kristen Polacik (Magnolia High School), are eligible to attend the National JSHS, where Kellen and Kelydra will compete for additional scholarships.

Participants  included (left to right) Kellen Calinger, Sara Gutman, Jennifer Worley, Kristen Polacik, Dulcia Morlan, Emily Brooks, Kelydra Welcker, Stephanie Bridgeman and Hannah Brooks.

Abstracts from Scholarship Recipients

Kellen Calinger, Mt. de Chantal Visitation Academy

Sponsoring Teacher:  Manetta Calinger

 Carbon Exchange Dynamics III: Carbon Dioxide Dependency of Carbon and Nitrogen Storage on Nitrogen Availability in a Temperate Deciduous Forest

This research includes a quantification of components of the nitrogen cycle and their responses to CO2.  The effects of soil nitrogen availability on C products were investigated.  The effects of enhanced atmospheric [CO2] and soil N availability on leaf N content was studied.  An instrument was designed that extracted soil gases from the root and below root-zones of sugar maples grown in varying CO2 and soil N environments to study the effects of elevated [CO2] and soil N levels on [PCO2] of the  rooting-zones.  The SLA was determined in relation to atmospheric [CO2] and soil N availability.

     The trees grown in increased soil N environments experienced elevated leaf [N] on early samplings.  The leaf [N] spiked in later fall testings stimulating decreasing photosynthetic rates.  The ambient environment experienced stable leaf nitrogen.  Increased soil [N] caused an increase in [carbonate] of rooting zones of the enriched soil nitrogen environment and the elevated CO2 and N environment.  The increased CO2 environment experienced elevated soil [carbonate] in both rooting-zones; the [PCO2] followed similar trends.  The increased CO2 and nitrogen environment displayed the highest SLA followed by increased CO2, increased N and the ambient environment.

Kelydra Welcker, Blennerhassett Junior High School

            Sponsoring Teacher: Carol Peck

 Utilizing Macroinvertebrates for Testing and Assessment of Endocrine Disruption in the Ohio River

     Xenoestrogenic chemicals are being discovered in America’s rivers and streams at biologically active levels. This project utilized macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of xenoestrogenic chemicals in the Ohio River, using the principles of scaling to determine invertebrate variation.

      Pleurocera canniculatum, Elimia virginica, and Corbicula fluminea were collected from every public access site in a 165-mile stretch of the Ohio River and a basic growth constant calculated. (GC = L3/Wt.) Water was taken from sites exhibiting abnormal constants and used to culture Culicinae mosquito larvae. Mosquito wingbeat frequency variations were compared to those from mosquitoes hatched from known concentrations of TRI listed chemicals from upstream industries. (Mosquito wingbeat frequency is gender-determined and species- specific, and variations indicate disruption of normal endocrine system functioning.) 

Jennifer Worley, Keyser High School

Sponsor:  Charles H. Worley II

 Integrated Auxiliary Design:  A Systems Combination to Eliminate Sole-Means Risks...

     The purpose of my project is to integrate a propulsion back-up system into the primary  system of a rover.  It should be dissimilar to avoid common failure, while consuming the same amount of resources and be able to assist the primary system.

      A vehicle was built using the back-up system as the only means of propulsion.  Four legs were attached to a rail system on the rover's deck, allowing the legs to be pulled forward or backwards simultaneously. A large piston, capable of lifting the rover and left-right rotation, was centered on the vehicle.  Movement was achieved using Shape Memory Alloy Electronic Pistons, and understanding the principals of linear action, bias force, basic lever, and ratcheted rotor.

     Electric motors, were attached to brass tubes, and slipped on each leg, then wheels were mounted on the motors.   This configuration allows independent steering and four, front or rear wheel drive.

     Needing only one wheel on each side functioning, the rover could navigate with 78% of the primary system down prior to calling on the back-up system.

Questions or Comments:   wvjshs@wvwc.edu