By IGDVS Staff

The 38th Annual Mendocino County Science and Engineering Fair and STEAM Expo took place on March 16, 2024, at Mendocino College. The event showcased a diverse range of projects spanning various science disciplines. Among the attendees were over 35 young scientists from IGDVS in grades 3-10, who presented 17 innovative science projects, including one project advancing to state competition. Their commitment to scientific inquiry, innovation and exploration is commendable. Congratulations to all the participants, as well as the teachers, families and volunteers who supported them throughout the process! 

Elementary Division: Grades 3-5

Class Projects

• Rock, Paper, Strategy: Alexander Hansard, Leon Ma, Caiden Maxwell, Junior Serrano; 1st place
• Stretchy Taffy: Raiza Blanc, Bella Foo, Day Loucks, Nina Ran, and Aralia Vogt; 2nd place

Display Project

• Addiction Treatment Timeline: Song-wen Young, 2nd place

Junior Division: Grades 6-8

Life Science

• Beehave Or You Will Get The Beehive: Anna Dunnicliff, Sophia Heimberg, and Wren Samana; Merit

Physical Science

• Which Band-aid is the Stickiest? Angela Eng and Skylar Law; 3rd place
• Flying Capsules: Steven Liu and Darius Tan; Excellence
• Spherification: In Popping Boba: Sherry Wu and Celeste Zhou; Excellence 
• Volcano Eruption: Ziqing Wang and Zitong Yu; Merit

Earth and Space Science 

• Greenhouse Effect: Brad Wang and Eric Yu; Excellence
• Ukiah’s Creek Water Takes a Test: Cameron Foo and Yasoda Govinda; Excellence

Product Science

• Plastic to Paper: Ocean Stanton; 2nd place

Engineering

• Egg Drop Experiment: Cecilia Akin-Paz and Aarya Desai; Excellence
• Homemade Wind Turbine: Zhi Xuan Ooh, Yu Sum Seng, Sohyun Park; Excellence
• Solar Power Portable Fan: Shen Ee Ng, Ngoc Nguyen, Cecilia Wong; Merit
• Magnet Powered Maglev Train: Leo Chong and Alan Tran; Merit

Display Project

• Is On-Line Gaming a Behavioral Addiction Like Gambling?: Alan Young and Edward Yan; Excellence

Senior Division: Grades 9-12

Life Science

• Alpha Anterior Posterior Index as a Novel Quantitative EEG Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease: Leo Wang; 1st Place and State Qualifier 

Special Awards:

The South Ukiah Rotary Achievement in Scientific Methodology Award

The South Ukiah Rotary Award recognizes exemplary efforts by the participant in data collection & methodology for each division. Winners of each division will receive a $100.

Winner: Leo Wang

The Baechtel Creek Outstanding Young Scientist Award

This award was established many years ago to recognize the efforts of our junior scientists in Mendocino County. At Baechtel Creek Clinic, we believe that the process of asking a question, developing a hypothesis, and then a process in which to test our hypothesis serves to develop skills in critical thinking. Our youth need these skills to understand our world and be successful as individuals and world citizens. Winners will receive $100.

Winners: Song-wen Young (Elementary Division) and Leo Wang (Senior Division)

Paul Joens-Poulton Avant-Garde Award

This award was established by MCOE to honor the work that Paul Joens-Poulton contributed to the lives of the students within the county in the world of science and education. This award recognizes a project that would be characterized as advanced in their group and is considered unorthodox and experimental.

Winners: Alexander Hansard, Caiden Maxwell, Junior Serrano, and Leon  Ma

Insights and Innovations in Renewable Energy Award sponsored by Sonoma Clean Power

Winners: Leo Chong and Alan Tran

Special thanks to Ms. Rose Young, IGDVS science fair coordinator, Ms. Yini Wang, and science teachers, judges: Mr. Martin Vogt, Ms. Yidan Wang, and Dr. Michael Young.