TG

aw, Mp

Feige

-someone’s parents’

“Trudy ond the Prize Winning
Lima Bean thet
took over the Kindergarten

class.”

General computer consulting and
systems set-up

When it comes to science fairs, .
my sympathies go to the judges.
School science fair judges must
have the worst job in the world. If
you want to be a judge, try to
judge an art show, an antique car
show or a flower show, anything
but a school district science fair.
There’s too much parental
suffering involved.

A science project begins with a
tiny seed of an idea, which soon
grows into a monster of a project,
invading innocent lives. The life
cycle of a fruit fly seems neat and
organised on paper, but by the
time it arrives at the science fair,
house is
infested with rampant swarms of
fruit flies. The wonderful array of
colourful molds are breathtaking in
a Time-Life library book, but
thanks to the school science fair,
those sprouts of green and blue fur

have now infiltrated someone’s

mom’s fridge. Don’t think the
judges are unaware of this.

As judges walk gravely through
the multitude of displays, the
“creature study” projects leap out
at them, telling tales of the
horrendous research behind them.
The display of local spider species
betrays the nervous twitch of one

_ entrant’s mother. A life-cycle study

of maggots explains the grey

Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 24, 1991 ‘CT

coloured clothes. The judges
understand the sacrifices these
people have made.

Just imagine the position of these
judges. Imagine having to choose

between the nervous twitching

parents, the thin, nauseated parents
and the spotty-clothed parents. It
can’t be easy. Meanwhile, the
parents of the stink bomb project
are circling the displays with nasal
spray and surgical masks -- these
were once dignified adults. It’s
enough to break a judge’s heart.

The private conversations
between judges must be
interesting. "Did you see that
lifesize toothpick model of the CN
Tower? Quite impressive."

"No, but I noticed that pitiful
tired-looking man hovering nearby
with bits of spinach between his
teeth.”

"That electrode-brainwave
experiment was pretty intricate,
eh?" :

"Yes, but did you see the frizzy
hair and glazed eyes on those

_ parents?"

"No, I was busy examining that
huge green Jello gelatin dinosaur
exhibit. That poor woman was
nervously rearranging the ice
around it."

These judgements must be
delicate. Could a judge tmruly

_._ "My sympathies go to the judges..."

- by Stephanie Wiebe

maintain complete objectivity
towards a popsicie stick structure,
when an overweight family has
walked into the gym with orange,
green and pink stained mouths? I
think not. They might not admit it,
but pity has to effect their
judgment.

No matter how fair and objective
these judges try to be, no matter
how impartial, they are. human,
and many of them are parents ~
parents witli personal memories of
the disgusting “Algae and Slime"
project which took its toll on a
bathtub three years ago; parents
who cannot forget the "Revolting
Household Molds" display from
1983, or the "Microorganisms on
Cheese” exhibit. Yes, even judges
have their scars.

Remember this when you see the
science fair judges at this year’s
fair. As they soberly roam through
the displays and exhibits, fully
aware of the parental sacrifices.
made for this event, remember that
an impartial judgement is their
goal. If you’re  coristantly
rearranging the ice around the
green Jello dinosaur, it will only
make that judgement more
difficult.

They know, and they understand.
Particularly that one with the
whitish spois on his clothes.

complexion of the father who

Rainer Giannelia Systems, cpened the wrong shoebox mid

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food. Photosyn-

; creators . . project. The extensive moth thesis means “putting together with light". In green plants, sunlight
in their own right, collection belongs to the family captured by chlorophyll enables carbon dioxide from. the air to unite
offer wearing the acrylic sweaters. with water and minerals from the soil and create its own food. This
Other projects have also left their process also releases oxygen into the air. :
e scars. The parents of the brightl Most photosynthesis takes place in small bodies call chloroplasts
i we congratulations coloured lava-spewing volcano within the cells of plant leaves. These chloroplasts contain chlorophyll,
| on the efforts project are intently studying the which absorbs aaa fits wate moleculcs into. kydrow :
i a . tay from the sun splits water molecules into. hydrogen an
li of all the orojert _ rents of th Pa tain 0 oxygen. The hydrogen joins with carbon from the carbon dioxide to
' cre at ors ' . ‘ect ha produce sugar. The sugar helps a plant make the fat, protein, starch,
i d ‘vhitish grey spots. dotting thelg vitamins and other materials that it needs to survive.
I - organizers
q “Science Week
q a andthe  .
{  -26thannual |
~ Seience Fair! ..
; Automotive
i natural gas
I conversions
ki and service
i (natural gas is
iH environmentally | es
4 friendly!) . ee ie
| Do your parttokeep sj

RAINER GIANNELIA SYSTEMS
Box 621, Terrace PHONE 635-3444

our world friendly!

Farwest Fuels

4904 Hwy 16 W., Terrace
phone 635-6617 for an appo

Da

ve Storey
intment District Manager