Dozens of intermediate and high school students from across Hawaii island presented their science projects during the 32nd annual Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, Feb. 17. Held at University of Hawaii at Hilo, the event featured more than 100 projects exploring various challenges—everything from generating electric currents using mud to outdoor solar ovens.
A group of local scientists, engineers and educators volunteered as judges and spent the day reviewing projects and interviewing students, 30 of which will advance to the State Science and Engineering Fair on Oʻahu in March.
PISCES Geology Tech Kyla Edison was among the judges and presented the PISCES Science Award to 7th grader Paul Varricatt of Hilo Intermediate School. Paul created a project on “Wireless Power Transfer” which used copper coils wound around iron cores to test the transmission of an electric current at a distance without traveling through wire.