Gold medals and cash for science students
Successful science researchers, Hamish Clark, Jasmine Wintour and Oliver Bailey.
Golden Bay High School scientists (photo from left) Hamish Clark, Jasmine Wintour and Oliver Bailey with the prestigious gold medals they won in this year’s regional science fair. Their awards place them at the top of a very large group of highly motivated students who conducted research into scientific topics that interested them this year.
Jasmine, a year 13 student, has been entering the science fair for four years. Each year’s research topic has built on her previous year’s work. This year’s research project aimed to find out about leadership qualities in young children.
“It’s a little bit different from the fields most people’s projects explore,” said Jasmine. “I’ve been interested in this kind of thing for a while now.”
Jasmine’s project won her a gold medal, and three other special awards, one of which was awarded by the New Zealand Federation of University Women. Awarded to the best female scientist intending to study science next year, the prize was a $350 contribution towards her tuition fees at Otago University next year. Jasmine is intending to study medicine.
Hamish and Oliver investigated the effects that talking on a mobile phone had on reaction times in young and old respondents.
“We found that talking on the phone definitely slows reaction times,” said Hamish.
“It’s a topical subject because the law is going to be changed to make it illegal to talk on the phone while you’re driving,” said Oliver. “Our research shows that the law change is a good idea.”
Neil Wilson
