03/30/07 WSPC helps reward inquiring young minds

Farm and Ranch March 30, 2007 "As much as anything else, farming is science," says Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission. He says "That's why the Commission believes in encouraging scientific curiosity and exploration by today's youth." Voigt is describing the reason the Commission supported the recent Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair with cash awards to the exhibits judged best in each grade. The Commission had been approached by a scientist from USDA's Agricultural Research Station in Prosser, Washington requesting its participation. And it was those research scientists that did the judging of exhibits of students in the sixth through 12th grade from throughout eastern Washington. Their projects were on display earlier this month at the Columbia Center Mall in Kenniwick. The winner of the senior division, Shruthi Baskaran wrote to the Potato Commission stating, "I had a lot of fun working on this project, 'Modeling of Ionotophoresis,' and I learnt a lot. Your award had motivated me to continue to develop my interest in science and engineering." By the way, ionotophoresis has to do with a technique for electrical stimulation and movement of chemicals through the skin. Here's a winning topic you might be more familiar with; Desert Hills Middle School student Akshai Baskaran won the Outstanding 8th Grade Bioscience Project award for the project "Can Vegetation Sequester CO2 Effectively?" Just a couple of the potential scientists of tomorrow the Potato Commission helped to recognize. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.