HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Vying for a chance to attend NASA Space Camp, students of all ages competed in the 46th Guam Annual Island Wide Science Fair on Saturday.
The halls of the University of Guam Science Building were a bustling center of scientific exploration. For student competitors from public and private schools, this was the day they had waited for.
“I did have so much fun. I won in the second division, physical science,” Kurian Thomas, a third grade student from Harvest Christian Academy, told The Guam Daily Post after a long day of competing.
Entries fell into one of the following seven categories: ecology and earth science; physical science and math; biology and medical; chemistry; energy, invention, sustainability; computer; and aerospace, robotics and engineering. Kurian Thomas chose to do a science experiment centered around flight.
“My science project is about glide ratio or gliders. The purpose of the project was to try to expand the glide ratio, basically trying to increase the distance,” he said. “I was really inspired by a tiny, little glider that worked so good.”
In the competition, Kurian Thomas had to showcase his project and explain the process of conducting the experiment and the findings to judges and science fair attendees. By the day’s end, Kurian Thomas spoke with ease and confidence.
He told the Post he came up with the idea for the project at home, playing with his favorite glider and with a little help from his mom.
Kurian Thomas’ mom, Anna Thomas, beamed with pride over her son’s interest in science.
“As long as he participates, I think that’s the great experience and I will encourage him to do more. I am not thinking about winning as being a part of it, as long as he participates, we are happy with it,” the mom said.
She helped her son to study “The Effects of Wing Modification on Flight Distance of Glider Using Aerodynamics,” the title of his science experiment, the project sounds more complex than it really is, Anna Thomas said.
“Actually, it is not (complex). His favorite toy is the glider, and he was just looking for it (online) and accidentally found glider physics, and we started from there. He used YouTube and all that stuff, so it was much easier this time because he himself was able to scroll around on the website and YouTube,” she said.
Anna Thomas was happy that her son won first place in his category, but said she believed the experience was the real win, telling the Post that this was her son’s second island wide science fair competition.
“It will help them to think better, with more clarity. It will help them in problem-solving too. So their level of thinking will be improved, I think,” she said.
The science fair was held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the University of Guam Science Building in Mangilao.
The grand prize of the event is a trip to a NASA-sponsored Space Camp. The competition included entries from all grades, elementary and secondary levels.
