Super B Science Kosy Style: Kosciusko Science makes an entrance . . .


Joseph Davide, a sophomore, and Cailyn Pope, senior.

These two brave students submitted their papers to the Mississippi Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, and they were accepted for presentation. I was incredibly proud as I heard them present their original research at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Mississippi on March 4.

Joseph's research was entitled, Blue Energy. He made a solar cell using blueberries and titanium (IV) oxide from sunscreen. Cailyn's research was entitled, Miracle Berry Taste Test. She tested how long the miracle berry effected sour taste buds. After eating the miracle berry tablet lemons taste sweet.

This was our first foray into this competition from Kosciusko. I have taken many of my students to this excellent symposium over the course of my career. Last Friday was unquestionably one of my proudest moments as a teacher.

As we left on the bus, I told the fifteen students who went to observe that I expected them to be on the bus next years with their presentations in hand.

When we got to St. Andrews, we were awed by the fresh, modern look of the campus. It is all state of the art. In the lobby of the science building there was a foucalt pendulum and a water wall with an etching of Leonard de Vinci's Vitruvian Man.

The lecture hall was a very impressive, and we were greeted with great hospitality.

We got to hear four scientists on a panel discuss both their career trajectory - how they got to where they are now- and their research interests. We heard from Glake Hill, a chemist at Jackson State University, who does DNA research. George Moncreif, a supercomputer expert with the Corp of Engineers. Bill Grogan, a civil engineer specialist on road and runway pavements also at the Corp. And Ryan Gaitin, a PhD candidate with a passion for music and neuroscience.

As the awards began, Buck Cooper the director of the event said, "the judges voted on the teacher award of $500 to honor a teacher who has done particularly noteworthy work or made a uniquely strong contribution in terms of mentoring students in the conduct of original scientific research. The award goes to John Banks." There have been few times in my life when I have been so completely shocked and surprised!

Then he started announcing the five winners of the paper competition - all of whom will receive an all-expense paid trip to the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Dayton, Ohio, from April 27-30.

When we got there we found out the other presenters had university mentors for their projects and the students worked in their mentor's labs to do their research. Given this situation, I thought we had no chance for any awards. When they announced the fifth place winner and it was not one of my students, I thought we all would just have a good experience and go home. To my surprise and delight, Joseph Davide, was announced as the fourth place winner,

and he was the only sophomore among the other four seniors.

Great things are in store for us in the future. Kosciusko made a grand entrance into our first Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. And had great fun doing it.