Science Fair electrifies Sisters

The second annual Sisters Science Fair was an electrifying experience - in every sense of the word.

The atmosphere was crackling with energy - literally with a display on conductivity, and figuratively, as students of every age reveled in discovery, competition and the pure joy of learning and displaying knowledge.

Sparks flew as Tasman Rheuben demonstrated the principles of conductivity at a table sponsored by Bend Research.

Rubber bands on pulleys generated a charge that a human body could conduct by touching a globe and then the person next to them - with shocking results. Hair stood on end and kids gave yelps as they felt the shock of static electricity. Then they stepped back up for more.

"I'm trying to guide electricity to someone's head," Rheuben explained, delivering a fine shock to the intrepid correspondent.

Meanwhile, students learned about the power of pulleys (the more the better) as they hoisted themselves up on a pulley system under the guidance of engineer David Hiller. Janet Zuelke demonstrated the principle of leverage with a nutcracker before showing the littlest scientists how to lift their dad off the floor with a long lever, a fulcrum and the pressure of a couple of fingertips.

Cal Allen, co-founder of the Sisters Science Club, which organized the event at Sisters High School, was well satisfied. He was particularly gratified to see the way adults were engaging students to ask questions about their displays and projects.

"I think things are going great," he said. "I'm pleased."

So was Allen's co-conspirator Bob Collins.

"It's got a nice flow to it," he said of the packed commons area. "It's great to see the kids interact - their hair standing on end and dropping eggs."

Collins cut the interview short to get back to work demonstrating the vibrations and sound waves that make music. He and Jon Renner then began bugling through PVC pipe, stopping when they realized they might draw a curious (or annoyed) bull elk.

One of the high school gyms was converted to an aeronautics testing zone for paper airplane designs.

Kaleb Ermatinger's designs consistently flew the greatest distance, and he also achieved exceptional time in the air.

His designs relied on "perfect folds and a good counterweight between the front and the back," he explained.

The other gym was the site of a competition that required teams to catapult tennis balls into a net, requiring both distance and accuracy as students calculated trajectory.

The team named The Noodles, composed of sixth-graders David Novotny and Asher Bachtold, took first place.

At the front of the commons was a display of solar home designs created by Mr. Geisen's eighth-grade science class. The students toured solar homes last week to see the principles they were learning from constructing their models in action (see related story, page 3).

The designs showed considerable work. Artem Biggers proudly demonstrated a rotating house that could move with the season to capture sunlight in winter and deflect it in summer.

The event ran from noon to 4 p.m., facilitated by a small army of volunteers.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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