KAPAA — Kashiah Vercelli’s dream is to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for astrophysics. “Space and magnetics are my passion,” she said. The eighth grader at Kapaa Middle School used that passion to create an alternate space launch system.
KAPAA — Kashiah Vercelli’s dream is to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for astrophysics.
“Space and magnetics are my passion,” she said.
The eighth grader at Kapaa Middle School used that passion to create an alternate space launch system. Instead of fuel, an object would be launched into space by magnetic forces.
It is a design Vercelli has been working on since the third grade.
Her project was one of 92 entered into the Kauai Regional Science and Engineering Fair held Friday night at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. The lobby was filled with hundreds of students, teachers, parents and of course, tri-boards.
Nine middle and elementary schools were represented at the fair. Projects ranged from traffic solutions and how plants respond to music to how hurricanes affect the climate and the inheritability of fingerprints.
Kapaa High School senior Ritikaa Kumar’s project on the use of honey to measure environmental contamination by glyphosate, which won the school’s science fair in January, came in third place Friday.
Kumar, along with four other high students and five middle students, will represent Kauai in Honolulu in March for the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair.
The students will also have the opportunity to compete at the international level.
Jacky Lin, a junior at Kauai High School, has been competing in science fairs since middle school. His project on algae as a source of renewable energy took second place Friday.
He says he has an “affinity” for sustainable energy, so a lot of his projects share that theme.
“As humans, it’s important for us to preserve the planet we live on, and I feel obligated to do my part,” he said.
In his research, Lin learned that algae can be used as a renewable energy source. Additionally, microalgae can be cultivated on non-arable land, an advantage over terrestrial plants that produce bioethanol.
While Lin isn’t sure what area he wants to pursue, he knows he will be working in the science field.
“Science is the pursuit of the truth, and nothing is more beautiful than the truth,” he said.
Lin and Vercelli agree passion and persistence are the keys to a successful science career.
“Find what you love, and just follow it,” Vercelli said. “People will tell you no, but that doesn’t mean you have to listen to them.”
Lin added: “Passion will change the world, so do what keeps you up at night.”
