DIETS for tiger worms, popcorn supremacy, manure as fertiliser and carpet cleaners were all put to the test in experiments by students for Awakeri School’s science and technology fair this year.

With 27 science experiments and seven technology projects on display, the school’s year 7 and 8s put together an impressive range of research topics, from dreams, to paper planes, to soap investigations.

Ice melting experiments took first and second place, with winner Maddyn Assink testing how surface area and shape affected the length it took for ice to melt, discovering the sphere was the longest lasting ice shape.

“I think the smaller the surface area, the longer it takes to melt,” he said.

Maddyn will be taking his experiment to the NIWA Bay of Plenty Science Fair in Rotorua in August.

Kalani Henmen and Gurpal Singh took out second place, testing salt ice against party ice and bottled freezer ice. They discovered salt ice was on its own was the quickest to melt, but if a bottle was filled with salt ice it became the slowest to melt.

Third equal was awarded to Tanner Willets’ carpet cleaning experiment alongside Astrid Smith’s soap experiment.

Tanner found bleach and water were the most effective at getting stains out of nylon carpet.

“My mum helped with the idea. I have two brothers so there’s always stains in the house,” he said.  

Astrid Smith tested a range of soaps to discover which would develop the least mould after being used for handwashing over 13 weeks – Palmolive Natural revealed itself to be the best option, and Dettol Foaming developed the most mould over the period.  

The technology portion was equally impressive, with first equal going to Aani Butterworth’s Squash Master – an invention for squeezing the last bits out of toothpaste and lip balm.

“One friend was using the deck to squeeze out the last of her lip balm, and I thought I could make that,” she said.

Using her 3D-printing skills and the family rolling pin, Aani fashioned a functioning squasher to impress the judges.

Eleanor James, the other first place technology recipient, took on the challenge of morphing Invisalign Orthodontic Trays into jewellery after her mum had been told the trays could not be recycled.

She wrapped the tray material around hot metal poles to morph it into shape, and then used primer and paint to decorate the materials before crafting the jewellery.

Kade Maynard took third place in the technology sector, creating a fishing rod holder for his family.

The 10-week projects were kicked off at the end of Term 1 with a visit from Fonterra’s engineering project manager, Will Rouse, and technology engagement manager Louise Paulsen. Both returned as judges for the science fair.

“We plant the seeds of thought and give tips on how to go through the scientific process,” Mr Rouse said.

Oji Fibre Solutions representative Alex Dean said she was impressed with this year’s projects.

“I think these kids have done really, really well, and it looks like they had fun with it, too,” she said.

Whakatāne Mayor and scientist Victor Luca joined the judges on behalf of Whakatāne District Council.

“I think it’s marvellous, we need to have more like it,” he said.

Eastbay REAP and EastPack also provided judges and prizes for the fair.