
DATE: Friday, March 14, 1997                TAG: 9703140608

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NIA NGINA MEEKS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   78 lines

KEMPSVILLE STUDENTS TUNE UP FOR SCIENCE FAIR COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT OCEAN LAKES HIGH

Among the formulas Andrea Wong and Wendy Williams study, forging friendships is not one.

That was a lesson these seniors, and a handful of other science-minded Kempsville High School classmates, have learned osmosislike. In the past few weeks they have seen more of each other than they have of their beds.

First it was the academic challenge. Then it was the U.S. Department of Education's regional science tourney. Now, it's the annual Tidewater Science Fair, scheduled Saturday at Ocean Lakes High School.

``It's OK because we're all doing our thing,'' said Williams, who is 17. ``We don't feel threatened by each other.''

``But we hang out way too much,'' said Wong, who is also 17.

On Tuesday, they hung out some more, joining the other top 10 science fair finalists from Kempsville after school in a lab, preparing for the competition.

Physics, facts, formulas and far more will flourish at Ocean Lakes. Forget those entries of yesteryear: exploding volcanoes, studies of the earthworm, or even the lima bean. These students of the 21st century will prove themselves with studies of ``pressure propelled projectiles,'' ``yield of plant growth in lycopersicon esculenium seedlings,'' ``antipoliferative effects of the gonadotropin-releasing hormones'' and other tongue twisters. And that's just a sampling from the Kempsville entries.

``It'll be interesting to see what other people have done,'' said Esther Huang, one of the few juniors representing the school this year.

With about 400 representatives from James City County to Norfolk and points in between, competition should be intense. Entries will include 15 categories of the biological and physical sciences. Awards rank from cash to scholarships to a chance to share microscopes with research scientists. Besides that, winners of this fair go on to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Wong, Williams, Steven Lin, Paul Hamilton and Scott Holcomb already are headed to the National Science Bowl after their performance last weekend at the regional competition. They earned the right by besting Alexandria's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, in-state rivals and the usual representatives from the Virginia-Maryland-D.C. area in the national tournament.

Kempsville coach and physics teacher Karen Shinn foresees like victories at the Tidewater Science Fair. Most of the school's entrants this year hail from her class, past or present. ``I'm excited about the kids,'' Shinn said. ``I think we have an excellent chance of winning a lot of things.''

She gave each student five minutes to explain his or her project, as will the judges Saturday. The students did so amid models dangling overhead and the intercom blaring for someone's presence in the guidance office.

Armed with a stopwatch, Shinn scribbled notes evaluating each performance: ``Dress nice for Saturday. . . . I want the `we's' taken out of your presentation. . . . Don't forget to explain the importance of this research. .

Paul Hamilton protested after reading his evaluation.

``I told you I wouldn't have it. . . ,'' he began.

``I still have to fuss,'' Shinn answered.

Later she shook her head. ``I'm extremely nervous,'' Shinn said. ILLUSTRATION: [Photo]

D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot

Andrea Wong practices her science fair presentation. The topic:

``The Effects of the Special Composition of Light on the

Photochemical Production of Hydrogen Peroxide in Natural Waters.''

IF YOU GO

What: The 46th Annual Tidewater Science Fair.

Why: Middle and high school students from across the region get

to display their innovations and studies; only high school students