Blood stain patterns. Paint ball accuracy and temperature. Snail behavior and water acidity. These were just a few of the topics picked by students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School for the ninth annual science fair, held at the high school cafeteria and library last Saturday. Over 200 students participated in this year’s competition with over 40 judges to decide the winners. Projects fell into one of two categories: investigative and engineering, and were divided in the areas of biology, chemistry, environmental science and physics. There was a special competition this year on wind turbines.

science fair
Shaelah Huntington explored pollution and plants. — M.C. Wallo

Third overall prize was given to Shaelah Huntington for a project titled Plant Growth and Oil Pollution. Second place went to Caitlyn Francis for How Much Mercury Is Really in a Can of Starkist Chunk White and Chunk Light Tuna?. The grand prize went to Naomi Scott for her project Fruit Fly Don’t Bother Me — Study of Non-Organic and Organic Fruits’ Effect on Drosophila Melanogaster.

science fair
Emily Mercier looked into biodiesel’s potential. — M.C. Wallo

— M.C. Wallo