The 64th annual California State Science Fair draws nearly 1,000 brainy kids from all over the state. In addition to some of the smartest kids you'll ever meet, there were motors whirring, gears spinning and test tubes bubbling. And Ethan Pines was there to capture it all.
Four hundred and twenty five schools sent their sharpest minds, who filled the California Science Center in Los Angeles one weekend last month. More than 800 projects, some of which we actually understand, were artfully displayed on tables by students was anxious to show off their inventions. "There was definitely an ultra nerdy quality but at the same time everyone was so earnest, which I really admired," Pines says. "There is no agenda and no cynicism, just kids who had a real love of science."
These are no ordinary school projects---there's not a paper mache volcano to be seen. Students, who advanced to the state fair from county or regional fairs, were scrutinized by professional scientists and engineers who volunteer as judges. The topics are inventive and often socially-conscious. There's a study on the effect of nail polish on nail growth, using brainwaves to control electronic devices, and even a set of "sensory glasses" for the blind.
Walking the floor, Pines picked projects and kids who really stood out–students swimming in their oversized suits or hopping around because they were so nervous. Jerret Tingler, an 8th grader with a project that involves temperatures and tennis balls, gives a wide-eyed stare. Kevin Wu, an 11th grader talking about protein shape comparison, couldn’t stop waving his arms frantically as they chatted. The portraits are fun, quirky and unrehearsed. Pines liked how the students let their love of science spill out. "I think there's something charming and entertaining about the portraits, and it's a glimpse into a subculture of deep nerddom," he says.
Recognition and bragging rights were on the line, along with a fairly substantial wad of cash---some $50,000 in all. Tenth graders Shashank Dholakia and Shishir Dholakia pocketed five grand for "A Search for Exoplanets in Open Star Clusters Using a Novel Photometric Algorithm for the 'Crippled' Kepler Mission." Seventh grader Raghav Ganesh collected $2,500 for "A Wireless, Wearable, and Customizable Electronic Solution to Predict and Prevent Autistic Meltdowns."
Pines says he was highly impressed with the fair and is thinking about coming back next year. He likes the underdog enthusiasm and the tenacity of people at any age doing what they love. "These kids definitely had a little bit of an outsider quality, they weren’t the prom kings and queens, but they were all doing important work," he says.
