Discover Ohio County Science Fair Projects That Explore Life’s Biggest Questions!

Photo by: Joselyn King

Hunter Waldron, left, and Levi Johnston, both seventh-graders at Bridge Street Middle School, discuss their project on fishing bait at the Ohio County Science Fair.

WHEELING — Students in Ohio County were busy with science projects that answered intriguing questions. What bait attracts bluegills best? Which detergent pod cleans the best? And does the five-second rule really work when food hits the floor?

Here are the quick answers: Food gets contaminated in just two seconds. Bluegills prefer hot dogs over worms, and Great Value detergent pods beat Tide in cleaning tests. These findings came from dedicated young researchers.

The Ohio County Science Fair was held Monday at West Liberty University, featuring over 150 students. The enthusiastic turnout meant additional tables were set up to showcase all the projects.

Holly Vopal, a biology professor at WLU, directed the event. She expressed her admiration for the students’ hard work. “This was one of the best groups we’ve had. They really excelled despite the weather challenges,” she noted.

Photo by: Joselyn King

Jacklyn Shaw, left, and McKenzie Freeman with their project on bearded dragons, which won first place in the junior animal science division.

In the junior division for animal science, McKenzie Freeman and Jacklyn Shaw took first prize with a project about Freeman’s bearded dragon. They tested different foods—like chicken, crickets, and dried mealworms—and found that the dried mealworms were best for digestion.

The students conducted their experiments over a couple of months. “I learned everything because he is not my pet,” Shaw admitted.

Meanwhile, fellow classmates Hunter Waldron and Levi Johnston found that hot dogs were the most effective bait for catching bluegills. Their project was inspired by their love for fishing, and they tested various baits, including corn and bread.

Another interesting project delved into people’s reactions to photos made by artificial intelligence versus real images. The students discovered that people could only identify AI images correctly half the time, the same as guessing.

Here are some of the winners from the science fair, who will compete at the regional fair on February 15 at The Highlands Event Center:

• Animal Science (elementary): 1) Andie Cook, 2) Brenna Richards, 3) Ireland Edge and Aaliyah McCormick.
• Animal Science (junior): 1) McKenzie Freeman and Jacklyn Shaw, 2) Wiley Kerns, 3) Andy Ginting.
• Behavioral and Social Science (elementary): 1) Madison McCutcheon, 2) Cole Brown, 3) Ethan Sparks.
• Chemistry (elementary): 1) Eleni Karnoupakis and Willa Collins, 2) Julianna Farrow, 3) Jacoby Doyle and Mico Muscar.
• Chemistry (junior): Ma’ Lia Shia.
• Earth and Environmental Science (elementary): 1) Emma Trabert, 2) Oliver Dann, 3) Josephine Duhe.
• Energy (elementary): 1) Miles Frye, 2) Reed Glatzer, 3) Nikolas Ritner.
• Engineering (junior): 1) Abigail Lewis and Ellie West, 2) Ezra Terrett and Eric Layman.
• Medical Sciences (junior): 1) Mallory Connelly, Avery Frye and Emma Goldbaugh; 2) Kennedy Cook, Caydynce Stachura and Abegayle Weitzel; 3) Keigan Kovalski and Katie Lewis.

The creativity and scientific curiosity displayed by these young minds show promise for the future. Science fairs like this encourage exploration and critical thinking among students.