SEQUIM — A Sequim High School sophomore will likely get an A on her “what I did last summer” essay — at least in her science class.
Maeve Harris earned a silver medal in the “resources and energy” category at the GENIUS Olympiad International High School Project Fair on the Environment, held the week of June 24 at the State University of New York in Oswego, N.Y.
Harris’ project presentation, “Improving Energy Output of a Wind Turbine by Varying the Aerodynamics of the Airfoil Design,”
In addition to the silver medal, Harris also was awarded a scholarship and an Android Tablet.
“GENIUS Olympiad was an amazing opportunity because I learned many new interesting things about environmental problems and solutions from around the world,” Harris said.
“It was an eye-opening experience. I met new friends from around the world; we even played an international soccer game together,” she said
Harris was judged on six criteria — poster content, literature review, skills and data management, scientific method, solution and innovation and oral presentation.
Harris developed her research project through her work with the Sequim Science Fair Club and currently is working on the engineering research plan for her fourth project.
“Thanks to the support from the mentors in the Science Fair Club, I intend to continue science research throughout my high school career,” Harris said.
According to the GENIUS website, the Olympiad “provides challenges and opportunities for high school students to recognize environmental problems and propose solutions for those problems.”
This year, the competition included 1,066 applicants who competed for 248 science, art, creative writing and architectural finalist awards.
Harris represented Washington state, having qualified for the fair through the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair, where she received an honorable mention in the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium book scholarships competition.
From the U.S., 32 students presented their projects at the international science fair, along with young representatives from 46 countries from around the world.
In addition to the competition events, Harris also participated in an International Cultural Fair and a trip to Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Harris said she hopes to keep in touch with many of the people she met and to compare their college and career plans with each other.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
