School students win major international awards

After winning the 2008 BHP Billiton Awards in February, Storm Holwill from Marist Regional College in Burnie, Tasmania, last week won third prize in the Energy and Transportation division at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta. 

Storm’s project involved an examination of the potential of using micro algae in an enclosed marine environment to generate bio-diesel and sequester carbon dioxide from industry in the process.  She showed that we may be able to produce fuels from algae without the need to use valuable farm land or precious fresh water.

In competition with around 1500 students from over 50 countries, Storm’s project also demonstrated that the process would be enhanced if C0₂ from industry could be used in the process, thereby reducing the amount of C0₂ being pumped into the atmosphere.

The second place getter in the BHP Billiton Awards – Shaun Williams from Keebra Park State High on Queensland’s Gold Coast – won second prize in the senior high school division of the World Virtual Science and Engineering Fair (WVSEF) in Doha, Qatar.
 
The award was presented for Shaun’s investigation of the effects of C0₂-enriched atmospheres on the growth of Chlorella protothecoides – an algae species used to produce biodiesel.

He found increased concentrations of C0₂ would inhibit algal growth and a way to accelerate the growth of algae for biodiesel production.

Organised by the College of North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q), the Fair brought together young scientists from five continents. Of 103 science students from around the world who submitted science projects via the Internet, eight finalist teams travelled to Doha for the final judging and awards ceremony last week.

The BHP Billiton Science Awards are run by BHP Billiton, CSIRO and the Australian Science Teachers’ Association.

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