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Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Katie Rice

Katie Rice tells Patch about her recently recognized science project in the Delaware County Science Fair.

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week, we highlight Paxon Hollow Middle School student Katie Rice for her recent recognition in the Delaware County Science Fair.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Katie Rice

Whiz Kid's Name, Age: Katie Rice, 12

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Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Katie recently received honorable mention for her science project in the annual Delaware County Science Fair. Her project focused on the BP oil spill and how it affected flora and fauna. She was one of the youngest who received a recognition and competed mainly against repeat science fair participants in eighth grade.

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Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:  This was Katie's first time entering a science competition. Without much guidance from teachers, Katie was on her own conducting her first science experiment and writing her first scientific research paper.

A nature conservationist at heart, the idea to conduct research on the BP oil spill and how it affected the water-living plants came naturally. After seeing all the animals die from the oil spill, Katie wondered whether the plants had been affected and how.

"They're all part of the food chain so I know they were all connected and I wanted to know how they were affected," explained Katie. "Every little thing we do will matter–the plants are at the base of the ecosystem. If the plants die then the animals die, and if the animals die then the rest of the wildlife will be affected. We need to be careful on what we do to the environment."

The sixth-grader diligently set a schedule to conduct her experiment of measuring three plants–two filled with water, another filled with motor oil. The total experiment took a little over a month, in which Katie gathered data for over four weeks in three-day intervals.

The result? "Flabbergasting," said Katie. "The first week and a half, the plants shriveled up and died. It really shows you what the effects are. You really feel bad for all the plants and wildlife that were affected in the Gulf."

Although this 12-year-old spent some of her free time conducting scientific research, Katie said she enjoyed the process.

"I liked the experiment part the best," said Katie. "It was fun to put it all together and actually plan it. It was my own experiment."

Katie said she couldn't have achieved the honorable mention without the help of her parents. When she would forget to do an observation, her parents would remind her.

"It was good to have their support throughout the project because they support me with everything," Katie said.

Katie hopes to study zoology and become a zoologist someday, hopefully, at the Philadelphia Zoo, her second home.

Editor's note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.


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