The 50th Annual
Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
http://www.gsdsef.org

March 24-28, 2004
Balboa Park Activity Center

 

The Light Shines Through

by Kelly Cummings
OSSD Science Fair Coordinator

 

The Optical Society of San Diego (OSSD) was happy to take part in the 50th Annual Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair held in Balboa Park. We fielded four judges to look at and evaluate science projects related to Optics and Photonics. As in past years, there were many more entries in the Junior Division (Middle Schools) than in the Senior Division (High Schools).

I would like to thank the following OSSD judges for their efforts and contributions to another successful year of OSSD participation at the San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. I couldn't do it without them!

2004 OSSD Judges:

Kelly Cummings
OSSD Science Fair Coordinator

Ned Bragg
Ryan Aeronautical Center / Northrop Grumman Corporation

Justin Hodiak, Ph.D.
SPAWAR SSC

Susan M Lord, Ph.D.
Department of Engineering
University of San Diego

 

 

The OSSD continues to maintain a high standard for awarding prizes and recognition to students. This year, two projects stood out as being worthy of First Place Awards. Interestingly, they were by a bother and sister and each showed extremely well done projects. Both Jessica Rucker (Senior Division) and her brother Jake Rucker (Junior Division) will receive a $100.00 Prize from the Optical Society of San Diego. These two siblings went on to win awards at the California State Science Fair in Los Angeles. Congratulations to them both. The OSSD will also award HeNe Lasers from Melles Griot to their teachers.

Victoria Coordt is Jessica Rucker's teacher at Torry Pines High School and is the 2004 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair Science Teacher of the Year 2004: Senior Division .

Roxanne Hunker is Jake Rucker's teacher at The Rhoades School and was awarded the California Science Teacher of the Year 2004, Junior Division by the California State Science Fair. (See below)

We did not find any projects to which we would bestow our Second Place Awards. There were however a number of projects worth Honorable Mention, and the OSSD would like to congratulate these participants for their efforts. The list of projects follows below.

 

Senior Division
(High Schools; 9th - 12th Grades)

OSSD First Place Award

"Quantifying the Effect of Tungsten Illumination on Color Rendering of Low-Pressure Sodium Lights"
Project Abstract

 

(Photo: Julie Rucker)

Jessica Rucker
10th Grade
Torrey Pines High School

Senior Sweepstakes Winner
Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair

Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
Special Award: Taiwanese American Foundation - Trip to Taiwan

Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
Professional Society Awards:

General Atomics Fusion Program Mt. Laguna Observatory Association Optical Society of San Diego San Diego County Optometric Society Society of Women Engineers U.S. Air Force Villanova University

 

3rd Place Award in Physics and Astronomy
California State Science Fair 2004
in Los Angeles, CA

Certificate of Award: International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)

 

California State Science Fair 2004
Category Winners in Physics & Astronomy
Senior Division

From left to right are: Andre Maranhao (Honorable Mention), Jessica J. Rucker (Third Place),
Anthony T. Nguyen (Second Place), and Peiran Gao (First Place).
(Photo from CSSF Web Site)

Advisor: Victoria Coordt
2004 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
Science Teacher of the Year Award: Senior Division

 

The following was taken from the San Diego Union-Tribune,

Science fair winners investigate variety of topics

By Bruce Lieberman
STAFF WRITER
March 27, 2004

Astronomers have long complained that outdoor lights obscure the night sky, limiting research, but police and other public safety workers say they need them bright enough to illuminate colors. Jessica Rucker, a junior at Torrey Pines High School in Encinitas, thinks she may have one answer.

In a project for the 50th annual Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair, Rucker, 16, took low-pressure sodium lamps – the kind astronomers want cities to use – and augmented them with tungsten lamps to see which power combination might illuminate colors but keep lighting low as possible.

The result? Low-pressure sodium lights augmented by about 25 percent tungsten lights rendered colors nearly normal. "Anything with a broader spectrum, with more light colors represented, is a problem for astronomers," Jessica, a poised and articulate teenager, said yesterday.

Rucker's project, one of four top winners in the fair's senior division, highlighted the impressive talent displayed at the Balboa Park Activity Center. Nearly 730 students from San Diego and Imperial counties entered projects in this year's fair.

 

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Junior Division
(Middle Schools; 7th and 8th Grades)

OSSD First Place Award

"Polluting Palomar: Effect of Skyglow on Star Visibility" (Year II)
Project abstract

From left to right are: Karen A. Hauser (Honorable Mention), Skye Aaron (Third Place),
Jeremy M. Hahn (Second Place), and Jacob J. Rucker (First Place).
(Photo from CSSF Web Site)

Advisor: R. Hunker
California Science Teacher of the Year 2004, Junior Division
Awarded by the California State Science Fair.

 

 

OSSD Honorable Mention:

"Using Solution's Absorbing Spectra to Predict Their Heating by Light"

Jeremy Michael Hahn
8th Grade
Thurgood Marshall Middle School
Advisor: E. Gillum

 

"What is the Minimum Pixel Setting that ensures Clear Pictures"

Luke Lighthizer
7th Grade
John Pershing Middle School
Advisor: S. Walo

 

"The Effects of Dust on Photovoltaic Cell Energy Output"

Collin Price
7th Grade
The Rhoades School

Advisor: R. Hunker
California Science Teacher of the Year 2004, Junior Division
Awarded by the California State Science Fair.

 

 

Rhoades School Teacher Honored

San Diego Union-Tribune
June 2, 2004

ENCINITAS – Roxanne Hunker, the math and science chairwoman at The Rhoades School in Encinitas, has been named California Science Teacher of the Year 2004, Junior Division, by the California State Science Fair. Hunker was previously honored as the San Diego County Science Teacher of the Year in 2002.

Of the 80 junior division students countywide who advanced to the state fair this year, 16 were from The Rhoades School, a private campus serving 300 kindergarten-through-eighth-grade students. Eighth-graders Jake Rucker and Shannon Mueller of The Rhoades School placed first for their fair entries, and eighth-graders Ray Sarno and Rebecca Chan placed second.

Hunker received the top honor partly because of the high number of her students who make it to the state competition each year.

 

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Thank You Melles Griot

The OSSD would like to recognize and thank Melles Griot for their past and ongoing support of our Educational Outreach efforts. They have provide HeNe Lasers for both the Senior and Junior division OSSD First Place Winners at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair and continue to assist the OSSD with encouraging optic and photonic projects at the SD Science and Engineering Fair.

 

 

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