Optical Society of San Diego

Greater San Diego
Science and Engineering Fair 2006

The OSSD returned to the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair this year, and found about the same number of optical projects as in the past. Some of the projects were refinements of past work, while others were very original. A few of the projects seemed to be classic problems taken from the standard optics text, but were presented very well. To see middle school students presenting advanced high school or entry level college optical demonstrations was very impressive and were worth recognition.

This year's OSSD Science Fair Judges:
Kelly Cummings, Tom Yager,
Miriam Rauch, John Rauch
and Ionas Porges-Kiriakov

Senior Division

OSSD First Place: Jacob Rucker
Polluting Palomar: Effects of Skyglow on Star Visibility (Year Three)

Canyon Crest Academy Grade 10
Advisor: R. Hunker

Other Awards Revceived

GSDSEF ~ First Place
and California State Science Fair nomination
Mt. Laguna Observatory Assn. ~ First Place
San Diego Astronomy Association ~ First Place
City of San Diego Environmental Services Department ~ First Place

2006 California State Science Fair
Second Place in Physics & Astronomy

From left to right are: Eric P. Casavant (First Place), Jacob J. Rucker (Second Place),
Sarah J. Adams (Third Place), and Rebecca D. Hicks (Honorable Mention).

SPIE Optics & Photonics Award
SPIE’s award is dedicated to advancing student scientific research and engineering applications of optical, photonic, imaging, and optoelectronic technologies. Award is $250, certificate, society membership, and SPIE t-shirt. One award in each division at the CA State Science Fair.
Sponsored by the International Society for Optical Engineering. (SPIE)

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Second Place: No Award Given

Junior Division

OSSD First Place: Kate Newcomb
At Which Angle Does Refracted Light Create a Mirage?

Marshall Middle School
Advisor: E. Gillum

Other Awards Revceived

GSDSEF ~ First Place
and California State Science Fair nomination
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Assoc.

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OSSD Second Place: Kiera Fuller
Double Slit Interference Patterns

All Hallows Academy
Advisor: S. Olesen

Other Awards Revceived

GSDSEF ~ First Place
and California State Science Fair nomination
IEEE ~ First Place
Mt. Laguna Observatory Assn.

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Caroline Hernandez in front of her project "Refraction of Light"
at the 2006 San Diego Science Fair.

OSSD Third Place: Caroline Hernandez
Refraction of Light

Santa Fe Christian
Advisor: D. Culley

Other Awards Revceived

Mt. Laguna Observatory Assn. ~ Second Place

The 52nd Annual
Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair

http://www.gsdsef.org

The 55th annual California State Science Fair will held on May 22-23, 2006.
This year the California State Science Fair expects more than 900 participants from about
350 schools throughout the State to meet in competition for awards totaling over $50,000.
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/

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 for over five years and continue to assist the OSSD with encouraging optic and photonic projects at the SD Science and Engineering Fair.