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This year marked the fourth consecutive year that the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and the California Council of Geoscience Organizations (CCGO) have teamed up to award deserving exhibitors at the California State Science Fair. The judging commenced at the California Science Center, located in Exposition Park adjacent to the University of Southern California campus, at 8:30 A.M. on May 25th, 2004. Geologist Paul Enriquez performed the duty of judging the Senior Division. AIPG California Section President Dave Sadoff judged the Junior Division.
As in years past, the task of selecting the best geoscience project was excruciatingly difficult due to the high degree of accomplishment shown by numerous exhibits. Nevertheless, we presented the following awards:
The Junior Division Geoscience Project Award was presented to Jena Bailey and Erin Page for their project entitled “Using Lichenometry to Date Past Earthquakes”. Their abstract states…”as a result of the seismic shaking that takes place during earthquakes, rockfalls occur and fresh rock surfaces are exposed. Lichens colonize on fresh rock surfaces and, with the formulas that lichenometrists have created regarding the growth rates of specific lichen types, the age of the lichens and thus the age of the substrate can be determined”. These young scientists visited sites which experienced seismic shaking during the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake, measure crustose lichens on rock faces, recorded their size along the longest axis, and then resolved the age of the lichens (and by inference the date the rocks split open) by comparing the size of the lichens against their known growth rates.
The Senior Division Geoscience Project Award was presented to Alan D. Foreman for his project entitled “Toxic Boatyards: Are Newport Bay Boatyards a Point Source for Heavy Metal Pollution?”. Alan collected numerous surface water and sediment samples within Newport Bay to evaluate concentrations of copper within and outside of the boatyard. Utilizing an Argon Plasma Spectrometer, Alan calculated the concentration of copper from each sample using the “Isotope Dilution” method. Based on his studies, Alan determined the concentrations of copper in the water are two to three times higher around the boatyards than in other areas of the bay. The concentrations of copper in sediment were as much as 27 times higher in the areas adjacent to the boatyards than in sediment from a nearby beach.
We take great pleasure in being able to observe the many outstanding projects, and to converse with and encourage the exhibitors. AIPG and CCGO look forward to continuing our support of these budding young geoscientists at the next California State Science Fair.
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