The DyNAmIC Duo - Disintegrating Bioplastics

Voices collide as soon as you enter the ballroom.  Students of all ages and backgrounds are presenting on numerous research projects. Parents, teachers, UW science faculty, other family, and friends peruse the tables lined with poster boards.  One student presents on the importance of growing vegetation in mining communities.  Another causes a light bulb to come to life.  This is overwhelming and awe-inspiring.  This is the Wyoming State Science Fair.


The Wyoming State fair hosts middle school and high school students from across the state every year.  This year's event was held at the University of Wyoming Union and spanned three days from March 1-3.  The fair gives students an opportunity to present their research projects to a broad community.  Project topics range anywhere from bull riding and satellites to supercomputers and optogenic bacteria.  The creative process for these students are wildly flexible.  One student tells her story behind her project idea saying,

"I play the trumpet, and really wanted to see if they were dirty or not, so I decided to do some swabs and see if bacteria grew on a petri dish or not."

While the topics cover a broad spectrum of creative subjects, two students with similar ideas stood out in this year's competition for EPSCoR's Mini-Interns.  Covering the topic of creating and disintegrating bioplastics, Peyton Crinklaw and Tiernan Stanton made a splash.  Hard work and research paid off when the pair was awarded the 2020 Wyoming State Science Fair Mini-Intern position.  Normally awarded to one student, this year's winnings will be split between the two cousins.  Each will spend one week in the Eco-BGC Lab with Jessica Kern this summer where they can further study their science fair projects.  Erin Stoesz, Science Fair director, will aso work with Peyton and Tiernan to provide tools and tips to aid in further developing their current projects.

 Each intern will also have the opportunity to bring a teacher or parent with them for the week they are on campus.  If they choose to bring a teacher, that individual will work with Erin during the week.  Together they will tour labs, explore the Berry Center on campus, and discuss other ways to encourage students to do hands-on research in their high school.

With the goal of increasing hands-on research in local high schools, the Wyoming State Science Fair has played a huge role in allowing students to begin building their home programs.  Peyton and Tiernan will be taking their win and mini-intern experience back to Newcastle High School to expand upon their own questions and inspiring others to do the same.

For more information on the Wyoming State Science Fair, and how to support them, check out their website at http://www.uwyo.edu/sciencefair/.