• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Education / Young student-scientists lauded for research projects

Young student-scientists lauded for research projects

May 20, 2011 By Matt Kelley

(From left) Dr. John Vargo, students from West Branch Middle School's award-winning DeIcer team, Dr. Hector Ibarra

Middle and high school students from eastern Iowa are being honored with a reception this afternoon at the State Hygienic Laboratory in Coralville.

Lab scientists are working with students from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and West Branch on science projects, but they’re a long ways from miniature volcanoes.

The lab’s Dr. Hector Ibarra says one project involved testing groundwater near the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids — and it found high levels of chemicals used to de-ice airplanes.

“The work that they do is serious and the kids take it seriously,” Ibarra says. “One student said, looking at information from a kid’s eyes creates a different way for adults to see what is really happening.”

Another project involved testing the water along roadsides in eastern Iowa for contamination from lead weights used to balance wheels — weights that often fall off.

Ibarra says, “That data was the final straw that allowed the (U.S.) EPA to begin to look at the process to mandate that the lead in wheel weights be eliminated.” While the projects have won awards, Ibarra says more importantly, two of them have already brought changes in state laws and one has the potential to bring about new federal environmental regulations.

This reception today is to recognize what he calls the next generation of scientists.

“Quite a few of the students are looking at engineering,” Ibarra says. “Some of them are looking at the chemical engineering aspect. It’s important to have scientists for the future.”

The reception runs from 4-6 PM today at the Hygienic Lab. University of Iowa President Sally Mason is expected to be among the attendees.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Education, Outdoors, Technology

Featured Stories

Sabertooth tiger skull first evidence of animal in Iowa

Governor hails passage of ‘transformational’ state government reorganization

Economic impact of Iowa casinos tops one billion dollars

State board approves millions in settlement with former Hawkeye football players

Monroe County man dies while serving prison term for killing brother

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Hawkeyes face tall task against No. 1 South Carolina

MLB execs meet with Iowa lawmakers to discuss TV blackouts

No. 25 Iowa baseball opens B1G race

Iowa’s Clark wins Naismith Trophy

Traveling to Texas to watch the Hawkeyes in the Final Four will cost you

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC