By Courtney Green (2025)
The 75th Greater KC Science Fair had over 500 project submissions. This is one of the largest years since covid. They had around 300 hundred judges support the event. This year 7 MDC Staff (including Lily Davis and Courtney Green) and 3 affiliates (Tessa Poolman (MRBO) and MMN Lisa Gann and Megan Russel) supported the event by being a judge.
They are asked to judge science fair projects based on a rubric and work together to pick the best in their category. This group was given the extra task of looking for the projects that best supported conservation science.
“I am not sure how I ended up signing up to be a judge. And while science is not my biggest forte, that was so fun! We only had one scientist show up to talk about his project. He was actually very amazing. But wandering around and talking to the different age groups, was the best!”
Lisa Gann
“This is one of my favorite events of the year!
Showing up to support students participating in scientific research is so important for our future. We need more scientifically minded individuals!”
Courtney Green
The winners:
Senior: Testing Environmentally Safe Sprays to Reduce Fungal Growth: A Bat Health Model Using Penicillium chrysogenum – Van Horn High School
White-Nose Syndrome severely impacts bat populations by disrupting hibernation. This study used the non-pathogenic BSL-1 fungus Penicillium chrysogenum as a model to test environmentally safe sprays for antifungal activity.
Junior: Effects of Mixlights on Animal Behavior – Guadalupe Centers Middle School
This study investigated how mixed artificial lighting affects fish behavior compared to natural light conditions. The students made recommendations about light use at night and the effects it could have on wildlife and migrating birds.
Intermediate: Huh! Where did my shells go?
This study tested how CO2 affects shells. They wanted to learn how gas from cars affects the environment by making shells disappear which harms animals.
Thank you to those who supported this! It is great to show up for this event and be a part of the science community in KC.