N.B. WISES up to environmental problems
Gifted & Talented students hold science fair across district
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER AMATO The Alternate Energies game was created to show that resources other than oil are available and can help to save the environment.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Students across the school district made a "WISE" decision to participate in a project designed to help the environment.

For the Go Green! Environmental Fair, members of the after-school Project WISE Gifted and Talented enrichment program held a science fair to educate their fellow schoolmates about the effects of global warming, the availability of alternate energies and ways to protect the planet.

At JohnAdams Elementary School, the students were instructed to develop a product that can help the environment. They had to make advertisements, business cards, a board game, position papers on why saving the environment is important and a replica of their product.

The Water Saver was created by Nerisca D'Mello's third-grade students, who focused on reducing, reusing and recycling. The device combines soap and water in one process, with each of the six buttons dispensing different temperatures of water and types of soap. Its purpose is to save time and water.

Left: The "Splash Tunes" CD gives step-by-step instructions on how people can brush their teeth so that they do not waste water. Right: The Green Machine uses windmills and air fresheners in an attempt to turn car exhaust into breathable air.

The Spirit 1800 camera, created by Maureen Bicsko's fourth-grade students, uses solar power instead of batteries, geared toward their study of alternative energies. It can work on a digital 35 mm or Polaroid camera.

"I just thought because people go on vacation and might forget to bring their batteries, they can use solar energy. They can also use a heat lamp," said Zachary Voelbel, who invented the cameras.

The group also created a Power- Point presentation, a question-andanswer game and the Alternate Energies (AE) game.

"If you don't use alternate energies, think about what will happen in the future. The whole world will be full of landfills," said Sakhi Patel, naming wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, steam and water as other viable, alternate energy resources.

"We want to make a Green School class on the weekend [for students to] learn about being environmentally friendly," Shreyas Ravindra added.

The Green Machine, developed by Jennifer Nasser's fourthgraders, attaches to the tailpipe of a car with the goal of turning greenhouse gases into breathable air. The idea came from Yahya Cheema, whose mother told him about the troubles that greenhouse gases cause, and was further developed by his group mates.

"Windmills spin and are connected to air fresheners, and the air fresheners turn greenhouse gases into 'fresh' air," Daniel Mitchell explained.

Sapna Mehta said clean air is important because "if [the gases] hit our earth, they can cause and start global warming and it is hard for us to breathe, so you don't want that."

The students exposed their message by performing a chant and dance for all the spectators who came to see their exhibit.

"[Everyone here] is learning about greenhouse gases and the GreenMachine. They also say it's really cool and they like it, and they really like it when we yell 'Go Green!' " said Alexandra Farah.

Christine Pereira's fifth-graders developed the Ink-Klink & Pen Friend to combat global warming by recycling paper using environmentally safe chemicals and special ink.

Damian Cross, who spearheaded the idea, said that paper is inserted inside a machine and moves along a conveyor belt as bleach, sodium silicate and chlorine dioxide are sprayed on to remove the special ink, which is made of soot, gum arabic and carbon. A water station then sprays water onto the paper to wash away the ink and chemicals. The paper then goes through a heat cycle to dry the paper, which comes out clean.

"We understand if you put it somewhere, it won't harm the environment," he said of the safety of the chemicals.

The students' Environmentopoly and Go-Go Green games further explained how the glaciers are starting to melt from the current effects of global warming being experienced.

"I think we should save the trees that are still here because when we need more paper, we cut down more trees, and with less trees there are more greenhouse gases in the air and there is more heatingup of the earth. More trees in the area keep gases at a low level," said Rebecca Colandrea.

Akshitha Ajayan added, "If people don't care about the environment, then the environment will die along with us and we'll have no place to live. There are no other planets currently that can support life."

"Splash Tunes," a music-filled CD that helps children save water while brushing their teeth using step-by-step instructions, was created by fifth-graders under the direction of Lindsey Simons.

"Often, people tend to keep the water on while brushing their teeth, so this product gives steps and plays great music and will definitely help with global warming," said ShivaniMathur. "[Global warming] is going to affect their lives and people's futures, like their future grandchildren. We want to keep the planet clean and the environment healthy."

They created a game - Are You Smarter ThanAl Gore (The GlobalWarming Genius)? - and a seven-minute infomercial over the course of their fourmonth project.

"I think it's important so [students] can be educated. The earlier we take action, the more the benefits are," Mathur said. "I think it's really great [the parents and other students] came, because we put a lot of hard work and effort into it, and it's really important because we want to make a change."

Students at Judd, Livingston Park and Parsons Elementary schools held their own environmental fairs as well.