Budding scientists to test their theories

More than 100 projects will be set up tonight for the Storey County Science Fair in the gymnasium of Virginia City Middle School.

The projects are done by students in elementary to high school, and science teacher Camille Stegman, from Virginia City Middle School, requires all her students to participate. She is organizing the event.

"All the middle school students will do something, and they have a choice," she said. "They can do a display on a scientific subject, they do an experiment or an invention."

Judging of the projects will take place before the fair opens.

"Inventions are gaining in popularity," she said. "Experiments are still the most popular, but inventions are becoming more popular."

She will have at least one additional display set up to demonstrate basic scientific principals like about sound or inertia, the latter that can be seen through a project called the "Rim Roll."

A person places a marble or a small ball in a bowl and tries to remove it without physically taking the ball out themselves.

The idea is to get the ball rolling fast enough that it gains speed and pops over the edge.

Students Geri Martini, 14, and Amanda Patterson, 13, may be some of the students demonstrating the principles, even though they have done science fair projects of their own.

"The science fair give you a chance to be creative and to learn some things and to tell people other things they may not know," Geri said.

The science fair is open to the public.

-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

If you go

WHAT: Storey County Science Fair

WHEN: 5:30-8 tonight

WHERE: In the gym of Virginia City Middle School, 127 S. D St.

CALL: 847-0980