B us in ess Na me

A few weeks ago, AZΠ

members and my AP

Environmental Science

class took a weekend trip to

the University of Florida.

The weekend was full of

interesting activities. We

toured some of the science

labs and saw students using

the same technology we

have here at the high school.

We also went to lectures on

BioScience and the merging

of the arts with science. We

learned about a fountain in

an urban city that changes

colors when certain

pollutants are in the air.

This is a creative way to

spread a message about the

environment to the public

that I think most developed

cities should consider,

because it did make a

difference to the public. We

also judged the UF students'

research that combined art

and science, as well as

students' chemistry and

biology research projects. It

was neat to have this experi-

ence because we got to be on

the other end of the projects

for once. We also got to see

UF's bat houses, as we are

Edit ion 4

AZΠ ME MB E R S PAR T I CI PAT E AS C AS E JU D G E S AT U N I V E R S I T Y O F FL O R I DA

March 2015

Upcoming Events:

AZΠ Competes in the Solar GoKart Challenge March 20—21st at Florida Gulf Coast University

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

AZΠ successful at Regional Science Fair

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AZΠ Sponsors Science Expo

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We Appreciate Our Supporters

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A LPHA ZETA P I CREATION , INNOVATION ,

DEDICATION , PRODUCTION

M E M B E R S A T T E N D F O R U M A T F L O R I D A S O U T H W E S T E R N S TA T E C O L L E G E

During the STEM forum at SouthWestern State College, I along with other STEM Scholars was able to measure the pH and toxicity of water samples from

three different locations. We learned about the impact of acidification on marine habitats. The Professors did a great job

and I learned a lot.

We also learned about the digestive system, matrices in cryptography, and ecological sustainability. Not only was it a good learning experience, but it

was fun interacting with STEM

Scholars from other schools.

Written by Leydi Lopez

Students visit the

University of Florida to

learn about bats for a

project they are carrying

out at the Center for Great

Apes. The team stands in

front of the UF Bat Houses.

working on our own bat

project for the Center for Great

Apes. We toured the Lubee

Bat Conservancy and learned

more about bat habitats, diet, and behaviors, which will all

benefit our project back home.

This was a different, more

interesting learning experience

that I will never forget.

Written by Jordan Evers

Jordan Evers judges the Science Research presentation by a

University of Florida Senior.

Jordan Evers, Editor

Ben Tamayo

and Leydi

gather water for

testing.

Science fair is very important to

me. I have been competing for the past 6 years, and I have made it to the regional and

state levels every year for the past 4 years. Twice I have had the honor of being selected to

represent Hardee Senior High at the International Science and Engineering Fair. You might be

asking yourself, what did she do, exactly? This year, I had an engineering project that focused on the solar powered

go-kart that is owned by Alpha Zeta Pi. Last year, we raced the go-kart at Florida Gulf

Coast University and came in fourth place in the endurance race. To allow for a more

efficient way to charge the batteries while moving, I have designed, and am constructing,

a solar tracking system for the photovoltaic solar panel array.

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A L P H A Z E T A P I S P O N S O R S S C I E N C E F A I R E X P O

A L P H A Z E T A P I S T U D E N T T O PA R T I C I PAT E I N T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L S C I E N C E F A I R

T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S U P P O R T E R S !

From rollercoaster replicas to

exciting Van De Graph

generator experiences, HHS

had an eventful Science Expo. Children of all ages

were invited to make slippery

slime and listen to stories

about some of Hardee Coun-

ties great apes. Having

carried out a Summer

Internship at the Center for

Great Apes through the

STEM program, I was able

to share my first hand accounts. Interacting with

children and showing them

the wonders of science was

definitely the cherry on the

cake of a perfect science

filled evening.

Written by Elyssa Murphy

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society

that honors the servant and has forgotten the

gift.”

Albert Einstein

Edit ion 4

Growing the Food

People Need

Being able to attend the

International Science Fair a second time is a dream come true. My passion for science has

taken me to places that I might never have had the opportunity to go, and it is my hope to use these

experiences to reach my goal of

becoming an engineer.

Written by Meagan Shivers

Elyssa Murphy shares Ape stories

with her young audience.

Three young ladies earned

the opportunity to compete

with their research

projects at the

Florida State Science Fair.

They are

Meagan Shivers, Abby Clark,

And Dyanna Villigran.

Meagan Shivers displaying the

Solar GoKart at the Science Expo

Cheyenne Pohl is chosen to receive the honor of Florida

Sunshine State Scholar. Here she is pictured with HHS

science teacher, Mrs. Amy

Rutledge.

SUNCOAST

Credit Union

The design is centered around

the autonomous movement of the panels by using a recycled motor that once was used to

control a car’s windshield wipers. A scissoring mechanism made of aluminum

connect the cart and solar panels allowing them to tilt. To track the light, light dependent

resistors (LDR) were added to the edges of the panels. The LDR senses the intensity of

the light and communicates the information to an Arduino Uno microprocessing board

that controls the windshield wiper motor. The motor will tilt the solar panels in the

direction of the greatest light intensity. These modifications have taken months of hard

work not only for me, but my wonderful science teacher, Mr. Beatty.