Medea Creek student takes first place at fair

Medea Creek Middle School student Vivian Rotenstein's project placed first in the Junior Division's microbiology category at the 53rd annual Ventura County Science Fair, held April 17 to 19 at Seaside Park in Ventura.

Her research project on bacteria will go on to the state competition May 21 and 22 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

Vivian's project, "Who will win the battle against bacteria?" researched whether chamomile extract or the lysozyme contained in humans' and dogs' saliva, or lysozyme in concentrated form could be used to fight bacteria.

More than 800 students countywide entered projects in this year's fair, with the theme "Exploring the Unknown."

In addition to the awards for top projects, more than $5,000 in special awards from county companies, businesses and agencies was presented to more than 60 students.

Twenty other students from Medea Creek Middle School and Oak Park High School received second, third and fourth place awards or monetary awards for their projects.

Categories included animal behavior and social sciences, biochemistry, botany, and earth, space and environmental sciences.

The 2007 Ventura County Science Fair was sponsored by the Ventura County Office of Education, along with Haas Automation, Amgen and various sciencerelated organizations. For complete results, visit the event's website at www.vcoe.org/sc.

- - Sophia Fischer