Rialto students bring innovative thinking to Inland Science and Engineering Fair

Najah Bakkar knows just what it takes to spike your blood pressure.

“Watch scary scenes,” she says. And to prove her theory, the Kolb Middle School 8th grader from Rialto tested the case, all in the name of science.

She had three people watch a series of scary imagery, all while monitoring their heart rate using a blood pressure cuff. She found that the older you are, “the more likely horrifying scenes will provoke hypertension.”

Her testing won her a spot at the Inland Science and Engineering Fair April 4 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Rialto Unified schools had quite a presence at the event with 10 schools participating. Ariana Barajas, 16, and Jenifer Gonzalez, 17, from Rialto High, were also among the students highlighting their creativity and innovative thinking.

Their project: Does the shape of a paddle on a wheel used in a water generator affect the amount of electricity produced?

Testing the theory with rain coats on, the girls found that the shape does in fact affect the amount produced.

“A wheel with a round-shaped paddle and holes produces the most electricity and a wheel with spiked-shaped paddles produces the least,” Jenifer said.

The two collaborated on the project after having similar ideas and wanting to test water theories.

Najah’s, Ariana’s and Jenifer’s projects were among the more than 370 projects from about 460 students from San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties displayed at the speedway.

Individual and group projects displayed ranged in 22 science-based categories including everything from microbiology to zoology, math and physics to electronics, and consumer science to earth science. Each project was judged by a team of representatives from education, industry and science communities, as well as other members of the public. Project criteria included research knowledge, use of the scientific method or the engineering process, knowledge of the subject, writing strategies and the creation of original data.

The regional fair is sponsored by San Bernardino County Superintendents of Schools, Auto Club Speedway and Professional Engineers in California Government.

Winners in the Junior and Senior divisions from the region will advance to the California State Science Fair on April 24-25 in Los Angeles.