Leaf study wins overseas trip

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 6

Leaf study wins overseas trip

A study on leaf pigmentation has won a Christchurch schoolboy a two-week trip to San Diego, California. Stephen Robertson, aged 16, won the 1.C.1. Science Fair for New Zealand secondary schools at Palmerston North on Saturday. As well as the 1.C.1. trophy and $l5O, his exhibit won him the Kiwani’s travel award to allow "him to enter an international science fair at San ■ Diego in April next year. Stephen Robertson, a sixthform pupil at St Thomas of Canterbury College, combined his knowledge gleaned from chemistry and biology lessons to explain the biochemical interaction between yellow and green leaf pigments. A tree in the college grounds was the subject of the study. The same exhibit won the top prize at the Canterbury secondary school science fair in June. Although he plans to remain at school in the seventh form next year, Stephen Robertson does not think he will enter an exhibit in next year’s science fair. His commitment to the international fair at San Diego will take up too much time. There were 26 exhibits and

40 exhibitors at this year's New Zealand science fair. Stephen McNally, of James Cook High School, Auckland, was second with a study on mechanical efficiency. Third place was tied between David Palmer and Phillip Matsis, of Wanganui Collegiate School, with a study of fungal genetics and Craig Linham, Tom Matheson, and Dean Carral, of Nayland College. Nelson.