Solar Project Takes Youth to Discovery Channel Young Science Challenge
Intel, ASU provide resources to help teachers succeed
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Garrett Yazzie, an eighth grader from the Pinon Accelerated Middle School in Arizona,
never thought that a rubber inner tube from his bike wheel, a 1967 Pontiac radiator, 69
aluminum cans, a plastic funnel, a piece of plexiglass and his interest in science would
take him far. But together all of it is taking him to Washington, D.C., to take part in the
Discovery Channel Young Science Challenge (DCYSC) on Oct. 15-19.
Last spring, Garrett participated for the first time in the third annual Arizona American
Indian Science and Engineering Fair (AISEF), sponsored by Intel and hosted by Arizona
State University's American Indian Programs. Competing against 81 other seventh and
eighth graders, he unveiled his science project titled "Using Solar Energy to Heat Water".
He took first place in his category, which was engineering.
Garrett's project also won first place in its category and a Best of Show award at the
Middle School Discovery Fair as part of Intel's International Science and Engineering
Fair held in May 2005 at the Civic Plaza in Phoenix.
Students who placed first at the AISEF science fair were eligible to apply to the
Discovery Channel Young Science Challenge, with their teacher's assistance. More than
7,500 eligible students from all over the country in the seventh and eighth grade were
nominated for the DCYSC. Garrett is one of the 40 finalists selected to take part in the
Science Challenge event in October.
"My project is about using the sun's light ray (shani diin — Navajo for sun) energy to
heat air and water," says Garrett. "My project can help save people money because other
forms of energy are getting expensive these days."
Garrett adds that his invention can help a number of people living in his community.
"Since there are a lot of homes here on the Navajo Reservation without running water or
electricity, my homemade heater can help them heat well water and also their home."
According to his data, his window-size invention can heat water to 200 degrees
Fahrenheit (94 degrees Celsius) and the air temperature can rise by 45 degrees Fahrenheit
(25 degrees Celsius). He says his mother and his science teachers influenced him the
most by discussing the importance of an education as well as encouraging him to
construct things.
"What I enjoyed most about the project is that I got to build the entire thing myself. I also
liked collecting the data and seeing that the heater actually worked. The results really
took me by surprise," says Garrett.
He is the first student from Pinon and the first AISEF participant to ever be selected as
one of the finalists to participate in the national Science Challenge event.
With the support of Intel and ASU, the American Indian Programs at the Polytechnic
campus has been providing teachers in school districts located on reservations in
bordering states and in Arizona, including Pinon, with the tools and resources to
effectively teach science and math, hold science fairs at the school and district levels, and
encourage students to participate in the AISEF every year.
One of Garrett's teachers, Rochelle Barton-Silver, has benefited from these programs.
"We could not have achieved such success without the help of ASU American Indian
Programs and Intel," says Barton-Silver. "We begin with a vision that our students
would produce award-winning, inquiry-based science projects that are relevant to the
community. It's exciting to see our vision come full circle."
Garrett's accomplishments will have a major impact on this developing school and the
community, according to Peterson Zah, advisor to ASU's President on American Indian
Initiatives.
"Garret's achievements will encourage an outpouring of support, and his community will
rally around what he did and make the school a better place. Garrett's success is the little
spark needed to make changes – to make Pinon a higher achieving institution," says Zah.
Garrett's mother and one of his mentors will be traveling to Washington, D.C., with him
for support, however, he seems pretty confident and prepared.
"I believe that my project and I will do well because my project helps the environment, it
is cost efficient and can be used by just about anyone who wants to use alternative
energy," says Garrett. "All the effort put into this project is worth the success!"
CONTACT: Christine Lambrakis, 480/727-1173, 602/316-5616
Phillip Huebner, 480/727-1036
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