Iowa's Delegates to the 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science/American Junior Academy of Science Conference are Amy Marquart and Michael Fosdick of Mediapolis High School and Jamilee Lightfoot of Central Lee High School. Amy, Michael, and Jamilee were selected as delegates from all of the 9th-11th grade IJAS students competing at the 2004 Iowa Academy of Science Annual Meeting.

Amy, Michael, Jamilee, and IJAS Director Ernest Schiller traveled to Washington D.C. in February to attend the AAAS/AJAS Conference. They were accompanied by Marcia Marquardt (Amy's Mom), Dallas Massner, Christy Massner, and Alicia Schiller (thier teachers). The delegates presented their research at the AJAS poster session, toured parts of the capitol and participated in conference sessions.

Michael (pictured right) first became involved in his research project during the summer of 2003. Aphids were attaching the soybean plants on his family's farm. "As soybean producers, we were trying to figure out whether or not we needed to spray our fields. I observed one leaf where Asian Lady Beetles were devouring aphids, and I wondered what effect pesticides would have on this predator." Michael and the other delegates will travel to Washington, DC in February to present their research and meet scientists from across the US. Michael says "I am looking forward to meeting the other students that will be at the event. I am also very much looking forward to seeing all of the sites in Washington DC. I have never been to DC, and I feel honored to be selected to represent Iowa as a delegate." The title of Michael's research is The Effects of Pyrethroid Pesticide on the Aphis glycines Predator-Harmonia axyridis.

Jamilee Lightfoot (below) has been researching renewable energy resources for four years. She has received three Starrs Student Research grants from the Iowa Junior Academy of Science. This is the second year that Jamilee has represented Iowa at AAAS. "Being chosen as a delegate for Iowa made me feel great. I hope I represented Iowa well and made everybody think before they passed Iowa off as 'just the corn state'." I was a little nervous about presenting in front of so many young student scientists from all over the United States and also presenting my poster for the guest scientists." Jamilee says, "They seemed very interested in my research, explaining why some things may have occurred and advising me of possibilities to take my studies further. It was a very rewarding experience". Jamilee's research is entitled: Freedom Fuel "Summer-ized" Solar Electolysis of Hydrogen from Water to Yield Renewable Energy Resources.

Amy Marquart (below) says "I am very honored to represent Iowa at the AAAS conference. There are many good research projects and it is a humbling experience to be chosen as a representative." She will be presenting her research Thermal Conductivity and Breaking Strength of Prehistoric Ceramic Reproductions: Assessing Variation in Clay Sources and Tempering Materials at the conference. This is her fifth year researching the topic. Amy has some advise for other young Iowan scientists, "Find a topic you really enjoy and then science research becomes fun. Research does not always go the direction you expect so keep an open-mind and be flexible to change directions. I have met professionals in the area of my research that have given me opportunities I would not have had. Science fairs have become unexpected adventures for me. You meet many people, travel, become exposed to new ideas, and have opportunities open to you. I highly recommend you give it a try."

Amy, Jamilee, and Michael won their positions as 2005 Iowa Delegates by competing in a poster/oral presentation competition at the 2004 Iowa Academy of Science Meeting. Only students who have been awarded an Starr Student Research Grant by the Iowa Junior Academy of Science and/or have won 1-3 place at an Iowa state or regional science fair are eligible to compete. Their trip is supported by the Iowa Space Grant Consortium and the Iowa Academy of Science.

2005 Group Photo

2006 Delegates Announced

Iowa's delegates to the 2006 American Association for the Advancement of Science/American Junior Academy of Science Conference will be Cory Millmier from Central Lee High School and Allison Wilson of West Central Valley High School.

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