|
National winning cyber science team has a local connection Science fairs are no longer confined to the school auditorium and students are no longer limited to elementary experiments such as growing fungi in a Petri dish. Twin brothers Austin and Tyler Burdick of Flint Hill, Virginia are part of a cyber science team that recently was named National Winners in the U.S. Army’s 2006 eCYBERMISSION competition. Austin and Tyler, 15-year-old home-schooled sophomores, are the grandsons of proud grandmother, Shirley Burdick, of Caledonia and the sons of Todd and Jane Burdick of Flint Hill, VA. Todd is a 1977 Caledonia-Mumford High School graduate and a licensed veterinarian who owns and operates his own business. Jane served as advisor for her sons’ team, named Bioquadrant, which also included 15-year-old Ethan Gould. As first place winners, the team was awarded $24,000 worth of savings bonds and the national 9th grade title in the U.S. Army sponsored on-line math, science and technology competition. Over 3,000 teams nationwide competed in this year’s program including 265 from Virginia eCYBERMISSION is a web-based science, math and technology competition where students in grades 6-9 propose a solution to a real problem within their community and compete for regional and national awards. The competition is sponsored by the U.S. Army who strives to increase the number of students pursuing careers in math, science and technology. Bioquadrant identified a potential health problem within the local deer population in their home counties of Rappahannock and Fauquier in Virginia. Avid game hunters and conservationists themselves, team members were concerned over recent news reports of deer in their area possibly at risk for Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD. Unlike local livestock that receive supplements in their daily diets due to inadequate soil conditions for grazing, the white-tailed deer herd obviously grazes on similar soils but doesn’t receive supplements and therefore, their immune systems may be at risk. In building a case for their mission, Bioquadrant documented the importance of a healthy deer population as many residents in that area heavily rely on venison meat for their family meals all year. In addition, the team documented that deer are an important part of the natural food chain. Their research included contributions from several professionals in the veterinary, conservation and agricultural fields and coincided with their freshman biology studies. The Bioquadrant team conducted experiments on deer liver tissue to determine mineral composition and completed a soil sample test of the mineral levels to determine the relationship between the soil and the deer tissue. As a result of their research, the team hopes to supply the deer population in their area with mineral supplements. Shirley Burdick says the boys’ parents have been totally devoted to them since birth. She is very proud of her grandsons’ accomplishment with their cyber mission but adds that she is even more proud of them for being such fine young men who are actively involved with family, school and community.
|
