Paige and Adam Jacobson, Grand Rapids high school students, are no strangers to the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair. This year, they decided to focus on plastic pollution and created their own “Fantastic Bioplastic” using common household ingredients that can break down in nature.
Despite some trial and error in their kitchen experiments, they were able to create a slime-like product by combining various ingredients and baking it in the oven. They used a paper shredder to create consistent pieces of plastic for testing purposes. Through their experimentation, they found that potato starch and eggshells created the strongest plastic, confirming their initial hypothesis.
Paige has attended the fair for the seventh time, while Adam has been there for the fifth time. The siblings eagerly anticipate the Science Fair each year, as it provides valuable learning experiences and opportunities to meet and learn from real scientists. They have already started working on their project for the 2024 fair as soon as the 2023 fair was over.
Paige will be studying biology at Bemidji State University next year, while both siblings have their sights set on attending medical school in the future. The Science Fair has provided them with a platform to learn, grow, and explore their passion for science. They value the skills and knowledge they gain from participating in the fair and look forward to furthering their STEM studies after high school.
Overall, Paige and Adam’s project at this year’s Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair is an excellent example of how students can use science to address pressing issues like plastic pollution while gaining valuable knowledge and skills along the way.
