Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Apr 02/04) - The Samuel Hearne secondary school gym was packed Saturday, this time for a battle of the brains and not of brawn.

As the site of this year's Beaufort Delta Regional Science Fair, elementary, junior high and high school students from around the region brought their science projects to be judged against their peers.

Competition was stiff as all projects were worthy of recognition.

"It was great turnout and great participation," said junior high science teacher Jason King. "The atmosphere was positive and the community support was there."

For those with an interest in science, there was something for everyone, from electromagnetism and its effect on plant growth, to how to best preserve the permafrost on which the region's buildings rest.

Judges for the fair awarded first, second and third prizes in three categories; elementary, junior high and high school.

Of the nine award winners, three projects were selected to advance to the Canadian National Science Fair to be held two months from now in St. John's, Nfld.

Chelsey Jacobson and Shaeli Pokiak's "Bacterminator" was one of the three projects chosen to represent the Beaufort Delta at the national competition.

After growing bacteria in petri dishes, the Tuktoyaktuk students pitted dishwashing liquid, baby shampoo, bleach, ammonia, mouthwash and water against each other in a battle to see which would mop up bacteria the best.

After several tests, the group found that baby shampoo worked the best.

"We wanted to do something gross," said Jacobson of their decision to grow bacteria using hamburger meat.

The pair's science teacher Gary Duffenais, who assisted them with the project, says that he and the ladies will retest their results a few more times between now and the nationals.