QUOTE
Students invent natural way to purify polluted water
Last Updated Fri, 15 Nov 2002 21:47:18
HALIFAX - Scallop shells can be used to clean up polluted water, three teenagers in Halifax have discovered.
James Beaton-Johnson, Elias Fares and Amy Trottier began their award-winning research as Grade 12 students. They say the shells can be used to clean up contaminated rivers, lakes and even Halifax Harbour.
Elias Fares, James Beaton-Johnson and Amy Trottier claimed second prize in the Aventis Biotech Challenge
Courtesy: BioNova
The trio got the idea from a documentary about a Japanese fish farmer who tossed oyster shells into a pond and found it cleared the dirty water.
The students at J.L. Ilsley high school began experimenting with scallop shells immersed in dirty dish water. The water cleared in 24 hours.
The students then used their inexpensive, user-friendly method to improve the water quality on the MacIntosh Run, a river flowing through their school property.
They discovered the shells' shape and chemical makeup neutralizes pH and also helps filter out coliform bacteria, sediment and heavy metals.
Researchers at the National Research Council's Institute for Marine Biosciences say they don't know of anyone else doing similar research. The project has already won prizes at three science fairs.
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly was so impressed with the students' research that he offered them summer jobs testing their method on the municipal water system. Their method successfully cleaned the water.
Next week, they'll present their project at the World Youth Parliament for Water in Quebec City. The conference brings together 100 teens from 30 countries to reflect on water management.
The students have applied to patent their water-cleaning method, and they are writing up their findings for a scientific journal. All three plan to study science at university.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Last Updated Fri, 15 Nov 2002 21:47:18
HALIFAX - Scallop shells can be used to clean up polluted water, three teenagers in Halifax have discovered.
James Beaton-Johnson, Elias Fares and Amy Trottier began their award-winning research as Grade 12 students. They say the shells can be used to clean up contaminated rivers, lakes and even Halifax Harbour.
Elias Fares, James Beaton-Johnson and Amy Trottier claimed second prize in the Aventis Biotech Challenge
Courtesy: BioNova
The trio got the idea from a documentary about a Japanese fish farmer who tossed oyster shells into a pond and found it cleared the dirty water.
The students at J.L. Ilsley high school began experimenting with scallop shells immersed in dirty dish water. The water cleared in 24 hours.
The students then used their inexpensive, user-friendly method to improve the water quality on the MacIntosh Run, a river flowing through their school property.
They discovered the shells' shape and chemical makeup neutralizes pH and also helps filter out coliform bacteria, sediment and heavy metals.
Researchers at the National Research Council's Institute for Marine Biosciences say they don't know of anyone else doing similar research. The project has already won prizes at three science fairs.
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly was so impressed with the students' research that he offered them summer jobs testing their method on the municipal water system. Their method successfully cleaned the water.
Next week, they'll present their project at the World Youth Parliament for Water in Quebec City. The conference brings together 100 teens from 30 countries to reflect on water management.
The students have applied to patent their water-cleaning method, and they are writing up their findings for a scientific journal. All three plan to study science at university.
Written by CBC News Online staff
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/11/15/water_scallops021115
Lots of possibilities here.
