JCPS Brother and Sister Science Duo Place Third

Ryker and Faraday Harty, students at Jasper County Primary School (JCPS), placed third at Georgia College’s first Science and Engineering State Fair for students in grades K-5.

The students observed that a lot of waste is generated in the school lunchroom, so they wanted to see if it could be reduced. Currently, lunches are served on paper trays, which are thrown away. Ryker, who is in Regina Jackson’s second grade class, and Faraday, who is in Joanie Lackey’s first grade class, proposed measuring the lunchroom waste for three days to see how much waste is produced on an average day. According to the data they collected, the primary school generates over 500,000 pounds of lunchroom waste each school year.

They then worked with the school to get all of the students to sort the waste between recyclables, compost and trash. On the three days that they sorted the trash, they then weighed the trash to see if it would be less.

Faraday created a short video that explained what could be recycled and what could be composted, and on those days, with the assistance of teachers, lunchroom staff, administrators, custodians and students, they helped to sort the waste. In the end, they discovered that at least 5,000 pounds of waste would not have to go to the landfill in a school year if the school sorted.

During the science fair, the students set up their projects and also participated in a paper table competition. They also had to stand by their project and answer questions from judges. During a break, they attended a magic show put on by chemistry students and a planetarium show.

“This project would not have been possible without the support and assistance of Pam Edge,” said Jehan El-Jourbagy, the duo’s mom, referring to JCPS’s principal. “Many, many people helped, and the children are very thankful for their assistance.