She Can Just Taste a Win; He’ll Be Hard Loser : Brother, Sister Mix It Up for Science Fair Prizes

Thirteen-year-old Lisa Shugarman likes ice cream. And she likes science class.

So she decided to combine her interests and do some research on ice cream. And she’s hoping her efforts will be rewarded at the 31st annual Orange County Science and Engineering Fair taking place this week at Cal State Fullerton’s University Center.

The Hewes Intermediate School eighth-grader is one of 300 junior scientists from grades seven through 12 who entered projects in this year’s fair. The projects will be judged in junior and senior high school divisions, each division spanning 13 scientific disciplines from botany to zoology to computer science.

Lisa’s project was one of the few at the fair in which the student could actually taste the result of research. Starting with a small, store-bought ice-cream maker, Lisa thought she could experiment with ingredients and improve the recipes she had for ice cream. She began to study the effects of emulsifiers, chemicals which aid in flow and texture. In her research, she found that a chemical known as xanthan gum was the best emulsifier. And, she said, she came up with some good ice cream as a result.

Citrus Oil Insecticide

Although this is Lisa’s first time as a participant--it’s a repeat effort for brother Jeff, 17, a Foothill High School junior who won first place last year in zoology for his research on the effectiveness of citrus oil as an insecticide.

This year, Jeff decided to enter the chemistry competition. He spent months researching the properties of cement, and he found ways of making cement stronger by using a solid lubricant rather than a water-soluble one. He says he plans to continue his research and ultimately patent his findings.

Although Jeff, who plays wide receiver on his school’s football team, has accomplished much scientifically, he doesn’t yet know whether he will continue his science work in college. He doesn’t even know where he’s going to apply yet. “I haven’t thought of any of that stuff at all. I really don’t know,” he said. His sister, on the other hand, said she wants to be a pediatrician or a child psychologist.

But he expressed confidence that he would do well in this year’s competition. “I’m not trying to brag or anything, but I think my project has a good chance because it’s an original,” he said.

Open to All Students

The Shugarmans came across their interests naturally. Their father, Arnold, is a chemist and professor of chemistry at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana. He is also a member of the science fair’s board of directors.

The fair is open to all Orange County public, private and parochial students. The first- and second-place winners in each category receive trophies, and the overall winners in the junior high and senior high divisions receive cash awards.

The students set up their exhibits Monday, and they will be interviewed today by a panel of judges. The exhibits will be available for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. The winners will be announced Friday night.