Applicant and/or teacher sponsor:
Brian Williams
Student Groups /Teachers/ Community Members/ Partnerships Involved:
Science classes at all Junior High through 12th grade NCRCN schools
Steve Jurist
Tim Balambao
local Radio Shack
Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS)
PG&E
Number of students affected:
up to 1000 students
Length of project:
1997-98 school year
1. Brief description of the project:
There has been much debate over the possible health hazards of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced by power lines. The purpose of this project is to determine what effects such fields have on bacteria by exposing samples of bacteria to varying strengths of EMFs, intended to simulate the fields around power lines, and then studying the bacteria.
2. Connections
How does the project connect with our theme of people, history, and place?How does the project interact with the community?
How will you evaluate or assess the community impact?
How does the project connect with other NCRCN sites?
The results of this project could have an effect on not only this entire area, but over the whole world. If it is shown that EMFs like those from power lines have an effect on bacteria, this implies that anywhere that there are power lines, people could be affected by these fields. For example, one part of the project will be to see if EMFs have an effect on antibiotic resistance in bacteria. If EMFs do have such an effect, this could have serious implications in the treatment of disease. PG&E will be affected by the results of this project, because whether or not the project shows an effect, it will add to the evidence of the effects of the EMFs around power lines such as PG&E's.
3. Student Learning
How will the project improve student learning?How will you evaluate or assess what students have learned?
What kind of data will you collect?
Will you have an Action Research question?
How will students be involved in the evaluation of the project?
How does the project invite student planning/student choice?
How will students share their project and learning with others at their own site, other sites or within the community?
Will your project have a service learning component? If so please describe.
This project is being designed and produced by a student (Brian Williams) at Point Arena High School. In order to develop this project, I must research what EMFs are, how they interact, how to control them, how to measure them and the normal structure and function of the bacterial strain used in this project so that comparisons can be made. I will then design the entire project. The results of this project will be presented to the Advanced Science class at PAHS and at the county science fair. Hopefully, these results will also be shared with science classes at the other NCRCN schools via video teleconferencing.
4. Support
What kind of support would you like from the coordinator/TSA?What kinds of funds will you need for the project? Please supply a general budget. (Staff development, release time for planning, transportation, materials.)
What other sources might provide additional funding for the project?
I would like the coordinator/TSA to help me get together with community members knowledgeable in electronics and who might have access to some of the necessary equipment so that I don't have to buy it all. Also, I would like her to arrange for me to meet with someone from PG&E who knows about EMFs and who would be able to tell me if they are doing any research into EMFs and possibly how they simulate the fields. I also will need the coordinator/TSA to schedule the video teleconferences with the other schools so that I can share my results with them.
I am requesting $600 funding for this project.
Here is an estimated budget:
- Field Strength Meter approx. $300
- Magentic Shielding Foil approx. $200
- Building materials for the enclosure and equipment for generating the fields approx. $200
- Bacteria, growth medium, petri dishes, misc. lab equipment for the bacterial cultures approx. $150