Brenna Wallin, a sixth-grader at Lexington Traditional Magnet School, was among 30 national semifinalists in the “Iron Man 3” Inventor and Innovator Fair.
“My project was about detecting radiation in the fish in the ocean that were affected by the Fukushima power plant disaster,” she said. “It’s terrorizing for the people of America because the fish can be more radioactive than I measured, and it could cause thyroid cancer. A couple of migratory routes go right by Japan.”
Earlier this semester, Brenna won the middle school Best of Fair award in physical science at the Kentucky Science & Engineering Fair. Her radiation project also took first place in the environmental sciences category. Brenna will next compete in the Broadcom MASTERS.
The Inventor and Innovator Fair was sponsored by, among others, the Discovery Science Center, the Broadcom Foundation and Marvel Studios. The contest coincided with the May 3 release of the latest “Iron Man” movie and was open to students in grades 6-9 across the country. They were asked to enter projects based on themes from “Iron Man 3” using science, technology, engineering and math-related concepts and practices. Twelve finalists were invited to Southern California for final judging.