Ventura 04-18-07: Juan Carlo / Star staff: Molly Myerson, 13, left, and Caitlyn Morrison, 13, right, both students in the 7th grade at Medea Creek Middle School get judged at the Ventura County Science Fair at Seaside Park. Their project was Starch Me Up where they measure the amount of starch in geraniums growning under five different colored lights.

It's all about originality and technique, Charles Tennant says.

That's what the retired engineer looked for as he judged various science projects Wednesday at the 2007 Ventura County Science Fair at the fairgrounds in Ventura.

"I'm looking to see if they followed the scientific method," Tennant said, as he examined a student's display board. "At this age, the most important thing is that they are interested in doing the science project and that they are learning and having fun."

As 275 professionals in engineering, science and other industries carefully read reports and examined displays, 800 students in grades 6-12 went over their presentations one final time.

Judges interviewed students all day Wednesday. The students competed in 12 categories in two divisions, junior and senior. The junior division covered grades 6-8 and the senior division grades 9-12.

Judging results will be announced during the science fair awards night at 6:30 p.m. today in Anacapa Hall at the fairgrounds.

Interaction between judges and students is a key component of the fair, said coordinator John Tarkany. Students also have the opportunity to explore careers in science-related fields during a career expo at the fair.

Student projects this year range from experiments on why orange juice can make your tummy hurt to complex setups on laser cooling and trapping rubidium-87 atoms using optical molasses.

The opportunity to inspire young scientists to pursue an engineering career in the Navy was one reason Lt. Cmdr. Neil Sexton volunteered as a judge.

Dressed in his full khaki uniform, Sexton took a break Wednesday from his duties as a course director at the Engineering Duty Officer School at NAVSEA Port Hueneme to interview anxious students as they presented their physics projects.

"The hope is that we can show them that this could lead to a career in science and even the Navy," Sexton said. "We want to foster that interest, and maybe when they see the uniform, they will ask, 'What do you do?' "

Judge and mechatronic engineer David Collins said he was pleased to see more young female scientists in the making.

"I participated in science fairs myself when I was growing up, and it was mostly boys," he said. "I think it's great to see the girls getting involved. They are going to be the next best scientists in the world."

Caitlyn Morrison and Molly Myerson, seventh-graders at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, said they both learned the value of patience.

Their project, on how different types of light affect the amount of starch in geranium plant leaves, took them five months.

"I learned a lot about teamwork," Molly said. "We both had very busy schedules, but I learned that when you put your mind to it, you can do it."