Visually well-organized information, eye-catching props and an engaging title can quickly capture one’s attention at a science fair.  

Veronica Gonzalez did just that as she presented her science fair project titled “Nondominant Arm vs. Robotic Arm” at Temple’s annual George Washington Carver Science Fair at the Aramark STAR Complex on Thursday, March 7. Gonzalez held up a winter glove with a hard drive, motherboard, jump wires and robotic fingers that she engineered to control a wireless prosthetic arm in an engaging presentation.  

Each year, Temple’s science fair program brings hundreds of students from the School District of Philadelphia together to put their science skills to the test and experience a higher education setting. The fair was established in 1979 by Thomas Anderson, former assistant vice president in Temple’s Office of Community Affairs and Engagement.  

“Our mission is diversity in STEM education with a commitment to community,” said Neferteri Gist, TUteach mentor and instructor at the College of Science and Technology. “We want to provide Philadelphia students with an opportunity to explore science.  

“Temple is a very diverse university where students, parents, teachers and sponsors can feel comfortable attending this event,” she added. “My goal is to get as many students involved as possible.” 

Gonzalez investigated whether a prosthetic arm or a nondominant arm had the most strength to lift objects. Her project required a hot glue gun to attach cardboard, foam, cable ties, toothpicks, tubes and syringes together to assemble a hydroponic prosthetic arm model that caught everyone’s attention as they walked through the fair. 

“The syringes I use can hold up to 10 milliliters of water to pump water into the prosthetic arm model allowing it to effectively move in multiple directions and grab objects,” said Gonzalez, a student at Philadelphia Academy Charter High School. “However, I discovered that I can’t use certain liquids like oil because it is too dense.”  

She found that the hand prosthetic could lift the larger items like a half water bottle and stuffed doll but could not get a tight enough grip on the smaller items, including hand sanitizer and lip balm. The nondominant hand was able to lift all objects. 

“I frequently go to hospitals where kids have special needs and use prosthetics, which has inspired me to pursue a career that makes prosthetics for children and adults,” she added.  

Another student, Ja’kiyah Wright, stood before her cardboard science fair board covered in all shades of green with scattered leaves that dropped from deciduous trees during the fall season at Diamond Park. Her science fair project, titled “Canopy Climate Control,” explores how trees influence weather patterns. 

“Two years ago, I was involved in the Parks and Rec Rose fund in Philadelphia, which inspired me to learn more about our tree canopy,” said Wright, a high school student at Universal Audenried Charter School. “I have a love for the community, getting it greener and more trees planted in the different parts of the city that are in need.” 

Wright was determined to get a precise reading of the temperatures at the same time from Diamond Park and Markward Park, so with digital thermometers in hand, she and a friend went to each park separately. Their data showed that Markward Park, being a park with more trees and general forestry, was warmer in the winter than Diamond Park, which has fewer trees spread apart into groups of one. 

She explained neighborhoods with deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the fall can make the air feel colder in the winter compared to neighborhoods with evergreen trees, which do not shed their leaves as much.  

“I expected there to be a difference of 4 to 5 degrees in the weather of the parks, so I was surprised to discover there was a difference of 10 degrees,” said Wright. “It’s interesting to see how the impact of a park with more trees can cause warmer weather patterns in the winter compared to a park with little to no trees.”