Here are the Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair winners

About 450 middle and high schoolers from around Berks County showed off their scientific skills this week.

They took part in the 71st Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair, filling the gymnasium at Albright College’s Schumo Center with projects on everything from paint durability to how colored lights effect reading speed to the impact of temperature on yeast fermentation.

The projects were judged by local experts Tuesday, and an awards ceremony was held Thursday.

Here are the students and their projects that took home the top honors:

Grand champion

• Paige Hinkle, 10th grade, Wilson High School, experiments to determine radon levels in household water and measure the effectiveness of mitigation options.

Champion

• Kamella Gechter, 12th grade, Conrad Weiser High School, extraction of terpene content in hop varieties.

Reserve champion

• Matthew Ferenz, 11th grade, Daniel Boone High School, visible light and its influence on the embryonic viability of the cricket Acheta domesticus.

Eighth-grade champion

• Sarah Hauser, Saint Ignatius Loyola School, wood strength variation.

Seventh-grade champion

• John Kurtas, Saint Catherine of Siena School, wave power.

Sixth-grade champion

• Juliana Reinard, LaSalle Academy, carnation experimentation.

For more information on the Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair visit rbsef.com.

Source: Berkshire mont