It’s STEM Fair season at Two Rivers, where students test their hypotheses and innovation comes to life.
Eighth-grade students Amirah and Sanari set out to identify a potential solution to a global water crisis. In their science fair project, Filter for the Future, they conducted research and tests to identify gaps and solutions to water pollution.
After a month of research, they found that over a million people lack access to safe water for bathing, drinking, or cooking. “Water pollution is a real problem, and a lot of people protest about it; people are in need, and we need clean water to prevent sickness,” states Sanari. These conditions allow bacterial viruses and toxic waste to arise.
Hypothesis & Findings
Upon discovering these issues, Amirah and Sanari formed a hypothesis: adding charcoal, salt, and gravel to cotton would clean water, with each layer removing different contaminants.
Interested in learning more about the water filtration process, they created three water filters.
Filter 1: charcoal, salt, gravel, cotton
Filter 2: rice and coffee filter
Filter 3: gravel, cotton, coffee filter
By comparing the layered filters, they determined which one purified the water most effectively.
They initially believed filter one would be most effective for clarifying the water. However, they found filter three was more successful at trapping debris and absorbing contaminants. While this method makes the water safe for bathing, it poses limitations for drinking and cooking.
Learning and Connection
Both students expressed challenges throughout this process, including limited credible research and trial-and-error in the creation phase. Nevertheless, they supplemented these challenges through collaboration.
This experience truly shaped how they viewed science. As Amirah states, “This project helped me realize the importance of everyday health practices that most people are not afforded.” They also shared that the project increased their interest in science and even sparked curiosity about future careers, including engineering.
Projects like these at Two Rivers allow students to deepen their understanding of their learning through practical application. Through experiences such as Filter for the Future, students broaden their awareness of global issues by realizing their power and potential, creating a lasting impact.
