In the hands of youth

Gary Moskowitz

LOS ANGELES -- Today’s future scientists and problem solvers from

local middle and high schools will meet Thursday at the Los Angeles

County Science Fair to demonstrate their brave new concepts for simple

things like green beans, parachutes, diapers and milk.

The theme of the science fair, “Today’s Young Scientists, Tomorrow’s

Heroes,” will be discussed in the keynote address at the awards ceremony

for the 51st Annual Los Angeles County Science Fair at the downtown Los

Angeles Convention Center.

Eleven students from Burbank will compete against more than 1,000

students from public and private schools across Los Angeles County. The

15 categories of competition include physics, astronomy, microbiology and

environmental science.

Jordan Mills, 13, an eighth-grader at John Muir, is taking his

documented theories on the correlation between drinking milk before

bedtime and how quickly people fall asleep.

“I did a lot of research, and it was a little difficult but fun,” said

Mills, who plans to learn more about computers in the near future.

Natalie Bruner, 13, also an eighth-grader at John Muir, will test the

falling time of a parachute in relation to its size.

“We drove up into the mountains in the snow and tested parachutes,”

Bruner said. “It would be nice to win and go to state, but I won’t be

totally mad if I don’t.”

Rick Stephens, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and

Communications, will deliver the keynote address at the science fair.

KNX news radio anchor Linda Nunez will be master of ceremonies.