Powell’s many awards include trip to int’l science convention

On September 22, 2011 Advanced Science Research (ASR) student Kira Powell and science teacher Jeffery Wehr traveled to the Museum of Flight in Seattle for the 4th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS). As honored guests, Kira was selected to receive the Washington State Academy of Sciences Award. Kira’s ASR project entitled, “The Use of Sodium Polyacrylate to Increase Crop Production in Dry-Land Farming” and the international recognition she has received from this research helped secure this award. Part of this honor is to participate in the American Junior Academy of Sciences (AJAS) Convention in Vancouver, Canada. This that will be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), February 16-20, 2012.

The WSAS, in cooperation with the AAAS, will fly Kira to Vancouver, Canada, chaperoned by American Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar! Both organizations finance Kira's entire excursion. The Odessa School District and the school board support Wehr’s attendance as well, not only as Kira's mentor, but for the professional development he will gain over the weekend of global science lectures and seminars. The meeting will feature thousands of top scientists, engineers, educators, policy makers and science journalists from some 50 nations and a full spectrum of disciplines.

More than 170 plenary addresses, lectures, seminars, and symposia—plus more than two dozen briefings and interview sessions for reporters—are scheduled under the theme “Flattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Society.” “The theme is intended to focus the program on the complex, interconnected challenges of the 21st century and on pathways to global solutions through international, multi-disciplinary efforts,” said AAAS President Nina V. Fedoroff in her letter of invitation.