Curiosity in Action: Marylhurst Science Fair 2026
Our annual Science Fair was a joyful celebration of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. We began the evening with an inspiring keynote from Katie Mahorney, a geoscientist and environmental researcher whose work spans ocean voyages, climate research, and field science. She encouraged students to stay curious, embrace experimentation, and see science as a way to better understand, and impact the world.
From there, families explored student work across a wide range of disciplines:
Human Physiology
Cute vs. Neutral: Are Eyes Really the Windows to the Soul? — Claire & Maci
Explored how pupil size changes when people view cute images versus neutral ones.
Stop Stressing Meowt! — Scarlett
Investigated whether interacting with a cat lowers stress after a test.
Speed Blitz — Finley
Compared reaction times between karate and boxing athletes.
Psychology & Human Behavior
Wait, THAT was AI?!?! — Molly
Tested how well students can distinguish AI-generated images from real ones.
Give Me Five Minutes — Bebel
Examined how activities like drawing, scrolling, or resting affect cognitive test performance.
Stand Alone or Follow the Crowd: A Study of Group Bias. — Elias
Studied whether students are influenced by group opinion when making choices.
Can You Feel When You are Being Watched? — Nahla
Tested whether people can actually sense when someone is staring at them.
Materials Engineering & Testing
What’s the Grip? — Chase
Compared different chalk brands to determine which provides the best grip for climbing.
What’s the Perfect Shoe Tread? — Jack
Designed and tested shoe tread patterns to find the most effective across surfaces.
Food Science
A Matter of Batter Depth — Archer & Lucas
Investigated how batter depth affects baking time and rise in banana bread.
Building Better Boba: How Sodium Alginate and Calcium Lactate Affect Spherification — June
Tested how ingredient concentrations affect the strength of popping boba.
Plant Science
To Fertilize or not to Fertilize: The Effect of Fertilizing on Kale Growth — Samantha
Explored how different fertilizer amounts impact kale growth and appearance.
Spill the Tea: Using Compost Tea to Enhance Plant Growth — Ida
Studied how different compost teas affect plant growth over time.
Microbiology
Not Quite Clean — Samuel
Tested school hand towels for bacterial growth under different conditions.
Did You Wash Your Hands? — Zella
Compared handwashing methods to determine which best removes bacteria.
Animal Science
Helpful Hues: Color Conditioning in Light Brahma Chickens — Addie & Kyros
Investigated whether chickens can be trained to associate a color with food.
What’s for Lunch? — Aldin
Tested which foods backyard chickens prefer to eat.
What is My Bearded Dragon’s Food Preference? — Jacob
Explored which foods a bearded dragon chooses most often.
Which Bird Seed Best Attracts Native Birds in Oregon? — Blake
Studied which bird seed types attract more native versus non-native birds.
Environmental Science
Can Chlorella Vulgaris Break Down Oil? — Remy
Tested whether algae can help break down oil pollutants in water.
River Rivalry — Kam
Compared water quality across local rivers in the Portland area.
Nine of our students advanced to the state level, competing in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and they represented Marylhurst beautifully.
We are especially proud to celebrate:
Bebel — 2nd Place, Behavioral & Social Science
Blake Wienberg — 1st Place, Animal Science & Microbiology
June — Award for Outstanding Use of the International System of Units
The Science Fair is a reflection of how our students think, question, and engage with the world. From testing everyday assumptions to tackling complex challenges, our students continue to show that learning is most powerful when it is driven by curiosity.
