From bouncing balls to lava lamps, teenage sleep deprivation to what makes plants grow – 100 school students have put their scientific theories to the test at a competition held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The Science Investigation Awards were held by the Primary Industries Centre for Science Education, in partnership with CSU, on Friday 16 September. The major prize, the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation’s Science Investigation Award, was won by Jasmine Garland, a Year 10 student from Mount Austin High School in Wagga Wagga, for her project looking at plant tolerance to acid, salt and grey water. The effect of different liquids on plants was also a topic explored by Year 6 students Tayla Fisher and Jack Langley from St Joseph’s Primary School in Narrandera. “Science is fun and I’ve learned a lot of things I didn’t know before,” said Jack. “We saw how white carnations turned different colours when we put them in coloured water.” Jack and Tayla won the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s Earth and Environment Award.