Science fair a happy hunting ground
Verdon College student Ryan Conner, 12, is stuffing possums to make his project stand out at the Southland Social Science Fair.
Ryan was setting up his science fair project ‘Man Vs Possum’ at the Invercargill Workingmens Club on Tuesday.
He is one of hundreds of students from throughout the region who will display their research and findings in this year’s science fair.
His project features a stuffed possum he trapped himself and that was stuffed by Lloyd Esler, a bottle of lure made from flour and cinnamon and possum fur ready to be sold.
The project was on trapping and possum control, he said.
Ryan has had an interest in possum trapping since he was seven years old.
He went possum hunting with his dad and uncle, and even had friends with the shared interest, he said.
As well as it being a hobby, possum hunting was a good way to make some pocket money by selling the fur, he said.
Southland Social Science Fair committee chairman Lloyd Esler, who is organising the event, said this year he expected about 230 entries from 26 schools in the region.
The number of entries was up on the 160 received last year, Esler said.
‘‘I’m reasonably pleased with the turnout.’’
Esler hoped more schools would be encouraged to get their students involved.
Students from year 5 to 13 could enter the competition and have the chance to show off their research and findings, he said.
Students would be judged by year group as well as category. Categories included farming, disasters, heritage, conservation and cultures.
The fair tended to draw in a big crowds with family members, retirement homes and kindergarten visits expected this year, Esler said.
‘‘Lots of people come through and enjoy it.’’
In the future the committee was looking at pairing up with other science fairs for the students’ work to get a wider reach, Esler said.
The fair would be open for public viewing until Saturday afternoon.