Space Plants is Back

Research season is now in full swing! The last few months have been spent gathering resources, doing all the planning, and filling out paperwork. I am proud to announce that year six is beginning tomorrow - something I am extremely excited about. I hope to be posting to this site more regularly from now on and hopefully giving you all my research paper within the next few months.

Day 3 of State

More than a little disappointed at my outcome here at State. I earned a recognition award (equivalent of 6th place) and an honorable mention from the USDA ARS. It's just a bit of a let down after getting second place last year, especially considering there's only 15 people, including me, in the category and they award multiple people to the lower places. I'll get over it though. Better luck next year.

Day 2 of State

I feel like judging went fairly well today. I'm trying not to really think about it because I really just want to have fun without worrying about the outcome. Tomorrow we go golfing. Should be fun.

Day 1 of State

So, day 1 went pretty well. No dropping anything on anyone's feet. Everything's all set up with no issues. Opening ceremonies are done and over with (thank you) and we're all nervous for judging tomorrow. Should be fun though! I'm excited. I am bound determined to win.

2 Days Until Fair

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. State is in two days. My board is finished and has already been delivered to the transport site. I've looked at the hotel we're staying at and it is beautiful.
I'm a bit disappointed I have not finished this site. I am continuing to work on it, but it takes a while to type up old research papers. By the time I finish this site, I hope to have graphs and data tables up like I would in my usual research papers. Graphs don't seem like too big of a problem to get up here, but I'm not sure I can get the data tables up. But I'll try.
I'll give updates while at State. I'm really hoping to bring home first place this year, but State is not an easy thing to conquer. There's so many good projects there. It'll be tough but I think I can do it.

New Addition!

As I hope you know, to the right are my research files. You can view my (almost) full research papers. I'm still working out how to insert data tables and graphs. You can also look at pictures. They're only from Year 5. Also, I'm working on adding a page with just my abstracts in case you just want a simple overview of each year's work.
Enjoy!

T-12 Days and Counting!

There's less than two weeks until the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair. I've finished all of my graphs and changes to concluding information, so all that's left to be done is the board. I have to finish switching things out. Plenty of time for that considering that we're now on Spring Break! Exciting! I'm still working on this site and getting everything up on here. I really want to have it all up before I leave. Seems like a reasonable goal. Definitely starting to feel how close it's getting.

Working on Year 3

Year 3 is in progress. I want to add that my background information is devoid of any bibliographic information and in-text citations. I am aware. Bibliographic information is located at the bottom of each paper and revisions will soon be taking place to ensure that each author is given due credit for their work. I have no intention of stealing information. I was merely a young, inexperienced writer when this project began and since then, many of the information has been recycled, therefore giving it no ownership. Nearly nothing of the background is my own knowledge prior to the beginning of this project. I hope you recognize it as such. Thank you.

Orlando Science Center

So, I didn't win the OSC Science Challenge, which is fine, I guess. There were originally four people in the category but only me and another kid named Connor showed up. Connor had a good project. It was about predicting hurricanes and his predictions were nearly spot-on with the National Weather Service, I think it was. I could be making that up, I'm not sure. Spot-on with someone important.
Anyway, there's three weeks left until State. I'm really looking forward to it. Three days off school with some good friends of mine. I love State Fair. Gotta a bit of work to do before hand though. I've got to finish this site up, for one. I'd really like to be able to have it make its debut there. Anyway, school's about to start, so I'm off.

P.S. Pictures are now up from my recent project.

Year 5 is up

My most recent project is now posted. I have hopes to get years 3 and 4 up by Friday, but that may just be a pipe dream. If I don't get it done by Friday, it will be done early April. Had a lot of things going on, so I apologize. Good thing is that things appear to be slowing and I'm hoping that it isn't a mirage.
My next competition is this Saturday at the Orlando Science Center. I never try to get my hopes up for this fair because they award so few awards. It's an all or nothing fair, you either get first or you don't. Nevertheless, it's good practice for the State Science and Engineering Fair, which is also in Orlando this year. Should be fun. =) Wish me luck!

Year 2 is up

Well, almost. All except some bibliography sites which I currently don't have time enough to finish. Tomorrow!

Year 1 is up

My research paper for Year 1 is typed up and now available for viewing. Year 2 is in progress.

Welcome!

Welcome to Space Plants! My name is Ashley and I am a student researcher. I have conducted five years of research of optimizing plant growth for microgravity. I have competed in several fairs, earned several place awards, and won awards from NASA, the Society of Women Engineers, the Institute for Electronical and Electronics Engineers, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
My project is concerned with optimizing the growth of plants for a space environment. I started with finding which techniques and mediums were best for plants before putting plants into a simulated microgravity environment to test the effects. I then began to increase lighting and natural hormones within the plant to increase production.
You can expect to see more information on here in the coming months. I've been informed that it is possible to upload documents onto here, so I plan on having all my research papers on here eventually. So, have a look around, enjoy, and I look forward to seeing what you have to say!