1 National Science Foundation Kids' Science Challenge Research Project by Claire Dworsky CE2-B, Lycée Français la Pérouse Comparing Water Runoff from Synthetic Turf vs. Grass Soccer Fields

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 2 The question I want to answer:  Can we test different stages of the water cycle runoff from grass & turf fields to see: is one more toxic than the other? is one more toxic than the other? could the water hurt plants, people, animals or ocean life? could the water hurt plants, people, animals or ocean life? Turf Water Grass Water

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 3 Why do I care?  I’ve been playing soccer since I was 3  I like turf, but I see a difference in water from grass fields – I want to make sure it’s safe

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 4 My Team  Dr. Adina Paytan, Professor, UC Santa Cruz  Mr. Jim Metzner, Pulse of the Planet  Mr. Brett Barry, Pulse of the Planet  Me  My mom and dad

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 5 Project Outline 1.Literature Review – What do we know? 2.Ask the Experts – What do they know? 3.Ask the City – What do they know? 4.Collect most water samples ever studied on this topic 5.Plant experiment 6.Animal experiment 7.Analyze the samples with Professor Paytan 8.Make a report

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 6 Description  Let’s use science to understand what’s in the water runoff from turf and grass fields  Let’s understand what this means for kids and the environment  Let’s look at what’s good and bad about turf and grass fields

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 7 Grass Fields  Good Soft, natural, many different uses Soft, natural, many different uses Make our parks green, filter storm water Make our parks green, filter storm water Provide homes for insects and rodents Provide homes for insects and rodents  Bad Lots of water, pesticides, fertilizer, mowing, seeding Lots of water, pesticides, fertilizer, mowing, seeding Expensive maintenance, gardening vehicle pollution Expensive maintenance, gardening vehicle pollution No game or practice if it’s wet at all No game or practice if it’s wet at all Injuries Injuries

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 8 Synthetic Turf Fields  Good Ok in wet weather: 2-3 times more games than grass Ok in wet weather: 2-3 times more games than grass especially in wet cities like SFespecially in wet cities like SF Requires little water, no pesticides, little maintenance Requires little water, no pesticides, little maintenance Fewer injuries Fewer injuries Costs less (total) Costs less (total)  Bad: Costs more at first, compared to grass Costs more at first, compared to grass Gets really hot in hot weather Gets really hot in hot weather Crumb rubber gets into everything Crumb rubber gets into everything Toxic chemicals (older fields), bacteria? Toxic chemicals (older fields), bacteria? Crumb Rubber

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 9 My Study of Turf and Grass Runoff  We’re looking at 100 water samples Taken from 5 grass fields and 5 turf in SF Taken from 5 grass fields and 5 turf in SF  We’re looking at chemicals, bacteria and other issues What do these mean for living things? What do these mean for living things?  Plant and Animal Study See what happens to them in that water See what happens to them in that water

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 10 Procedures  Suck water out with syringe If too hard to get water, add sterile water If too hard to get water, add sterile water Put into sterile vials and label each Put into sterile vials and label each  Keep a journal and notebook  Look at the water with my microscope Take pictures & movies Take pictures & movies  Next: Go UC Santa Cruz lab and figure out different ways to look at the water and what’s in it Go UC Santa Cruz lab and figure out different ways to look at the water and what’s in it

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 11 Creatures in the Water 5 May 2009 Water Sample from Kezar Stadium Grass Field 20x Magnification It’s Alive!

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 12 For more info  Go to Learn about the contest and other projects Learn about the contest and other projects Follow my blog Follow my blog  Listen to Pulse of the Planet on NPR  Ask me!

Copyright © 2009 by Claire Dworsky. All rights reserved. 13 Thanks to:  National Science Foundation  Jim Metzner  Kids’ Science Challenge  My teachers & coaches