Riley Watkins displays science fair project

Riley Watkins (Junior)  displays her science fair project “ A Step in Solving the Clean Water Crisis”.

Photo Credit: Brylee Hugar, Addison Hinderhofer, Becca Bedford


Citrus High School Science Fair Highlights Student Creativity

Written by student: Bonnie Bunn

The Citrus High School Science Fair was a showcase of talent and innovation, as students presented experiments and projects that explored a wide range of topics. From health and baking to engineering and water safety, the event demonstrated the students’ ability to think critically and solve real-world problems.

Making Healthy Food Choices

Avery Henry, Payton Mcquaig, and Aubrie Vonderpool focused on helping others make better decisions about what they eat. Their project aimed to encourage healthier lifestyles by educating people about nutrition.

Understanding Water Issues

Riley Watkins explored the global water crisis, sharing a striking fact: “22 billion people are without clean water.” Her research emphasized the need for sustainable solutions to improve access to this vital resource.

Closer to home, Rylnn Myers and Austin Smith analyzed the water quality at their school. “The pH in the water fountains told us it is safe to drink,” they said, offering reassurance about the school’s drinking water.

Discovering the Perfect Cookie

For Kayle Cruz, the science fair was an opportunity to tackle an enjoyable question: What makes the best cookie? “I wanted to find the best cookie so people can enjoy it,” she explained. Her project combined baking methods and taste testing to find the ultimate recipe.

Building Without Power Tools

Kalani Park and William Barreto demonstrated their engineering skills with a project that used materials like PVC pipes, wood, and pulleys. “We can’t use power tools because I would cut a toe off,” William joked, highlighting the challenges they faced while designing their system.

Mastering Fire

Blayne Macias focused on managing fire for his experiment. “Keeping the fire hot and feeding it constantly was the hardest part,” he said. Despite the difficulties, his project demonstrated persistence and problem-solving.

The science fair was a celebration of curiosity and hard work. Students not only explored creative solutions to problems but also inspired others with their enthusiasm for learning.




Crystal River High School Students conduct experiments

Students burn different fibers to correctly match the fibers found at a fictitious crime scene to convict a suspect.

Crystal River High School Forensics Class

Written by student: Malayna Stippich

The forensics class at Crystal River High School is fun and educational. There are a lot of hands-on opportunities in the class and students are always doing a lab or a project.

Scott Marshall, the forensics teacher, is very organized with the work and curriculum. Mr.  Marshall's strict classroom rules help the class stay organized and on topic.

Mr. Marshall's classroom is entertaining, and students never get bored when looking around the classroom. He has all kinds of cool decorations, figurines, a class pet snake and LEGOs around his classroom. All of the decorations in the classroom correlate to science.

A Crime Scene Technician from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office recently visited Mr. Marshall’s class and talked about how she collects evidence at a crime scene.

In October students learned about fingerprints. Students completed two labs where students had to fingerprint their own fingerprints. Students also had to make a ten-print card. A ten-print card is used to record each finger’s individual print using ink. Law enforcement agencies use these cards when someone gets arrested, so that their fingerprints are recorded in an identification system. Students learned about the different kinds of fingerprints and how everyone has a different fingerprint. Two people can’t have the same fingerprint. Even twins have their own unique fingerprints.

A project that students completed included a fake crime scene, and students had to investigate the crime scene and figure out who murdered the victim.

If you are interested in a career in forensics this class will help because you learn all the basics like collecting evidence, DNA profiling, and fingerprint information.