February 2, 2018 Pinedale Roundup Page 3
Mad scientist
Common problem is solved at Science Fair
Nicholas Primanis-Erickson, a Pinedale High School sophomore, is
shown with his science project before attending the Southwest Re-
gional Junior and Senior Division competition, Jan. 25, at Western Wyo-
ming Community College in Rock Springs.
STREET TALK
“It’s nice to help the library with the
different projects and nice to help
the children.”
Riley Murdock
In case you were wondering …
… How was Special Olympics started?
It all began in the 1950s and early 1960s, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw how unjustly and unfairly people with intellectual disabili-
ties were treated. The sister of President John F. Kennedy, Shriver revealed their sister had an intellectual disability in the popular Saturday
Evening Post article titled “Hope for the Retarded.”
She also saw that many children with intellectual disabilities didn’t have a place to play and decided to take action. She planned a summer
day camp for young people with intellectual disabilities in her own backyard. The goal was to learn what these children could do in sports and
other activities – and not dwell on what they could not do. 
She directed the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation and her vision and drive for justice grew into the Special Olympics movement. Vol-
unteer counselors were recruited from area high schools and colleges with the goal of having a one-to-one instructional ratio with campers.
By Holly Dabb
hdabb@pinedaleroundup.com
PINEDALE – A snowy ride in the fam-
ily car inspired Pinedale High School stu-
dent Nicholas Primanis-Erickson to design
an award-winning solution.
On Jan. 25, he won “Best Project in Fair”
at the Southwest Regional Junior and Se-
nior Division Science Fair.
“I was riding in the car with my dad and I
couldn’t see well past the snow,” Primanis-
Erickson said. As the headlights shine on
the snow, the eye focuses on the light that is
reflected making it difficult to see the road
or potentially animals. Primanis-Erickson
called the phenomenon a shortcoming to
“mammalian vision.”
Primanis-Erickson used his long-time
passion for photography to come up with
a solution.
“I knew how polarizing lenses work,”
Primanis-Erickson said, which inspired a
solution.
However, he needed to test his theory.
A lot of students competing have an ex-
periment already tested in a lab, but Prima-
nis-Erickson’s project was different.
He had a theory and he needed a way
to prove his methodology. That meant he
needed to simulate a snowstorm and the
human eye.
Using a basic aquarium, Primanis-Er-
ickson cut up thousands of small pieces of
foil to simulate the reflective properties of
snowflakes. He then rounded the corners
with Playdough to prevent drifts from form-
ing, and covered them with foil. A net was
placed over the aquarium to allow the free
flow of air. Add two hair dryers, and he had
a simulated snowstorm.
Primanis-Erickson then added a back-
drop outside the aquarium that pictured a
road with trees on either side. He set up a
camera on the opposite side of the aquar-
ium. He then simulated headlights using
reading lamps and photographed his storm
with and without polarizing lenses over the
lamps.
“I was shocked when it worked,” Pri-
manis-Erickson said. “The photos of the
backdrop were much more clear with the
lenses.”
What do you get out of volunteering?
“Giving back to the community; I “A deeper sense of community.”
was born and raised here, graduated
from Pinedale High School. It’s good
to give back to a community that has
given so much to me.” Keri Cross
Lesta Winer
IN CASE YOU WERE
WONDERING
Let us know what you’re wondering.
Email editor@pinedaleroundup.com
or call (307) 367-2123.
After winning Best Project, Nicho-
las Primanis-Erickson is awarded
a trophy and scholarship. He will
go on to compete at the state sci-
ence fair in Laramie, March 5-8.
After winning his best project honors,
Primanis-Erickson goes on the road with
his show. He will be among the hundreds of
Wyoming students who will showcase their
original projects during the Wyoming State
Science Fair, March 6-8, at the University
of Wyoming.
Students will display their science, tech-
nology, engineering and mathematics re-
search for the opportunity to qualify for
two prestigious science competitions. For
students in grades 9-12, the International
Science and Engineering Fair, in Phoenix,
Ariz., is an opportunity to meet student-sci-
entists from throughout the world and the
chance to win prizes of up to $75,000.
Primanis-Erickson has his eyes on the
prize money.
“If I win the money, I can develop my
technology for the future,” he said.
His goal is to advance the theory for use
on driverless vehicles. Automated cars that
use sensors for control cannot be used in
the snow. For the same reason human eyes
can’t see past the snow, sensors detect an
“object” and the vehicle stops.
“I’d like to go to nationals this year,” Pri-
manis-Erickson said. He called his project
“real science.”
“I discovered a new problem, found a
solution and developed the methodology to
show how well my technology worked.” n
“There’s a difference between vol-
unteering and voluntold; I get told
what to do.”
Clay Olson
“The satisfaction of giving back to
the community; that’s really what
it’s about.”
Carrie Long
“I grew up in a family that is very
community-minded and it’s impor-
tant to give back.”
Kenna Tanner