Two kids plan better science websites

Jim Hoff and Bobby Givens of Fenton plan new and better websites for the 2003 Cyber Challenge competition. Both entered for the first time last year.

Hoff was a winner in the novice category in 2002 with a website about robots. Although Givens didn't place last year, he will join Hoff in the advanced class in the March contest.

Both plan to attend Cyber Challenge Cafe workshop January 20. It will help prospective entrants learn more about the contest. Websites need to be completed by March 3.

(If you would like to consider entry in the 2003 challenge, you can get information from the Junior Science Academy website. The address is: www.jracademy.com. Also, you can review all 2002 website entries, including those by Hoff and Givens. Just click on Members Homepages at the bottom of the Junior Academy's home page.)

The Cyber Challenge website competition provides Hoff and Givens an outlet for their long-time twin interests in science and computers. The two are eighth graders at Our Savior Lutheran School in Fenton.

The two, along with fellow classmate Mike Crisco, have shared a passion for science since third grade. In the beginning, the boys' interest was primarily in electronics and electricity.

In sixth grade, Jim shifted interest to robots. Now, he designs, programs and builds them.

Of course, the subject of Hoff's winning Cyber Challenge entry last year was robots. The site included pictures of his hand-built robot with explanations of how it worked.

But, Jim said, that robot just "sort of roamed around."

He said this year's new robot "thinks for itself," with its faster processor, better batteries and a stronger frame. It has an electronic eye feature that lets the robot "avoid a wall before even touching it," he said.

Also, it can sweep the floor and pick up small objects with its workable arm, he added.

He's changed his computer's layout software so his website also will have more features.

Bobby Givens' science interest took a different turn in fifth grade. And that shift came about in an unusual way.

Bobby said, "In fifth grade, our school got a new World Book encyclopedia. The principal gave each student one of the volumes. He told us to write a report on something in our volume. My book was the letter E. I found the section on energy and did my report on nuclear energy."

That interest has continued. "I've written a ton of reports on nuclear energy," he said. Nuclear power was the subject of last year's Cyber Challenge website. And, again this year, he's keeping that focus.

But, like Hoff, he's changed his layout software so his website can have more features.

"This year, I'll use sound and motion. I'm planning to use movies about nuclear energy. And I'll rewrite all the text on the site and include more material," he said.

Both boys have moved to an updated Flash MX layout software. Bobby said, "That's easier for me to move stuff around on the website."

Hoff hopes to major in electro-mechanical engineering in college. And he's already got his eye on a company where he might like to work. Lynx Motion in Pekin, Ill., is into robots. Hoff already buys his robot components from the company.

"I'd like to design robots for them," he said. He already works for his dad on tasks such as networking computers for clients.

Givens also has his college choices. However, he admits his first choice of MIT "might be a little stretch." But, he's also looking at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He'd like to major in nuclear engineering.

Givens and Hoff are trying to interest their buddy Mike Crisco in entering this year's Cyber Challenge. Mike didn't enter last year.

But, first Hoff has challenged Mike to a battle of robots. They want to stage a "summo wrestling" contest between their homemade robots.

Jim's so confident that he's made a totally one-sided bet with Mike. "If my robot wins, I don't get anything. But, if his wins, I agree to give him some food every day at lunch through the end of the year," he said.

Mike's robot has a better processor. "He's got the brain but I'd got the brawn," Jim said.

Despite the odds, Bobby thinks Jim's bet is good. "Mike doesn't have a chance," he said.