Aspiring chemists, psychologists and botanists entered the annual science fair at Liberty Middle School.

Eighth-grade science teachers Carla Beardslee and Amy Lyons coordinated projects from 34 students.

In computer science, Alex Dillon won first place and Best in Show for “MyPad Tablet, Powered by Fusion OS.” Dillon designed his custom-built tablet computer as a cost-effective alternative to iOS and Android-based tablets.

The device “comes with several apps that I developed that provide email, mobile productivity, Internet and gaming functions,” Dillon said.

Dillon’s ‘MyPad’ is compatible with MyCube, a data-sharing site he developed. “MyCube is compatible with all major browsers and operating systems and provides online personal data storage, instant messaging and group chat,” he said.

Skyler Laney won first place in behavioral science for “Testing Accuracy of Eyewitness Accounts.” Other winners were Jarrod Parker, “The Lies Tells Tell”; Kyra Gomes, “No Pain, No Game”; and Julia Gorti, “Lip Balm Chemistry.”

For biological science, Kimberly Waggener earned first place for “Dog Saliva’s Effect on Bacteria.” Others recognized were Vinootna Kantety, “Direct Isolation of Upland Cotton Chromosomes”; Preston Lamb, “Are There Factors that Influence or Affect Sensitivity of Taste?” and Wendy Nguyen, “Which Hand Sanitizer Works Most Effectively?”

Grace Barnes’ “That’s How I Roll!” received first-place honors for physical science. Other winners were Spencer Barnes, “Getting High with Science”; Michelle Abreo, “Vitamin C”; Dakotah Morgan, “Arrow Proof”; and Tucker Pearson, “Water – A Profitable Solution for Fuel?,” Kaitlyn Weiss, “Can Heat Keep You out of the Cooler?,” Ethan Rakoff, “Does pH Affect Voltage?” and Nour Qushair, “Which Single Food Item Generates More Electricity?”

On March 8, Liberty entered the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. From more than 500 projects in ten categories, Liberty took first place in four categories.

Dillon, Waggener, Laney and Spencer Barnes won first place at UAH. Other regional winners were Grace Barnes, Lamb and Pearson, second; Weis, third; Rakoff, Kantety, Gorti and Parker, fourth; and Gomes, honorable mention.