[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 75 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MONTELLO STUDENTS SPACE SEED PROJECT ON SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY

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                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 24, 1999

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, this past year, students from Montello, 
Wisconsin worked on a project that entailed an international experiment 
which was included on last fall's historic Discovery space shuttle 
flight.
  The experiment involved vials of lettuce seeds from Wisconsin and 
chicory seeds from Italy being subjected to micro gravity, extreme heat 
and cold during the NASA flight. While in space, the project was tended 
by astronaut John Glenn. The seeds are being studied to determine the 
effects of space travel. Early results indicated that the space seeds 
did as well as the control seeds despite not being fertilized. This 
unexpected finding could have far-reaching implications for the 
environment.
  The school-wide project included students of different ages and the 
central theme allowed all types of classes to be involved, such as 
English, history, and agriculture. The seed project, ``Growing Montello 
Transglobally'' is a joint effort with students from the II Montello 
region of Italy. The students communicated over the Internet using an 
Italian translator program.
  During a visit to Montello High in January, I had the opportunity to 
discuss the project with the students and was impressed by their 
interests and abilities. I toured classes where students had 
participated in computer portions of the project, from sharing and 
tracking information with their sister school in Montello, Italy, to 
downloading and sending digital photographs. I was also impressed by a 
video documentary of the project and related activities that was made 
in conjunction with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
  The Wisconsin students were able to go to Florida to view the 
Discovery launch in October. They raised their own money for the trip 
through a variety of fund-raisers which included selling cookies and T-
shirts and hosting a spaghetti dinner.
  Seventh and eighth grade students in the Montello School system are 
co-authoring a children's picture book. The students developed their 
own ideas for the characters, plot, settings, and illustrations 
featuring children from Montello, Italy and Montello, Wisconsin. The 
book will feature NASA projects as seen from the children's 
perspective. They will be submitting the book to a professional 
publisher. A literacy quilt was created to highlight the success of the 
NASA Project.
  Catherine Ellenbecker, teacher, has been asked to have the students 
do a multimedia presentation on the seed project at the Naval Academy 
in Annapolis in September.
  The time and effort the students of Montello, Wisconsin and II 
Montello of Italy put into this project was phenomenal and their 
achievements and successes should be recognized. I believe these 
students deserve a full measure of praise for all they have 
accomplished.

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