Forget blood and bone or Rootblast - junior scientist Hannah Brooks discovered yelling at plants makes them grow quicker.

The 12-year-old from Richmond View School set up an experiment on how plants react to sound for the Marlborough Lines Science & Technology Fair.

One plant she yelled at every day. Another was talked to nicely. One got folk-pop singer Brooke Fraser played to it and another, the rock band Audio Adrenaline.

One plant was a control.

The result was a little unexpected - Hannah said the plant that got the abuse got bigger quicker.

Hannah's experiment was one of 344 exhibits, and 518 entrants from schools around the region in the annual science and technology fair that got under way at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 in Blenheim yesterday.

SciTec has been run in collaboration with Marlborough Lines, the Blenheim Lions, local schools, teachers and community sponsors for more than 20 years.

Plant and Food Research scientist Rob Agnew was chief judge for the exhibits of senior students in years 7 to 13, and was assisted by a team of about 15 other judges from the community including scientists and technologists.

Springlands School teacher Cathee Wilks and students from the Marlborough Boys' and Girls' colleges judged the exhibits of pupils year 6 and below.

Marlborough Lines SciTec Fair committee member Ali Kay said Marlborough Lines had long been an advocate for increasing youth interest in science and technology, and was committed to assisting schools in enhancing students' interest in these areas.

The fair gave students a chance to be a scientist or technologist through conducting experiments to find about their world, or problem-solving to make life easier for others, she said.

- The Marlborough Express

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