OLYMPIA: Evergreen professor itching to talk about ants

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• Treasure Valley school's science team winning awards at national science competition

  Treasure Valley school's science team winning awards at national science competition

  A team from Treasure Valley Math and Science Center took second place in the Lithium-Ion Battery-Powered Model Car Challenge, a featured event at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl.

  The event takes place in Washington D.C. through Monday. The team was competing for cash and prizes for building their cars with everyday household materials.

  The school’s team also has advanced to the “sweet 16” of the National Science Bowl, out of an original field of 69 high school teams from across the country, according to a release. The National Science Bowl is a nationwide academic competition that test's student's knowledge in all areas of science, in a quiz format similar to Jeopardy. The team has already taken a $1,000 prize as one of the top 16 teams.

• Stephen Hawking to join Seattle science festival

  Stephen Hawking to join Seattle science festival

  Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking will make a rare U.S. appearance in June at a Seattle science festival.

• CBC to name lab after ex-instructor

  CBC to name lab after ex-instructor

  Columbia Basin College plans to dedicate its forensic science lab after the late Jim Ownby, a former instructor and law enforcement officer.

  Ownby taught forensic science at the college from 1974 -97. He also spent 37 years in law enforcement.

  The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Thornton Center courtyard on campus, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco.

• Hanford student wins $3,000 science prize

  Hanford student wins $3,000 science prize

  A Hanford High School sophomore won $3,000 for a science project he presented earlier this month in Houston.

  Sathvik Ramanan won the Grand Award in the energy category at the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering & Environment Project event, which gathers top winners of regional, state and national science fairs.

  Ramanan's project was "Effect of Chemical Induction on the Direct Conversion of Cellulose to Aviation Biofuels by Fungi Gliocladium Species." It was carried out in the lab of Birgitte K. Ahring at Washington State University Tri-Cities with the guidance of Aftab Ahamed.

• Coffee, tea and e-cigarettes

  Coffee, tea and e-cigarettes

  There’s a new business in downtown Olympia, one that offers coffee and tea, ambiance and the chance to try or purchase a device known as an electronic cigarette.