Whiz Kid: Charlie Veeck

Whiz Kid: Charlie Veeck

School: St. James

Grade: 7th grade, Age 13

Accomplishment: Will compete in next week’s statewide Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science statewide competition

How he did it: While most people see stink bugs as a mere annoyance, Charlie Veeck, 13, saw them as inspiration for his school science project.

Charlie's science project idea came from last summer’s stink bug infestation and how challenging it  was to kill them without them stinking. 

Also, “I like to kill them,” he said.  “It’s fun.”

Charlie decided to test to determine which dishwashing liquid most quickly kills stink bugs. After receiving an "A" on his project at , he chose to compete at the regional Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science at Keystone Oaks in February with other seventh- and eighth-graders from the area. 

There,  Charlie received a high-enough score to move onto the statewide competition, which will take place next Monday at Penn State University.

“I am a little nervous, but my sister has competed at the state level before and said that it was a great experience,” Charlie said. 

He can’t be too nervous, however, because his public speaking skills are strong due to his involvement in the forensics club.

As for which dishwashing liquid does the trick?

“Dawn works the fastest,” Charlie said, “because it has the most triclosin in it, which poisons the stink bugs.”