YOUNGSTOWN They've got it down to a science

Rich Giles won the top prize in Saturday's Lake to River Science Day at YSU.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- For many eighth-graders, cutting the lawn is a chore that's best to be avoided. An eighth-grader at Choffin Career and Technical Center, however, has found that cutting the lawn can lead to success.
Robert Giles, 14, turned grass-cutting into a science experiment that earned him first place in the eighth-grade environmental science division at the Youngstown School District's all-city science fair.
He determined through his experiment that grass grew faster after he cut it.
Brothers: Robert's brothers also have turned household chores into science success. Michael Giles, 11, a fifth-grader at West Elementary School won first in the science fair's fifth-grade physical science division for an experiment showing that sugar dissolves faster in hot water.
He got the idea for his experiment after an unsuccessful attempt to make gelatin with cold water.
Rich Giles, meanwhile, won Best of Show in the science fair's senior high division for an experiment showing that flowers have different pigments that can be separated. His experiment stemmed from time spent in his family's garden.
Rich, 16, a junior at Woodrow Wilson High School, also won a $2,000 scholarship to Youngstown State University and the Best of Fair plaque Saturday at Lake to River Science Day at the university.
The win earned Rich his third trip to the state science fair.
All three Giles brothers participated in the Lake to River Science Day.
Michael said he was amazed that he and his two brothers each won awards at the city science fair.
"I felt proud of myself and so did my mom," he said.
Mom's reaction: Teri Giles said she was so surprised to learn that each of her sons had won an award that, "the guy behind me said that they were going to have to carry me out."
"My heart did not take it too well," she said.
Teri said she believes part of her sons' interest in science could be genetic, as she has a bachelor's degree in biology from Kent State University. She works cleaning offices, while her husband, Rick, works in maintenance with the Youngstown schools.
Robert said he likes using science to find out his friends are wrong in their assumptions about the world, while Michael enjoys using science to try and help people.
Rich added that he likes learning about the learning process, and that he wants to major in chemistry in college.
"I enjoy being able to discover new things," he said.
Teri also stressed that she doesn't let the brothers use science to compete against one other.
"I want them to be more supportive of each other than competitive," she said. Each of the brothers seemed to take that message to heart.
"I like to see us all win," Michael added, while Rich said, "I was very excited for my brothers [at the city science fair]."
"It was exciting that we were all there," Robert said.
hill@vindy.com