In preprartion for our paired project using mutant and normal Fast Plants, I have sent Shirai a package full of special styrofoam containers, easy self-watering mechanisms, and more instructions for building a lighting stand from PCV pipe and light fixtures. I went ahead and built a stand myself , with a bit of help from Dr. Bruce Cahoon, who is assisting me on this project, from Middle Tennessee State University's Biology Department. It took us one hour to purchase the stuff, and one hour to assemble. It is NOT a work of art, but it is stable and reusable. Even his daughter, Clare, helped us.

I also simplified our pre- and post-survey for my class and Shirai's fourth grade classes. Dr. Kizuka, from Kushiro, has offered to help translate it into Japanese, if needed. Dr. Kizuka has been a great help to us at Kashiwagi Elementary. But, I have faith that Shirai can translate the easy survey himself.

The reason we are doing a pre- and post-survey is that we hope to have a paper published in a respected scientific journal. Of course, Shirai's name and mine will be included. Shirai and I have worked hard, very hard, to make sure all our variables are consistent. We even collaborated on what components of soil for our Fast Plants would be...including volcanic ash. The only variable we cannot fully control is temperature. Drs. Cahoon and Sadler said this should not be a real problem.

Also, Dr. Bruce Cahoon and Dr. Kim Sadler from Middle Tennessee State University, and I have simplified and modified a power point presentation on "What is a mutant?" This is to help the students realize that a mutant is not an alien from outer space, but rather just a natural variation. Shirai and Koji will have to translate the power point. If it is too difficult, I can have Mrs. Nikki Ogawa, a Bellwood Discovery parent, who is from Hokkaido originally, translate and type in Japanese for us.

Our only problem, at this point, is that the video conferencing is not functioning, due to a firewall having been put up again. This is being remedied, I hope.

My goal is for everything to be ready by mid-September. I hope the package I sent to Shirai will make it safely. And soon.

Cynthia Jones
Bellwood Discovery School

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Grertings. I'm using a simple 2 x 36" full spectrum florescent bulbs on a plywood frame. We use plastic milk cartond to get the plants close to the lights.
My students, some of whom "garden" suggest high pressure sodium bulbs and extoll the virtues of such a system. It's unfamiliar to me.
I hope to get skype beta set up so that we can use skype for both audio and visual. I haven't had any experience with it yet, but I imagine that there will be less to go wrong.
Cheers,Jim