(06/05/17) WINNFIELD, La. – Winn Parish 4-H’er Caroline Whisonant never thought that what started as a minor kitchen fire would eventually land her in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held May 14-19 in Los Angeles.

Whisonant said she was disturbed by the chemical residue left behind after her mother snuffed out a small stovetop fire using a standard fire extinguisher.

“I had some clothes on the table close to the kitchen, and they were ruined by the chemicals, so I was highly upset,” she said.

Wanting to find a way to extinguish fire without the use of water or chemicals, Whisonant began her research project in November in time to enter the local school science competition two months later.

Whisonant, a Winnfield Senior High School freshman, was selected for the international competition with her project “All About That Bass: Acoustical Suppression of a Blaze” after placing first overall in the high school division at the Louisiana Region II Science and Engineering Fair held Feb. 10 at Louisiana Tech University.

Whisonant started piecing her hypothesis together when she remembered an instance from her childhood when sound vibrations from her uncle’s music speakers created gusts of air blowing her hair.

“I wondered if the gusts of air from sound vibrations could extinguish a fire,” she said.

After learning about sound wave experiments conducted in 1905 by German physicist Heinrich Rubens, Whisonant constructed a prototype soundwave tube extinguisher, which she connected to both a power source and her smartphone.

Whisonant tested her device on three types of fires using alcohol, pine wood and cotton terrycloth as fuel sources.

“I substituted alcohol for grease because my mom wouldn’t let me start a grease fire on purpose,” she said, “I was all for it, but it was a little too dangerous.”

To test her theory, Whisonant tried popular hip-hop and pop music and a bass mechanic tune commonly used for sound mixing to create sound waves with varying frequencies.

“The songs with lyrics were fun to listen to and everything, but they did not extinguish a fire,” she said. “Only consistent frequencies of 30 to 60 hertz that produce a constant humming noise with the bass vibrations will extinguish a fire.”

Whisonant said she performed many trials and had to stand on a stool hoisting the large heavy tube over the stovetop.

“I was super excited when I first saw it work,” she said.

Whisonant was the first and only Winn Parish student to complete a science fair project at the high school level, said Winnfield Middle School teacher and science fair co-chair Daniel Rockett. She relied on her middle school mentors, Rockett and science fair co-chair Carolee Adams, to approve her project and assist with the necessary paperwork to enter the competition.

Whisonant also attributes much of her success at the fair to her learning experiences as a Winn Parish 4‑H member.

“When I first joined 4-H in fourth grade, I volunteered to lead the pledges or give a demonstration, and that’s how I became interested in public speaking and improving my communication skills,” she said, adding that 4-H has taught her using teamwork and organization skills that benefited her science fair project.

Carolyn Lang, Whisonant’s grandmother and a Winn parish 4-H leader, said she was impressed with the diversity of the event that brought together students from around the world. “The students used smartphone apps to translate and communicate with each other,” she said.

“Caroline has such a positive attitude and passion for learning, and she is extremely energetic,” said Winn Parish 4-H agent Karen Shirley.

Although she did not place at the international event where she competed with 60 other entries in the physics and astronomy division, just being selected to go and meet so many people from across the world was prize enough, Whisonant said.

Because she presented at the international fair, Whisonant was offered an opportunity to submit an audition video to be considered for a spot on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

“The casting producer said they were looking for energetic and creative students with cool inventions to introduce on the Fallonventions segment of the show,” she said.

Still thinking about expanding her project, testing different materials and songs with lyrics that will work, Whisonant would like to see if a smaller version of her device could be developed for installation over stovetops.

“If there was a fire on your stovetop, you could press a button and it would be bluetoothed to your phone so you can get out of the area and remotely extinguish the fire,” she said.

Whisonant serves on the state 4-H Fashion Board, is campaigning for a spot as a regional representative on the state 4-H Executive Board, serves as the state president of the American Legion Jr. Auxiliary and was elected sentinel in her high school FFA program.

Winnfield Senior High School freshman Caroline Whisonant demonstrates how consistent bass frequencies can produce sound vibrations powerful enough to extinguish a fire with her soundwave-powered fire extinguisher developed as part of the science fair project she presented in May at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. Photo by Karol Osborne/LSU AgCenter

4-H member Caroline Whisonant (right) won an all-expense paid trip to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held recently in Los Angeles. She was accompanied on the trip by her grandmother and Winn parish 4-H leader, Carolyn Lang (center), pictured with Winn parish 4‑H agent Karen Shirley (left). Photo by Karol Osborne/LSU AgCenter