When seven-year-old Christopher Rozakeas was in grade one, he asked his father what biodegradable plastic was. He saw it written on a shopping bag earlier that day. After learning from his father, a chemical engineer, that biodegradable plastic could be broken down quickly in soil, Christopher set about cutting several samples of plastic and paper and burying them in the garden. He regularly dug up his samples from the soil and took photographs to record how quickly different plastic and paper decayed in the soil. He presented his results to his Grade 1, 2 and 3 classes as part of his “show and tell”.
“I have always been curious about new things so I asked my father what sort of plastic it was. I thought that the project would not take very long, but it lasted for over two years,” Christopher tells Neos Kosmos.
Today, Christopher is a nine-year-old boy who has recently been awarded a major bursary and medal in the prestigious Science Talent Search school competition. Organised by the Science Teachers Association of Victoria and running in Victoria for about 60 years, this competition awards those who have undertaken practical research projects.
“This award means that I have achieved something after a few years work and thinking about things. I spent half of the prize money on my favourite computer game. The other half I donated to the Asthma Foundation of Victoria. I have never won any prize money before,” Christopher says.
This year, the Science Talent Search had over 2000 entries – children from as young as five up to the higher primary and junior school ages. They presented experimental projects, short science documentaries, working models, creative writing and inventions.
“Christopher’s motivation seems to originate from how fun science can be – especially practical science and experiments. This year he also started making biodegradable plastics from corn starch and milk using recipes he obtained from books and the internet. He also used his microscope to make a time lapse movie of how biodegradable plastic broke down in water. He wasn’t very enthusiastic to write a report on his experiments over the school holidays last year, but we encouraged and helped him write a little bit each day until he finished,” Christopher’s father, Peter Rozakeas says.
Christopher’s experimental research project on biodegradable plastics was also recently selected to be entered in the Australia wide BHP Science and Engineering Competition. His experimental project reached the semi-finals and won another prize. In the letter he received from BHP Science and Engineering Awards, the committee expresses how impressed they were with the amount of work Christopher put in, and encourage him to pursue his interest in science. Even though the three finalists were all secondary school students, Christopher’s project managed to receive a certificate and prize.

Interest in science
Young Christopher Rozakeas became interested in science from an early age. During his kindergarten years he fell in love with documentaries on nature and his favourite programs were about planets and stars. Most of us will wonder how someone, at the age of only nine or even younger, can be involved in science as much as Christopher is?
Well, having a father who is a chemical engineer certainly helped. Christopher kept his father Peter very busy over the years, trying to find answers to some of his numerous questions. Some of his primary school teachers also commented on Christopher being a very inquisitive child who asked lots of questions, so, as his father Peter says, his scientific experiments have probably been a natural pursuit.
During the time consuming experimental project over two years, and the experimental report with his observations, Christopher received help from his mother and father, so that the photographs and writing in his report could be clearly set out. His younger brother Alexander sometimes helped him with digging up his plastic samples that he buried in the garden.
“Writing the report was the most difficult part because it gobbled up two weeks of my school holidays. But it was worth it and I got a bonus Lego set at the end. The experiments, making biodegradable plastic and the time lapse movie were lots of fun. I love doing scientific experiments because you are not sure what will happen,” Christopher explains to Neos Kosmos.
In State Science Talent Search, Christopher had to present his project at the presentation day at La Trobe University. As he said to his parents, he was only nervous on presentation day when he walked up on stage to collect his award and medal.
“He enjoyed talking about his experimental project to other interested adults and students who asked him lots of questions about his work. The primary school that Christopher attends emphasises weekly ‘show and tell’ type presentations from prep classes onwards and so children are very confident when speaking about their interests,” explains Peter Rozakeas.
After two important achievements that came at the young age of nine, Christopher is not certain yet of the career he wants to pursue in the future. And he also has quite a few talents, making it even harder decision to make.
“At this point in my life I would like to become a forensic scientist or a philosopher. I play the trombone in the school band and I just started training for the National Boys Choir. I like music as well, so I may become a musician. I am not sure yet,” he tells us.
Very proud of him, Christopher’s parents try to encourage their children to be independent and free thinkers, just like the ancient Greeks were. Father Peter says they would be happy if Christopher pursued his passion in life, whatever that may be.
“The thing that I am most proud and pleased with, that came out of this exercise, was the fact that Christopher had no hesitation in donating half his small prize money to the Asthma Foundation of Victoria.”
And when it comes to this talented, environmentally friendly schoolboy from Melbourne, he already has few new ideas in mind about projects to come. In the spirit of great scientists, however, he won’t reveal any details.
“I saw a television program a long time ago about animals dying because they swallowed normal plastic. Turtles, dolphins and even huge whales can choke on plastic rubbish in the water. I learnt a lot about the damage that normal plastic does to the environment and to animals. I would like to see a safer and cleaner world for animals and people. I am already thinking about new science projects to do next year. I have a few ideas but they are a secret.”