SARSEF in the ’70s: Bold student science from tobacco to transportation
In the 1970s, SARSEF empowered young scientists to explore innovative projects on topics like tobacco, vehicle aerodynamics, and cardiovascular research, reflecting the decade's spirit of discovery.

As bell bottoms brushed the floor and science took center stage, students participating in the SARSEF science fair in the 1970s were investigating projects ranging from nicotine in tobacco plants to the physics of passing cars.
These budding researchers were as bold and boundary-pushing as the decade itself, proving that STEM education, much like platform shoes, was reaching new heights.
During the 1970s, the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation fair experienced rapid growth, with about 400 young scientists showcasing their far-out ideas each year.
In 1971, Kaye Steelnick from Townsend Middle School was only 13 when she decided to explore tobacco plant growth for her project, which investigated the presence of nicotine during the plant's life cycle.
Her research revealed that nicotine is absent during the plant’s first two months but fluctuates as the plant matures.
Steelnick’s work closely followed a pivotal moment in American public health history, as the tide began to turn against the tobacco industry.
In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General's report made an undeniable connection between smoking and serious health risks, including lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Just a few years later, cigarette advertising on TV and radio was banned, marking a major step in a decades-long battle to limit tobacco's influence on American culture.
The connection between science fair projects and contemporary issues was evident in other student research as well. In 1971, SARSEF participants who advanced to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Kansas City presented projects that tackled engineering and physiological sciences.
Brad Clark examined, “What are the Pressure Effects on Passing Vehicles?” while John Farney studied “Modification of a Visceral Response: Change in Rabbit Heart Rate.”
These projects aligned with the growing interest in biomechanics, transportation safety, and physiological responses, fields that gained prominence as industries sought innovation in automotive design and medicine.
In the 1970s, the automotive industry was changing quickly due to two main factors: the oil crisis of 1973 and new government rules about vehicle safety and fuel efficiency. The oil crisis made people more aware of the need for cars that used less gas, while the new regulations pushed car manufacturers to design safer and more efficient vehicles. Clark’s study on aerodynamics of passing cars was part of a larger trend in the automotive industry, which focused on improving car designs for better fuel efficiency and safety.
Meanwhile, in biomedical research, scientists were making big strides in studying how the body works. Farney’s research on how stress affected the heart rate in rabbits was part of a growing interest in cardiology and the nervous system. This research was important because scientists wanted to understand how stress and other outside factors could affect the body’s biological processes, like heart rate, and how these responses might relate to human health.
SARSEF provided students with a platform to explore questions that resonated with both historical and emerging scientific conversations.
As SARSEF grooves into its 70th anniversary, reflecting on these past projects shines a spotlight on how student research has captured the vibe of scientific exploration. From the cool, innovative ideas of the 70’s to the cutting-edge advancements today, SARSEF has been at the forefront of science innovation in Southern Arizona.
Angelina Maynes is a University of Arizona alum and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at angelinamaynes@arizona.edu.
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