Yeast Growth Challenge Competition
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New Hampshire
Science and Engineering Exposition
Objective
The objective is to use a simple living thing and its natural food processing pathways to produce the maximum
amount of carbon dioxide in a fixed period of time. The optimal growth conditions will be pre-determined by the
students and the amount of carbon dioxide will be measured on site.
Purpose
-To encourage research on food processing, glycolysis, fermentation, and other related processes.
-To understand and learn to culture microorganisms in liquid media.
-To measure the production of carbon dioxide by fermenting microorganisms.
-To research and improve the conditions of the culture in order to enhance fermentation.
Means
Individuals or teams of students will have to determine what culture medium and substrates are the best to maximize
fermentation in baker’s yeast. Following the rules, the students will have to determine which growth conditions are
the most efficient.
Rules
-The microorganism to be used is common baker’s yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
-The volume of liquid medium plus living cells should not exceed 500 mL.
-The best culture medium is to be determined by the students.
-The optimal growth conditions (temperature, pH, pressure…) are to be determined by the students.
Competition
The objective is to get the best carbon dioxide production within a one hour period. The measurement will be done
on site, using a CO2-Vernier probe, which will be inserted in the culture medium.
The highest concentration difference between time zero and 60 minutes will be kept on file and will account for your
score.
Scoring
The top three highest concentration increases will receive prizes.
