AboutRalph Salier-Hellendag Expertise Science Fair Judge for many years and experience with robotics, biology, chemistry, industrial processes, metalurgy and metal forming.
Experience Science Fair Judge for many years and have helped several students get to state level competition. Most recently 2 of my students received state level awards and one went on to the nationals in Washington DC.
Education/Credentials BA Archaeology - Anthropology
MA Business Anthropology
Question My child is doing a science fair project involving the measurment of children feet. Do you know of any similar projects done on this subject and any links or reference materials associated with them?
Answer Hi Patty.
I am not aware of any science projects of a similar nature. That does not mean however, that this kind of thing has not happened in the past. To get standards and metrics, you may want to speak to your pediatrician, podiatrist and perhaps some one at a Kinney Shoe store which specializes in fitting kids shoes - They have a manual just for this purpose - or at least they used to.
Does your child want to look for differences in size and width between boys and girls at a specific age? or by height or weight?
In all cases, since your child is using human subjects, find out if they need to sign a release. In some states and for "official" state sanctioned science fairs, these are required. A release form is basically signed by the child (preferably by the child's parents) giving your child permission to measure the foot and take other information such as age, height, weight etc...
Another resource may be at your local university that has an anthropology department. Call them up and ask if they have an Archaeological Osteologist on staff. This is an Archaeologist who studies bones. There are specific metrics which can be used to determine someones height based on certian bones. There may be a parallel for foot length to height.
If you have any other questions please contact me. Professionally I am an Archaeologist and worked with human remains so I do have some materials. I don't know if they would be helpful. They book I would use to provide information is called:
Human Osteology, A laboratory and field manual
By William Bass. Published by the Missouri Archaeological Society, 1971. I would think that most University Anthropology or Archaeology departments would have a copy. Your main interest would be the bones of the foot or foot metatarsels, tarsels and phelanges. (These are the names of the groups of bones found in the foot)
