For some students, science is an abstract subject difficult to comprehend.

Catasauqua High School students Emmie Ledesma and Crosley Kudla-Williams beg to differ.

Both students recently placed at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition, entitling them to move on to the state competition in May at Pennsylvania State University, State College.

Emmie competed in the ecology category and her project involved exploring different levels of Co2. She conducted an experiment to evaluate the varied levels of the gas and its impact on global warming.

"I always loved the environment," she said. "I'm a huge environmentalist."

Her project took a total of six hours and consisted of collecting vehicle exhaust fumes, human breath and air in balloons. The fumes were later released in a straw and a chemical was used to look at the different gases.

Crosley's project determined which starch plant produces the most fuel. She said she fermented different starch plants and extracted ethanol from the plants and took measurements of each.

"It looked fun," she said of the project. "I like to learn about the environment and botany."

Crossley said her deep understanding of science is genetic.

"It runs in the family and it was passed down to me," she said.

Emmie said she prefers science to the other subjects.

"English is natural to me," she said. "Science and math are more challenging and fun."

Both Emmie and Crosley are sure to exhibit their predilection for the sciences at next month's state competition.