Sounds interesting. Can't wait to see this develop.

Love scientific method.  When we taught this in school we found a book at the library that told about a boy who needed a project for school and he was told to find a problem that needed a solution.  Someone was allergic to the carpet I think it was his sister, and so he starting to find out what about the carpet was causing the allergy. The book was so interesting as it told the true story of how he progresses thru failures and what they taught him.  In the end I think it turned out to be his life's work.  That book really excited the kids and helped them to understand it was a long process with ups and downs, but he kept trying because he wanted to solve the problem that gave him purpose. Finding a compelling problem was the key to keeping them motivated to look for answers even when it got hard. 
Here is a problem for the garden, pesky fire ants, how can you keep fire ants out of the garden without using toxics that will make the garden produce inedible.  My grandma says ants hate black pepper. I recently saw some Robots that were made out of all those little things that collect in your junk drawer.  They were pretty interesting to look at and you get the drawer cleaned out too.

Ha thought of your science stories today when someone told me that cornmeal spread on the ground keeps fire ants away, but also stops pre-emergent weeds, two for one.  Worth an experiment soon.