It IS nice when kids can explore interests without the competitive stuff overshadowing everything. What fun is science without the mistakes? DS got a cool book several years ago called, "Mistakes that Worked". It's a great read both for young perfectionists and out-of-the-box thinkers.

elh0706, send me a pm and I can hook you up with email to DH's best friend. He has his Ph.d. in a rather esoteric branch of marine biology and we lovingly call him, "the fish guy". He has helped my kids and their various science groups with all sorts of projects and I think he'd be happy to email back and forth to your son a bit.

take care-