Grade 9 to 12 Dominion Physical Sciences
First Place: Ryota Ishizuka of Cos Cob, a junior at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, is the top winner of the fair’s Physical Sciences category. In a project, called Optimization of a Microbial Fuel Cell Structure to Drive a Bioelectrochemically-Assisted Wastewater Treatment Reactor, Ishizuka researched ways to use electricity to maximize the output and cost efficiency of microbial fuel cells in converting sewage wastewater into energy while simultaneously neutralizing the organic materials in the wastewater.
Second Place: Shubhro Saha of Avon, a senior at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, won second place in the fair’s Physical Sciences category. For a project, called Modeling proton reduction catalyzed by a novel nickel electrocatalyst with density functional theory, Saha studied the proton reduction mechanism of a nickel electrocatalyst that could minimize cost and increase efficiency of hydrogen production, advancing the potential for this new class of catalysts.
Grade 9 to 12 Pfizer Life Sciences
First Place: Swathi Krishnan of Stamford, a senior at Rye Country Day School in Rye, N.Y., is the top winner of the fair’s Life Sciences category. In a project, called Development and Characterization of a Novel Listeria-Caspase-3 DNA Vaccine to Eradicate Metastatic Breast Cancer, Krishnan developed and tested a promising breast cancer vaccine to eradicate metastisis without inducing T cell response. Although initial testing shows promising results, further testing is needed to understand the full capabilities of the vaccine.
Second Place: Yiyuan Hu, a junior at Hamden High School in Hamden, placed second in the fair’s Life Sciences category. In a project, called Role of MyD88 in DNA Damage Response, Hu investigated an unexpected and novel role for the myeloid differentiation primary response protein (88) (MyD88) in the cellular response to DNA damage. Current experiments are exploring as well as elucidating the details underlying this interaction between the innate immune and DNA damage responses.
Alexion Biotechnology
Amoolya V. Narayanan, a senior at Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, is a top winner of the fair’s Biotechnology category. In her project, Anticancer property of major goat milk fatty acids and delineating their mechanisms of action, Narayanan explored the medicinal value of goat milk, especially the anticancer property of three fatty acids (capric, caprylic and caproic acids) on human colorectal, skin and mammary gland cancer cells.
Two additional students will compete at ISEF as representatives of the Science Horizons Science Fair in the Danbury area. They are:
Ryan D. Kerr, a sophomore at Danbury High School in Danbury
Project title: Biological Control of Ticks to Prevent Lyme Disease Using Entomopathogenic Nematodes
and
Toni Viola, a junior at New Milford High School in New Milford
Project title: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in New Milford High School.
The students representing Connecticut and competing at the I-SWEEEP Olympiad are sisters:
Bridget Oei of Hebron, a freshman at East Catholic High School in Manchester
Project title: Applying the Principles of the Tesla Engine to Design and Construct a Prototype of a Bladeless Wind Turbine
and
Theresa Oei of Hebron, a senior at East Catholic High School in Manchester
Project title: Development of a Composite Clay Polymer Sponge for Remediation of Oil Contaminated Water.
Competing as a Connecticut representative at the GENIUS Olympiad will be:
Ian K. Dakers of Bozrah, a junior at Norwich Free Academy in Norwich
Project Title: Impact of Turbine Design on Renewable Energy Storage System Efficiency
Olivia N, Kelly of Shelton, a freshman at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden
Project Title: A Comparative Study of Herbs Grown Using an Aquaponic vs. a Hydroponic Growing System
Allison C. Kruk of Easton, a senior at Greens Farms Academy in Greens Farms
Project Title: The Investigation of the Biological Health of the New Creek Salt Marsh through Water Quality Testing and Species Identification of Benthic Invertebrates
and
Kyle T. Ryan of Trumbull, a sophomore at Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield
Project Title: Autonomous Kite Wind Generator to Capture Troposhpere Winds.
This year, Quinnipiac University also provided two participants with a four-year, $20,000 scholarship to the university.
Sarah E. Harkins, a seventh-grade student at East Haven Academy in East Haven, for her project: When I Change the Type of Antacid, How Many Milliliters of Stomach Acid Will Be Neutralized and
Charlotte D’Acierno of Old Greenwich, a junior at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, for her project: Subsistence of Escherichia Coli on Artificial Turf Surfaces.
Other winners in major categories:
Physical Sciences
8th Grade First Place: Sean Oleasz of West Simsbury, a student at St. Timothy Middle School in West Hartford Project Title: Aerodynamics: A Study in the Improvement of Auto Body Aerodynamic Efficiency
7th Grade First Place: Jameson C. Kief of Plantsville, a student at St. Thomas School in Southington
Project Title: Pullin’ with Pulleys
Middle School (7th & 8th Grade) Team First Place: Rivka Kantor of Westport and Bracha E. Hecht of Orange, both seventh-grade students at Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy in Orange
Project Title: Analysis of non-heme iron’s rate of cell absorption, and effect of iron’s enhancers and inhibitors on cell absorption
High School Team First Place: Yusuf Yilmaz, Fadil A. Sencan and Abdurrahman Cam, all seniors at Putnam Science Academy in Putnam
Project Title: Using Citrus Fruit Peels as Environmentally Friendly and Low Cost Bio-Sorbents to Effectively Remove Phenol from Industrial Wastewater
Life Sciences
8th Grade First Place: Haley M. Ryan of St. Rose of Lima School in Newtown
Project Title: Improved Process for Bioremediation of Oil Contaminated Seawater
7th Grade First Place: Thomas Rosiello of Weston, a student at The Montessori Middle School in Norwalk Project Title: Would a Spill Damage the Glow
Middle School (Grades 7 & 8) Team First Place: Kevin O’Brien and Liam Lynders, both of Guilford, eighth-grade students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Madison
Project Title: Will They Survive . . .
High School Team First Place: Thao Ngoc T. Nguyen and Tobin J. Kulangara, both seniors at Bridgeport Aquaculture School in Bridgeport
Project Title: The Isolation and Analysis of Crude Proteins of the Bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila