Sharing What We Learn–From Science Fairs to Senior Talks

On Friday we wrapped up our senior project presentations.  It felt so good to host LIVE presentations this year, even if for smaller audiences.  Our last presenter was a research student, Elizabeth Caffyn, who went into the weekend on the high note of having delivered a great presentation. Check out pictures of our presenters on our Facebook page.

She and her fellow research students shared their work with a different audience this weekend–the Tidewater Science Congress’s Science and Engineering Fair judges.  Our school submitted 27 projects, 23 of those placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or Honorable Mention.  We had eight 1st place in category winners, and we had both the 1st and 2nd place Overall Grand Finalists.  Overall Grand Finalists are eligible for the International Science and Engineering Fair, and the eight 1st place winners are eligible to enter their work in the state science and engineering fair.

Congratulations to this year’s researchers!  An extra special thank you to Mrs. Shoemaker who served as a guide and expert to our budding scientists.

2022 Tidewater Science and Engineering Virtual Fair Award Winners
Overall Grand Finalists & ISEF Selectees:	1st Grand Finalist	Omar	Abul-Hassan	A Helmholtzian Deep Learning Approach to Glomeruli Segmentation using Energy-based Models
	2nd Grand Finalist	Rockwell	Li	Swim Smart, Swim Fast – Development and Application of a Fitbit App for Swim Technique Study
SENIOR DIVISION:
Behavioral & Social Sciences
	2nd Place (tie)	Gabriel	Gonzalez	Music and Emotion
	2nd Place (tie)	Erin	Jones	Far Transfer Effects of Cognitive Training in High School Students
	3rd Place	Josh	Makela	Parenting and Personality
Cellular & Molecular Biology	1st Place	Omar	Abul-Hassan	A Helmholtzian Deep Learning Approach to Glomeruli Segmentation using Energy-based Models
	2nd Place	Sarrallton	Sy	Effectiveness of Natural Substances Against Bacterial Growth
Computer Science
	2nd Place	Philip	Turner	Creating the First Affordable AR Headset Experience
Earth & Planetary Science	1st Place	Jack	Shoemaker	Computer Science in Weather Forecasting
Electrical & Mechanical Engineering	1st Place	AmyMarie	Jones	Inverse and Forward Kinematics
	2nd Place	Riley	Warden	Putting a Lock on Impaired Driving
	3rd Place	Silas	Marx	Electromagnetic Rocket Launch Pad
Materials & Bioengineering	1st Place	Rockwell	Li	Swim Smart, Swim Fast – Development and Application of a Fitbit App for Swim Technique Study
	2nd Place	Matthew	Heilig	Controlling Heat using Heat Pipes
	3rd Place	Andrew	Strassberger	Structural Dynamics and 3-D Printing
Energy & Transportation	1st Place	Paul	Wiskow	Using Maglev Trains to Launch Rockets
Mathematical Sciences
	2nd Place	Rebecca	Sun	Computer Science in Data Analytics and Finance: Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Market Prices
	3rd Place	Evan	Freisenbruch	Chances Are The Lottery Will Be The One Playing You
Medicine & Health Sciences	1st Place	Dylan	Mach	Engineering a Low-Cost and Efficacious Apparatus for Alleviating Finger Joint Pain in Arthritic Patients
	2nd Place	Jaylin	Revies	Hip Hop Therapy and Mental Health
Microbiology	1st Place	Elizabeth	Caffyn	Airborne diseases and their prevention
Physics & Astronomy
	2nd Place	Samuel	Krug	Effects of Cluster Density on the Formation of Galaxies
	Honorable Mention	Saif	Rahman	Determining the Most Effective Propellant for an Ion Thruster
Plant Sciences	1st Place	Tracy	Peucker	The Effect of Various Lighting Patterns and Nutrient Ratios on Algae Growth
	2nd Place	Alanis	Stapelfeldt	Extrafloral Nectaries of Prunus serotina and Prunus x yedoensis and Ant Mutualism

You dolphins have earned a big wave!  Here’s the wave following Elizabeth’s presentation on Friday–not as big as in years past, but to do one at all felt pretty BIG! So proud of you all.