Science Fair Takes Over Annex Halls

Juniors Ella Ye and Kayla Mae won group first place for their research in “Chemical Inhibition of Skin Bacteria: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Benzoyl Peroxide, Lactic Acid, and Salicylic Acid.” *Photo: Midwood Science*

By NINA CHEN and WINNIE WANG

Classrooms in the annex halls filled with colorful and elaborate presentations on May 22 as Midwood’s annual Science Fair wowed a crowd of students and teachers.

Research students shared their work with peers and judges on a variety of topics. They described physical experimentations analyzing correlations between water pH levels and temperature, they discussed their evaluations of the microbe, and they demonstrated surprising investigations into artificial intelligence.

The first place group winners this year were Ella Ye and Kayla Mae (all participants are currently juniors). Ye and Mae’s project tested the effect of three chemical compounds – salicylic, azelaic, and lactic acid – on the growth of staphylococcus epidermidis, a common skin bacteria on the face that can cause inflammation and acne.

“Acne is a very pervasive issue among teenagers, and we were inspired by our personal experiences,” said Ye.

The individual first place winner was Luka Gavashelishvili, who delved into how artificial sweeteners impact antibiotic resistance and the inhibition of E. Coli.

The second place group winners were Zachary Kiselev and Raymond Gong. They used mold to chart a more effective map of the New York City subway system that would better accommodate our population density.

“Raymond actually came up with it,” said Kiselev. “He found an article back in seventh grade and we found out that it’s pretty easy to remake in a school setting.”

Kiselev had big ambitions for the duo’s project. “The sky is always a ceiling,” he said. “Shoot for the moon, and if you miss it, you go for the stars.”

The individual second place winner was Angel Wu for her work on the presence of microplastics and acid dissolution in seawater. There were also many honorable mentions.

Every year near the end of May, all sophomore research students carefully prepare decorated tri-fold boards displaying projects created during the second semester. Students are given the choice to team up in groups of up to three or work individually.

The researchers are expected to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year and use skills such as examining data and writing a report. Mentors Ms. Stacy Goldstein, Ms. Susan Katzoff, Ms. Avanel Cunningham, and Ms. Khrisna Alvarez are also within close reach to aid the competitors and confirm the plausibility of their proposed ideas.

The judges who explore the rooms, take notes, and critique the contestants' work included alumni, fellow juniors, and senior science researchers. They were provided sheets containing multiple categories with a scale from one to ten to grade the students’ creations. Many of the judges were former participants themselves who now got to give the presenters their scores just as previous upperclassmen had done for them.

A few weeks after the fair, the sophomore research classes met up to hear the announcement of the official winners.

Witnessing the students tirelessly explain their projects, guiding observers through their reasoning and answering numerous questions that tested their critical thinking, showed that with ingenuity and the magic of science, the future is in capable hands.