H-ton Science Research Team Impressive at NYSSEF
Huntington High School science research students turned in another impressive performance at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair held at the New York Hall of Science on the grounds of the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.
Huntington research teams consisting of Jacob Roday and Ricky Hermer-Fried; Bobby Scott, Amber Lindner and Megan Hansen; Victor Tellez and Sirat Zafar (Walt Whitman High School) and Aron Coraor were well-prepared for the recent competition.
The contest involved participants making poster presentations of their research to various scientists from a variety of fields. "This competition is a great opportunity for the students to defend their research and discuss with leading scientists their passion," said teacher Lori Kenny who heads Huntington's research program.
Mr. Coroar, who has made a name for himself across the metropolitan area with several fine efforts in prestigious science competitions captured second place in the chemistry division. He presented research aimed at finding convincing evidence that there was a significant amount of sodium in the moon when it was first formed.
"For decades since the Apollo mission, it was believed that the moon was 'dry' and that there was never any water on it, but also that there were no volatiles, like alkali metals, carbonates, gases, etc.," Mrs. Kenny said.
"Evidence has recently emerged that the moon is much more similar to the Earth than was previously thought," Mrs. Kenny said. "Aron created a mixture that was very close in composition to some rocks on the moon and he tested it for a particular chemical property that, if it was present, would make the theory of a moon with a high sodium content consistent with the samples we have from its surface."
The team of Mr. Scott, Ms. Lindner and Ms. Hansen placed third in environmental management. The group's experiment was based around "exploring a potential counteractive method to control the effects of isothiocyanates released by the invasive plant species, Alliaria petiolata.'
The plant, also known as garlic mustard, releases chemicals that hinder nutrient and water uptake of other surrounding plants in the ecosystem. "Using activated carbon, they devised a method to absorb these chemicals and control the effects of the toxins that the plant releases into the soil," Mrs. Kenny said.
The New York State Science and Engineering Fair is the Intel ISEF/Society for Science affiliated state fair for New York. "The Intel ISEF is the world's pre-eminent international science project competition for students in the 9th through 12th grades," states the NYSSEF website. "The Intel ISEF brings together students, teachers, scientific researchers, corporate executives and government officials from around the world."