The Blue & White

by Crystal Castro

Methuen High School hosted its 37th annual Science Fair on February 6, 2023. The Science Fair is required for anyone enrolled in an AP science class, but any student enrolled in a science course, including Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Science, Physics, and Biotechnology, has the opportunity to showcase their knowledge! Through studying under their current branch of scientific study, students are able to passionately formulate their choice of a Lab Experiment, Engineering Project, Demonstration, Date-Based Learning Project, or Service-Based Learning Project through the College Board for the Science Fair.

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     We asked both science fair participants and attendees their thoughts on the science fair. Here’s what they had to say:

What was the highlight of the science fair to you?

Sophomore Livia Lawrence, Participant (Bacteria in Space): “It was really cool to see all the different branches of science!”

Sophomores Claire Makena and Esmeralda Rojas, Participants (Comparing the Ripeness In Apples by Conducting a Starch Iodine Test): “The highlight of science fair for me was explaining to the people our project and I loved being able to share the data from the experiment to students and staff.”

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What does the Science Fair mean to you?

Sophomore Elias Castillo, Participant and Award Winner (Accessible Water Filtration System): “The science fair is a really good way to demonstrate to fellow students our project and what we have accomplished. It was really fun seeing everyone look at, laugh about, and admire our project and hard work.”

Junior Alina Tran, Participant (Neurological Impact of Recreational Drugs): I think the science fair is an eye-opening learning experience in the way that it exposes you to different branches of science!”

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What did you think of your visit today?

Sophomore Domenic Lawrence, Attendee: “Very smart people, very scary. There are a lot of smart minds in here and it’s very nice to see them being creative.”

Sophomore Ella Hayes, Attendee: “I think the science fair was very fun and it was nice that our teachers had us asking questions to get us more involved. I do wish, though, that the questions asked weren’t mandatory classwork grades because it made things feel more forced and less authentic.”

Sophomore Emi Grondine, Attendee: “I feel like the cafeteria was a little tight so it was hard to get through but I like the way the projects are set up. Overall, I think the people did great with their projects!”

Is there anything you would change about the Science Fair?

Sophomore Kiera Fitzpatrick, Participant (How Ocean Pollution Affects Marine and Terrestrial Life): “It wasn’t that bad but I don’t like sitting here. It’s really hot and I have no water. I’d change the location.”

Sophomore Natasha Vuong, Participant (How Ocean Pollution Affects Marine and Terrestrial Life): “I wouldn’t change anything other than the location.”

Sophomore Elias Castillo, Participant and Award Winner (Accessible Water Filtration System): “I would change the location. It’s really crowded in here.”

Any final comments?

Sophomore Milo Isaacs, Participant and Award Winner (Accessible Water Filtration System): “It [the accessible water filtration system] kind of worked, woohoo!”

Sophomore Ella Hayes, Attendee: “I appreciate the work and dedication these bright and gifted students put into their projects!”

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   With the science fair, comes a selection of winners! Congratulations to the students recognized in the 2022-23 MHS Science Fair:

First Place Individual Science Fair Project: Rory Smith, “Success Rates of Different Grafting Methods on Pepper Plants”

First Place Team Science Fair Project: Yasmine Bridaa and Divier Ramos Delgado, “Cellfie Time: A Comparison Between a Commercial Microscope and Handmade Microscopes”

Outstanding Biology Award: Crystal Castro, “The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on the Immune System”

Outstanding Environmental Science Award: Taylor McDermott, “Can We Prevent a Mass Extinction?”

Outstanding Chemistry Award: James Lug, “Distillation and Filtration of Seawater”

Research Based Chemistry Award: Lyndi Cloutier and Issaiah Perreira, “Therapeutic Effects of Cancer Vaccines”

Outstanding Physics Award: Idenisse Vega and Daniel Loan, “Zoom Zoom Zoom, Man That’s Close!”

Outstanding Biotechnology Award: Ava Klemm and Francesca Reitano, “Treating Autism and Hemophilia Using Gene Therapy”

Outstanding Research Project (Anatomy/Physics): Joey Casarano, Anesti Touma, Drew Eason, “Turf Fields Knee-d Change”

Outstanding Laboratory Project: Henry and Joseph Becuti Ortiz, “Compound X vs Root Growth”

Outstanding Engineering/Demonstration Project: Milo Isaacs and Elias Castillo, “Accessible Water Filtration System”

Outstanding Engineering/Demonstration Project: Ibrahim Afzal, “Manipulating Sound Frequencies to Achieve Levitation”

Outstanding Engineering/Demonstration Project: Amanda Cameron, “Crystal Growth in Various Solutions”

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     The students listed below are regional and state science fair qualifiers. Regionals will be held at Tufts University, while States will be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology!

Rory Smith, “Success Rates of Different Grafting Methods on Pepper Plants” (Regionals & States)

Yasmine Bridaa and Divier Ramos Delgado, “Cellfie Time: A Comparison Between a Commercial Microscope and Handmade Microscopes” (Regionals & States)

Milo Isaacs and Elias Castillo, “Accessible Water filtration System” (Regionals)

Ibrahim Afzal, “Manipulating Sound Frequencies to Achieve Levitation” (Regionals)

Amanda Cameron, “Crystal Growth in Various Solutions” (Regionals)

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     Shoutout to every MHS science fair participant for the time and dedication they invested into putting their project together. All projects made for an incredible science fair; your hard work does not go unnoticed! Here’s to many more years to come!