The Blue & White

By Crystal Castro

Methuen High School hosted its 39th annual Science Fair on February 3rd, 2025. Participation in the Science Fair is required for all students enrolled in an AP science class, but any student taking a science course, including Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science, Physics, Forensic Science, and Biotechnology, has the opportunity to showcase their knowledge! Students have the option to put together their choice of a Lab Experiment, Engineering Project, Lab Demonstration, Data-Based Learning Project, or Service-Based Learning Project through the College Board for the Science Fair. Students also have the opportunity to qualify for and move on to the Massachusetts Region IV Science Fair at Tufts University and Massachusetts State Science Fair at Gillette Stadium!

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

What was your favorite part about this year’s science fair?

Juan Polanco, Participant (Bionic Arm): “My friend Nas’ project on Quantum Field Theory was my favorite part. I found it very interesting and he explained the concept very well. It was very unique from everything else.”

Desmond Csizmadia, Participant (Effect of Air Flow on Model Plane Wings): “I liked how everyone supported each other during the awards!” 

Divier Ramos-Delgado, Participant (Building a Starfider): “I liked seeing people happy and excited and interested about my project.”

Sloan Farrell, Award Winner and Regional Science Fair Qualifier (Reflecting Brilliance: Engineering a Solar Tracking Heliostat) “I got to talk to a lot of people about my project and that was really cool because they were really interested in it. I love talking to kids about science!”

Do you have any suggestions for next year? 

Desmond Csizmadia, Participant (Effect of Air Flow on Model Plane Wings): “I wish there was an opportunity for the science fair participants themselves to see each other’s posters without worrying about leaving theirs unattended.”

Divier Ramos-Delgado, Participant (Building a Starfider): “During the day, there should be a better schedule for more classes to come. It felt rushed.”

Sloan Farrell, Award Winner and Regional Science Fair Qualifier (Reflecting Brilliance: Engineering a Solar Tracking Heliostat): “Very loud. I felt like I couldn’t hear myself think. I also think there should be more awards because the students who actually want to do the science fair do stand out and deserve an award”

What was the best project that you saw?

Desmond Csizmadia, Participant (Effect of Air Flow on Model Plane Wings): “Thomas and Tayyab’s project on utilizing magnetohydrodynamic propulsion to achieve next-generation solid-state water transportation. I appreciate how in-depth it was and how well they understood their topic.”

Divier Ramos-Delgado, Participant (Building a Starfider): “Bionic finger was my favorite because I thought it was interesting how it was able to move and how it could be used in the future to build a whole hand.”

Sloan Farrell, Award Winner and Regional Science Fair Qualifier (Reflecting Brilliance: Engineering a Solar Tracking Heliostat): “Marlee’s project about fertilizing plants. She over fertilized and under fertilized plants and it was cool.”

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With the science fair, comes a selection of winners! Congratulations to the students recognized in the 2024/25 MHS Science Fair:

First Place Individual Science Fair Project: Yasmine Bridaa, “Taking Safety to the Next Level: The Design and Safety Assessment of a Magnetic Levitation Elevator”

First Place Team Science Fair Project: Thomas Le and Tayyab Afzal, “Utilizing Magnetohydrodynamic Propulsion to Achieve Next-Generation Solid-State Water Transportation”

Outstanding Biology Award: Lana Nakkoul, “The Effect of Different Concentrations of Pollutants on Daphnia magna”

Outstanding Environmental Science Award: Khloe Goggin, “How Does Smog Affect the Growth of Coral?”

Outstanding Chemistry Award: Crystal Castro and Anwar Mamdouh, “Crystal Clear: A Natural Alternative to Commercial Skincare”

Outstanding Engineering Award: Sloan Farrell, “Reflecting Brilliance: Engineering a Solar Tracking Heliostat”

Outstanding Research Project: Sophia Ferrara, “What is the Best Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease?”

Outstanding Laboratory Project: Jaqueline Mastro, “Fingers Crossed: How Weather Changes Fingerprints”

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The students listed below are regional science fair qualifiers. Regionals will be held at Tufts University and states will be held at Gillette Stadium!

Milo Isaacs & Elias Castillo: “Green Solution: Use of Algae to Reduce Carbon Dioxide”

Anthony Czyzewski: “Vertex Box”

Harry McPhee: “Biodegradable Hydrogels and Water Conservation” 

Hajar Damir: “Green World Hypothesis in a Computer Simulation”

Sloan Farrell, “Reflecting Brilliance: Engineering a Solar Tracking Heliostat”

Crystal Castro and Anwar Mamdouh, “Crystal Clear: A Natural Alternative to Commercial Skincare”

Yasmine Bridaa, “Taking Safety to the Next Level: The Design and Safety Assessment of a Magnetic Levitation Elevator”

Thomas Le and Tayyab Afzal, “Utilizing Magnetohydrodynamic Propulsion to Achieve Next-Generation Solid-State Water Transportation”

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Shoutout to each 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 science fairs to come!