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Research students impress at NYSCEF Finals

Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 by A Student for Media, NYCSEF.

Scholarships and awards worth up to $5,000 a year were presented to New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) finalists on March 27 at Hunter College, mere days after the NYCSEF finals round on March 25 at the American Museum of Natural History.

At the finals round, the long tables stretched across the hall in rows with projects on top. A enormous blue whale hung from the ceiling, and students waited patiently for the judges to walk around. A total of 100 projects were presented at the NYCSEF finals round from students all over New York City. 13 of those participants were Midwood students.

"Part of the fun of NYCSEF is to learn from other people’s projects, not just your own," said Raquel Hosein ’14.

The following seniors were awarded at the finals. Raquel Hosein and Allen Barbarovich won first place and second place was awarded to M. Tasnin Kabir. Third place was awarded to Yasmine Brown-Williams, Varvara Budetti and Alisha Bunting, Amy Cao and Ying Tong Guo, Stefanie Henry, Xin Yi Chen, Shadika Jahan and Kiara Nunez, and Tiffany Mai. These awards were given to projects that were outstanding.

"It’s a small reward for all the work we put in," said Allen Barbarovich.

Additional awards were also given out. Jelissa Castro ’14 and Samuel Genchikmakher ’14 received the Sarah and Morris Wiesenthal Award, which includes a $100 honorarium. The award is given to projects that bring awareness to the man-made and natural environment. Budetti and Bunting also received the Stockholm Junior Water Prize for their water related projects and were identified as NY State Semifinalists. Chen received the Association for Women Geoscientists Award and the Jenny Hunter Scholarship Award. She will receive a $1000 scholarship to Hunter College, renewable for 4 years. Hosein received the Frank W. and Jane J. Stahl Memorial Award for Technical Excellence, this award includes a $200 reward.

"The last three years have been really outstanding for us," said Glenn Elert, Science Research Coordinator.

Hosein and Barbarovich were chosen to be Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) alternates. 15 projects were selected from this year’s competition to continue on to ISEF in Los Angeles, from May 11-16.

According to Mr. Elert, there are still many more competitions left to compete in this year, including the New York City Academic, Cultural, Technological & Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), Google Science Fair, and Brooklyn College Science Day.

Saba Sakhi & Jacquelyne Gilman
This article originally appeared in the April 2014 edition of Argus.

midwoodscience.org/?p=3290

2014 New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) Awards

Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2014 by Elert for Awards, ISEF, NYCSEF.

NYCSEF First Award and Intel ISEF Alternate

Allen Barbarovich (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: Link Between Systemic Cobalamin Deficiency and CNS Demyelination in a CD320/TCblR KO Mouse Model
Mentor: Dr. Edward V. Quadros, SUNY Downstate, Department of Biochemistry
Raquel Hosein (Engineering) also received the Frank W. and Jane J. Stahl Memorial Award for Technical Excellence, which is awarded to students with engineering-related projects demonstrating technical excellence. This award includes a $200 honorarium.
Project: Application of a Wireless Electrical Device for the Detection of Epilepsy
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Viventi, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

NYCSEF Second Award

M. Tasnin Kabir (Cellular & Molecular Biology)
Project: Anti-cancer peptide PNC-27 associates with Mitochondria in Cancer Cells
Mentor: Dr. Josef Michl, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Pathology

NYCSEF Third Award

Yasmine Brown-Williams (Medicine & Health Sciences) also received the Society for In Vitro Biology Award for an outstanding project that exhibited the use of in vitro biology or tissue culture.
Project: The Effect of a High-Fat Diet on Whole-Body and Muscle Insulin Resistance
Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Axen, Brooklyn College, Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences
Varvara Budetti and Alisha Bunting (Earth & Environmental Sciences) also received the Stockholm Junior Water Prize and were identified as NY State Semifinalists for their exceptional water-related project.
Project: The Effects of Macroalgae on Benthic Biodiversity in Jamaica Bay
Mentor: Dr. Brett Branco, Brooklyn College, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Amy Cao and Ying Tong Guo (Chemistry)
Project: Synthesis of iron triisopropylsilylated vinylketene complexes
Mentor: Dr. Wayne F.K. Schnatter, Long Island University, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Xin Yi Chen (Earth & Environmental Sciences) also received the Association for Women Geoscientists Award for exceptional projects by young female geoscientists and the Jenny Hunter Scholarship Award for outstanding projects and performance by a NYC DOE student. Xin Yi will receive a $1000 scholarship to Hunter College renewable for 4 years.
Project: Fermented Food Waste and Plant Growth: A Greenhouse Study
Mentor: Dr. Zhongqi (Joshua) Cheng, Brooklyn College, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Stefanie Henry (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: Promoting Repair of Damaged Corticospinal Tract
Mentor: Dr. John (Jack) Martin, The City College of New York, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Shadika Jahan and Kiara Nuñez (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: Computer Vision Syndrome: A study on blink rates
Mentor: Dr. Mark Rosenfield, SUNY College of Optometry, Department of Biological Sciences
Tiffany Mai (Microbiology)
Project: Mammalian Cell Expression of M2e-HA1 Conserved Sequences of H5N1 Influenza Virus
Mentor: Dr. Lanying Du, New York Blood Center, Viral Immunology Laboratory

Additional Awards

Jelissa Castro (Behavioral and Social Sciences) received the Sarah and Morris Wiesenthal Award for projects that promote the objectives and mission of Environmental Quest; to bring awareness to the man-made and natural environment. This award includes a $100 honorarium.
Project: Barbie Dolls and Fire Trucks.
Samuel Genchikmakher (Animal Sciences) received the Sarah and Morris Wiesenthal Award for projects that promote the objectives and mission of Environmental Quest; to bring awareness to the man-made and natural environment. This award includes a $100 honorarium.
Project: Effect of an Audience on the Calling Behavior of Monk Parakeets.
Mentor: Dr. Frank Grasso, Brooklyn College, Department of Psychology

midwoodscience.org/?p=3174

NYCSEF Winners prepare for Finals competition

Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 by A Student for Media, NYCSEF.

Science projects varying from Microbiology to Behavioral and Social Sciences were displayed at this year’s preliminary round of New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) on Sunday, March 2 at The City College of New York. Students competed in the hopes of making it to the finals.

With a total of 13 senior students making it to finals, things are looking great for Midwood. Allen Barbarovich, Yasmine Brown-Williams, Varvara Budetti, Alisha Bunting, Amy Cao, Ying Tong Guo, Xin Yi Chen, Stefanie Henry, Raquel Hosein, Shadika Jahan, Kiara Nuñez, M. Tasnin Kabir, and Tiffany Mai are this year’s proud finalists.

"This is the largest science event in NYC," said Glenn Elert, Science Research coordinator.

NYCSEF not only allows students to present their projects, but also gives participants an opportunity to widen their knowledge of science by reading other projects.

Both students from Science Research and Social Science Research competed at the event. 482 projects (including teams) were presented and over 600 high school students participated. Projects that scored the top 20–25 percent in their category went on to the finals, which are about 100–150 projects.

Senior research students at the
NYCSEF Preliminaries

Dr. William, a judge, said projects are graded mainly on quality of work, creativity, and understanding of material. The grading follows a rubric and is on a 1–10 scale. Each project was reviewed by three judges, and the grade for each project is then averaged.

"I feel confident but nervous because I have to go against all those other contestants," said Ying Tong Guo ’14.

The Finals Round will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at The American Museum of Natural History, followed by an Award Ceremony two days later at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College.

The next step is the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The top finalists get an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles, California, where they can receive awards and scholarships.

"I was in awe when I found out I won. I could not believe I made it to finals," said Alisha Bunting ’14.

Juniors from Science Research also went to NYCSEF to look at projects. It was mandatory for them to go and write about the projects that were of interest.

"Going to NYCSEF helped me because now I know how many other people I have to compete against next year," said Cindy Chee ’15. "I realized how much time and effort everyone has put into their projects for this event."

Saba Sakhi & Marisol Morales
This article originally appeared in the March 2014 edition of Argus.

midwoodscience.org/?p=3169

2014 New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) Finalists

Posted on Monday, March 10, 2014 by Elert for Awards, NYCSEF.

13 Midwood Science Research students were declared finalists in the 2014 New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF). NYCSEF is the New York City Department of Education’s annual science and technology research competition, coordinated by the City University of New York (CUNY). More than 700 students from around the city submitted applications to the 2014 NYCSEF. On Sunday, March 2, the qualifying students from high schools across the city met at City College to display their scientific research for the Preliminary Round.

Only the top 100 projects (approximately) are invited to attend the finals round. These students are the best of the best. Wish them good luck at the finals on March 25, 2014 at the American Museum of Natural History. Awards will be announced two days later at Hunter College.

Allen Barbarovich (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: Link Between Systemic Cobalamin Deficiency and CNS Demyelination in a CD320/TCblR KO Mouse Model
Mentor: Dr. Edward V. Quadros, SUNY Downstate, Department of Biochemistry
Yasmine Brown-Williams (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: The Effect of a High-Fat Diet on Whole-Body and Muscle Insulin Resistance
Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Axen, Brooklyn College, Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences
Varvara Budetti and Alisha Bunting (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
Project: The Effects of Macroalgae on Benthic Biodiversity in Jamaica Bay
Mentor: Dr. Brett Branco, Brooklyn College, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Amy Cao and Ying Tong Guo (Chemistry)
Project: Synthesis of iron triisopropylsilylated vinylketene complexes
Mentor: Dr. Wayne F.K. Schnatter, Long Island University, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Xin Yi Chen (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
Project: Fermented Food Waste and Plant Growth: A Greenhouse Study
Mentor: Dr. Zhongqi (Joshua) Cheng, Brooklyn College, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Stefanie Henry (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: Promoting Repair of Damaged Corticospinal Tract
Mentor: Dr. John (Jack) Martin, The City College of New York, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Raquel Hosein (Engineering)
Project: Application of a Wireless Electrical Device for the Detection of Epilepsy
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Viventi, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Shadika Jahan and Kiara Nuñez (Medicine & Health Sciences)
Project: Computer Vision Syndrome: A study on blink rates
Mentor: Dr. Mark Rosenfield, SUNY College of Optometry, Department of Biological Sciences
M. Tasnin Kabir (Cellular & Molecular Biology)
Project: Anti-cancer peptide PNC-27 associates with Mitochondria in Cancer Cells
Mentor: Dr. Josef Michl, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Pathology
Tiffany Mai (Microbiology)
Project: Mammalian Cell Expression of M2e-HA1 Conserved Sequences of H5N1 Influenza Virus
Mentor: Dr. Lanying Du, New York Blood Center, Viral Immunology Laboratory

midwoodscience.org/?p=3147

NYCSEF Signature Pages

Posted on Monday, December 9, 2013 by Elert for NYCSEF, Seniors.

Seniors, I need your signature pages as soon as possible (on or before this Wednesday, December 11). I need them before the rest of the paperwork is due (on Thursday, December 12) so that the Principal will be able to sign all of them.

midwoodscience.org/?p=2808

NYCSEF Begins

Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2013 by Elert for NYCSEF, Seniors.

All seniors should have registered for the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) by now. You should also be scheduled to meet with your supervising teacher sometime during the week of December 2–6. Be prepared to show progress on your application at this meeting. If you have any concerns or questions, now is the time to deal with them. This is also the time to complete the Application for Change to Weighted Research Course (a.k.a. 1.05). Bring the completed form and be prepared to show your lab log.

Thursday, December 12, 2013 will be paperwork day. The only thing you should be doing on this day is printing, photocopying, collating, and stuffing envelopes. No one should be filling out forms or writing their Research Plan. On this day, students will submit …

TWO copies of the online application confirmation page (ONE photocopy for NYCSEF and ONE original for the school records)
TWO sets of all necessary forms (ONE set of photocopies for NYCSEF and ONE set of originals for the school records)
THREE copies of the research paper (TWO for NYCSEF and ONE for the school records)

We will provide printers (black and white and color in room A214, the Research Room), a high volume photocopier (black and white in room A200, Mr. Rosenfeld’s Office), paper, paper clips, binder clips, envelopes, and labels. I will deliver all applications directly to NYCSEF headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn on Friday, December 13, 2013. This counts for 10 points of your fall semester grade.

We keep the original versions of all paperwork. If your application and paper are approved in January, good for you. If the people at NYCSEF detect an error in your application we retrieve the originals, you add corrections, you photocopy the corrected paperwork and then return the originals to us, and lastly you mail or deliver it to them. Repeat this process until your application is approved. This counts for another 10 points of your fall semester grade.

There are more things to say about NYCSEF (and also the St. Joseph’s College High School Poster Session), but they will have to wait for another day.

midwoodscience.org/?p=2776

2013 New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) Awards

Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2013 by Elert for Awards, NYCSEF.