The Home of Midwood Science Research

Michelle Yang and Zitong Liu advance to Terra NYC finals

Posted on Friday, March 18, 2022 by for Awards, Terra NYC.

Congratulations go out to Michelle Yang and Zitong Liu as their project "Veganism saves the world: Plant-based meat alternatives" joins the city's top 100 science projects at the Terra NYC STEM Fair.

Michelle and Zitong have been working to recreate and improve on plant-based meat recipes. They prepared multiple test batches, cooked them, and had volunteers taste test them. They then took their project to the next level and applied the environmental impact assessment done by the Impossible corporation to the different recipes. They computed things such as water consumption, atmospheric carbon release, and nitrogen eutrophication potential. They did this all without the help of a professional food scientist, and were funded in part by a grant from the New York Institute of Technology.

Unfortunately the finals will be held virtually again — Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27. When the event was held in real life, students would present at the American Museum of Natural History. The photos below show Michelle and Zitong on a field trip for Sophomore Science Research. We couldn't go the the museum this year, so we went two years ago.

Michelle Yang Michelle and Zitong Zitong Liu

Selfie of the practice session
Michelle and Zitong (center) practicing their Terra NYC presentation with "judges" Mr. Elert (far left), Katherine Zhong (left), and Midwood Mayor Nafisa Haque (right).

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6510

6 semifinalists at 2022 Metro NYC JSHS, Bintia Keita going to National JSHS in April

Posted on Thursday, March 3, 2022 by for Awards, JSHS.

On Sunday, February 6, 2022 York College hosted the latest (virtual) installment of the NYC Metro Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). JSHS is a nationwide collection of 48 regional competitions sponsored by the US Department of Defense whose aims are to promote original STEM research at the high school level and to publicly recognize students for outstanding achievement.

Six projects by Midwood students made it to the semifinals round this year. Bintia Keita won First Place in Engineering and impressed the judges so much that she is one of five students representing New York City at the 60th National JSHS In Albuquerque, New Mexico in April.

National JSHS delegate

  • Bintia Keita
    Category: Engineering
    Project: "Emo's" potential application for children with autism
    Mentors: Dr. Kathleen McDermott and Dr. Scott Fitzgerald in the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University

NYC Metro JSHS semifinalists

  • Enaya Ahmad
    Category: Behavioral & Social Sciences
    Project: The presence of the other race effect in teenagers
    Mentor: Dr. Grit Herzmann in the Department of Psychology at The College of Wooster
  • Muhammad Sharjeel
    Category: Behavioral & Social Sciences
    Project: Association between extroversion and homework behavior among NYC high school students
    Mentor: Dr. Jason Young in the Department of Psychology at Hunter College
  • Samarpreet Singh
    Category: Behavioral & Social Sciences
    Project: Social media usage and the degree of optimistic bias in adolescents
    Mentor: Dr. Steven Anolik in the Department of Psychology at St Francis College
  • Benny Dong & Jason Wu & Lian Hao Zheng
    Category: Behavioral & Social Sciences
    Project: How does gratitude affect one's quality of sleep and level of depression?
    Mentor: Dr. Steven Anolik in the Department of Psychology at St Francis College
  • Michelle Yang & Zitong Liu
    Category: Environmental Sciences
    Project: Veganism saves the world: Plant-based meat alternatives

Group photo on the Midwood bridge over Bedford Avenue

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6497

Bintia Keita receives NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

Posted on Monday, February 14, 2022 by for Awards.

Midwood Science senior Bintia Keita was one of 40 winners nationwide to receive the 2022 Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) from the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). Since there were over 3,500 applicants, Bintia is almost literally a one-in-a-hundred student (one in 87.5 for the statistically pedantic out there).

The NCWIT AiC honors 9th–12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

Bintia’s project is a robot named "Emo" who can be used to teach children with autism about emotions. She built and programmed Emo herself at home using parts partially paid for by a grant from the New York Institute of Technology and parts 3D printed at Midwood.

Bintia Keita Emo
NCWIT logo AIC logo

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6493

Senior Science Research 2022

Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2022 by for Seniors.

Large group photo on the front steps of Midwood

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6506

2 Midwood projects receive grant from NYIT

Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 by for Awards.

The Mini-Research Grant Award (MRGA) is an initiative of the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) that awards monetary grants to high school students for scientific research projects still in the proposal stage. Two projects by Midwood students were selected on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 — and soon thereafter NYIT sent us $600.

  • Senior Lianhao Zheng received a grant of $300 for his proposal "How does a 9–12th grade high school students’ mindfulness affect their level of depression and sleep quality?" Lianhao’s work will be submitted to the AP Capstone program in May. This is the second time he has won this award.
  • Juniors Angel Wu, Aaron Xu, and Jiaen Chen received a grant of $300 for their proposal "The effect of external factors on the perception and taste of food". The team will submit their work to the Terra NYC STEM Fair and other competitions in their senior year.

Group photo with students holding checks

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6495

Data for the people (D4P): Social behavior

Posted on Monday, January 24, 2022 by for Extra Credit, Juniors, Lectures, Seniors.

News from RockEDU, the science outreach program of The Rockefeller University in New York.

Data for the People (D4P) is back for season 2! This season will feature several unique episodes focused exclusively on social behavior in a variety of model organisms. Through these model systems (ants, nematode worms, and flies) we will wonder "What does it mean to be social?" "What animals are capable of social behavior?" and most importantly "What can we learn from animals about social behavior?"

All D4P episodes will take place on a Wednesday afternoon 4:00 PM–5:00 PM Eastern Time. Each episode has its own registration link.

Two points of extra credit will be awarded to all students who provide proof of attendance on the day of the event and complete the Google Classroom version of this assignment. You may attend as many episodes as you wish, just remember to submit your response to the assignment by 9:00 AM on Thursday after the event

Data for the People (D4P) is an interactive web-series that invites all people to engage with relevant scientific research topics presented by scientists from our communities. Information is sourced directly from primary scientific literature and explored in a way that maintains the rigor of the research while eliminating inaccessible jargon.

RockEDU Data for the People logo

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6486

2021 Published Papers

Posted on Saturday, January 22, 2022 by for Publications.

Journal cover

Student work published in print, on-line, or both in 2021.

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6590

Merry Newtonmas everyone!

Posted on Saturday, December 25, 2021 by for Everyone.

Sheldon holding a bust of Sir Isaac Newton
youtu.be/EqiiCOFR0Y8

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=5012

2022 Talking Science: Infectious Diseases and Immunology

Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2021 by for Extra Credit, Lectures.

Add to Calendar
Monday
10

The Rockefeller University invites you to participate in Talking Science with renowned Rockefeller scientists who will explore the fundamentals of Infectious Diseases and Immunology. Topics covered in this virtual webinar will include a variety of diseases, how they spread, and what we can do to protect ourselves from them.

Talking Science is an annual event designed for grades 9–12, led by members of The Rockefeller University's elite faculty. This year's event will be held virtually on January 10, 2022 as a Zoom webinar. Register now! A unique Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the lecture.

Two points of extra credit will be awarded to all students who provide proof of attendance on the day of the event and complete the Google Classroom version of this assignment for any one of the speakers before 9:00 AM Tuesday, January 11.

Portrait

Before There Was COVID, There Was (And Is!) Tuberculosis

Jeremy M. Rock, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and head, Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Biology, The Rockefeller University
Portrait

Mosquitoes: The World's Most Dangerous Animal

Leslie B. Vosshall, Ph.D.
Robin Chemers Neustein Professor and head, Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Portrait

Antibody-Based Therapies For HIV And COVID-19

Christian Gaebler, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Investigation, Robert S. Wennett Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6479

JSHS application open for one week

Posted on Friday, November 12, 2021 by for JSHS, Seniors.

Applications are now being accepted for the New York City Metro Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). Anyone with a research report that is finished (or even just close enough) can enter. Teams can enter together, but only one team member presents.

The application is done through a web form. You type your info into the fields, upload a PDF of your latest and greatest research report, upload some additional forms and other documentation, and then hit the "submit" button. Easy peasy. This has to be completed in the Research Room with me witnessing it on or before Friday, November 19. (Don't blame me for the short notice, this is how they operate.) Completing the application is worth +4 points of extra credit.

JSHS logo

The top 120 projects will be invited to York College to present at the Symposium on Sunday, February 6, 2022. If COVID restrictions are still in effect at CUNY campuses in February, the event will be held virtually. Presenting at the Symposium will be worth +10 points. In the case of team projects, the presenter will get +10 points and the other team members will receive +5 points.

Contact me quickly if you are interested in applying. I have paperwork to do that requires the Principal's signature (JSHS Form C) and I am not doing it on the day it's due. If you are working with a mentor, you also need their signature on one form (JSHS Form B). They would probably appreciate it if you contacted them as soon as possible. They would probably appreciate it even more if you partially filled out the form for them. There is also a form for projects involving human subjects (JSHS Form A), but you can give them your IRB form instead.

Read the Student Registration page for details on what is needed for the application. Contact me if you have questions.

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6472

2021 Major trends in modern cancer research

Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2021 by for Extra Credit, Juniors, Seniors.

Add to Calendar
Wednesday
10

On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will host its 16th annual Major trends in modern cancer research lecture for high and college students and their teachers. (Members of the public are also welcome to attend.) The event will take place virtually from 6:00–7:30 PM. Registration is required.

This event is a free community education program designed to engage and inspire the next generation of progressive researchers and scientists. MSK has a wide range of opportunities to volunteer at our labs, find mentors at MSK, and potentially join our research community.

Two points of extra credit will be awarded to all students who provide proof of attendance on the day of the event and complete the Google Classroom version of this assignment for any one of the speakers before 9:00 AM Friday, November 12.

Portrait

Moderator
Craig B. Thompson
President and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Portrait

Moderator
Michael Overholtzer, PhD
Dean, Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School
Portrait

Speaker
Vinod Balachandran, MD
Surgeon
Member, David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research
Portrait

Speaker
Gretchen Diehl, PhD
Immunologist
Associate Member, SKI Immunology Program
Portrait

Speaker
Alexander Drilon, MD
Medical Oncologist
Chief, Early Drug Development Service, MSK

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6468

2020 Published Papers

Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 by for Publications.

Student work published in print, on-line, or both in 2020. Nomon graduated in 2017, Jennifer in 2018, Toby in 2019.

Journal cover Journal cover Journal cover

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6588

Happy graduation day to the class of 2021

Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2021 by for Seniors.

Although we were never together in one physical space, we were always united in science. Thank you class of 2021 for keeping Midwood Science alive and well.

Video conference screenshot

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6003

Bintia Keita presents research on Tor latency at INFOCOM 2021

Posted on Friday, May 14, 2021 by for Publications.

The International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM) is a venue for researchers to present and share innovative contributions in the field of networking and closely related areas. Sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) INFOCOM is a top-ranked conference on networking in the research community. The 2021 conference lasted from May 10 to May 13. Like all events this academic year it was held virtually, which seems entirely appropriate for a conference on computer networks. Midwood was fortunate to have one student present at this event — the first ever.

Monitoring Tor circuit connections Bintia Keita presented her research project "A controlled, reproducible, and extensible experiment for evaluating the impact of Tor latency". Bintia presented during the workshops on Computer and Networking Experimental Research using Testbeds (CNERT). This work was supported in part by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Center for K12 STEM Education and was supervised by Mr. Ashutosh Srivastava, Dr. Fraida Fund, and Dr. Shivendra Panwar. You can also read about Bintia’s project on her lab’s blog.

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6050

Anthony Nosoff and Taylor Leung present proposal at 2021 Metro New York MAA Meeting

Posted on Sunday, May 2, 2021 by for Publications.

Saturday, May 1 was the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Metropolitan New York Section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) — the second to be presented in all virtual form. This year’s program consisted of 80 presentations highlighting research in mathematics, pedagogy, and technology usage. Presenters included mathematicians and industry professionals, graduate and undergraduate researchers, and high school students — including two from Midwood Science.

Conference abstract book cover Anthony Nosoff and Taylor Leung presented their proposal "Using Generative Adversarial Networks for the Production of Common Core Algebra Questions". Anthony and Taylor are free agents looking for a machine learning platform to execute their project. If you are a computer scientist and would like to be a mentor to these students, please contact Midwood Science.

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6048

Midwood seniors receive 2 First Awards at Terra NYC Finals

Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 by for Awards, Terra NYC.

The Terra NYC STEM Fair is the new name for what used to be called the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF). New name, same great competition. 21 Midwood seniors entered this year with 3 advancing to the finals round. Finalists spent the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21 in video conferences with academic and professional judges from across the globe. All 3 of our finalists received First Awards!

Selfie Fariha Ahmed received a First Award in Chemistry for his project "The effects of several carbonate-based additives on aluminum chloride/propionamide deep eutectic solvents for use in aluminum-ion batteries". Fariha worked under the supervision of Dr. Sophia Suarez and Mr. Domenec Paterno in the Department of Physics at Brooklyn College.
Promotional poster Nichole Gutierrez and Tasnia Shadat received a First Award in Behavior and Social Science: Psychology for their project "The effect of culture on adolescent mental health". Nichole and Tasnia worked under the supervision of Dr. Steven Anolik in the Department of Psychology at St. Francis College.

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6046

Midwood magnolia

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2021 by for Everyone.

I took this photo when I was at Midwood last Thursday but forgot about it. The magnolia tree only blooms like this for a couple of days. No, it's not fake. They sky really was that blue.

Magnolia tree and blue skies in front of Midwood

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=5990

STEM Matters NYC summer programs

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2021 by for Freshmen, Juniors, Sophomores.

This summer, unplug and explore STEM with STEM Matters NYC programs Students entering grades 10–12 in September can apply to work with field experts in real-world learning experiences in urban farming, industrial design and manufacturing, glass blowing, computer science, or art and architecture. Apply now for a one or two week program this summer at MakerSpace NYC, New York Historical Society, The Battery Conservancy, The Green-Wood Cemetery, or UrbanGlass. All participants receive a daily MetroCard.

Seats are limited! An online application and teacher reference form is required. Participants are selected by a review committee. Learn more and apply by Friday, April 23. For questions, contact STEMMattersNYC@schools.nyc.gov.

STEM Matters NYC banner

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=5997

Tahreem Sittar and Maham Ghori take 3rd at NYC Metro JSHS

Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2021 by for Awards, JSHS.

On Sunday, February 7, 2021 York College hosted the latest (virtual) installment of the NYC Metro Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). JSHS is a nationwide collection of 48 regional competitions sponsored by the US Department of Defense whose aims are to promote original STEM research at the high school level and to publicly recognize students for outstanding achievement. Four projects by Midwood students were elegible this year and one brought home an award.

Maham, Tahreem, and a Long-Evans rat Tahreem Sittar and Maham Ghori were Third Place Winners in Behavioral and Social Sciences for their project "Role of uncertainty in governing attraction to food cues". Maham and Tahreem worked under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Delamater in the Department of Psychology at Brooklyn College. The photo on the left shows Maham (left) and Tahreem (right) with one of their experimental subjects, a Long-Evans laboratory rat.

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6037

Midwood juniors receive $1,200 in grant money from NYIT

Posted on Saturday, February 6, 2021 by for Awards, Miscellaneous.

The Mini-Research Grant Award (MRGA) is an initiative of the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) that to awards monetary grants to high school students for scientific research projects still in the proposal stage. Four projects by Midwood juniors were selected on Sunday, January 24, 2021— and soon thereafter NYIT sent us a nice check for $1,200.

Which one of these is real beef ☜ Can you tell which of these is real beef? Michelle Yang and Zitong Liu received a grant of $300 for their proposal "Veganism can save the world". Michelle and Zitong are science research free agents attempting to create their own vegan meat substitute. If you are a food scientist and would like to be a mentor to these students, please contact Midwood Science.
Promotional poster Lianhao Zheng, Benny Dong, and Jason Wu received a grant of $300 for their proposal "How does gratitude affect one’s quality of sleep and level of depression?" Lianhao, Jason, and Benny work under the supervision of Dr. Steven Anolik in the Department of Psychology at St. Francis College.
Selfie Bintia Keita received a grant of $300 for her proposal "’Widgets’ potential application for children with autism". Bintia works under the supervision of Ms. Kathleen McDermott and Dr. Scott Fitzgerald in the Department of Technology, Culture and Society at New York University.
Zoom screenshot Anne Mai, Tiffany Zhu, and Xiang Qing (Shannon) Wang received a grant of $300 for their proposal "Sleep deprivation and cognitive effects of memory in American adolescents". Anne, Shannon, and Tiffany work under the supervision of Dr. Denis Pelli in the Department of Psychology at New York University.

Check from NYIT to Midwood for $1,200

https://midwoodscience.org/?p=6018

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