Senior Science Research

Overview

• The first goal of this class is to turn the lab work you've done into marketable products. Everyone will produce a research report, a poster, and a slide presentation.
• The second goal of this class is to enter as many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competitions as possible including the Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS), Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), Terra NYC STEM Fair, St. Joseph's University High School Poster Session, Brooklyn College Science Day, and others.
• The third goal of this class is to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through service to Midwood High School, New York City, and the world.
• Grades are based partly on how much you do (the more things you try, the better your grade will be) and partly how well you do them (the better your work is, the better your grade will be). Important dates are in red. Students who fulfill the nominal class requirements will receive a grade of 85% (G) in the 1st marking period, 90% in the 2nd marking period, and 95% for the semester. There will be many opportunities for extra credit.

Fall Meetings for Seniors

Check the big calendar on midwoodscience.org often. Individual, team, or small group meetings are the way business gets done. Large group meetings are rare. Keep your supervising teacher up to date on your progress. Do not hesitate to tell us of problems. Above all, do not miss your appointments. They count significantly toward your grade.

9. September
   1. Entrance meeting on the second day of the semester. Everyone attends.
      • Semester overview (see Google Classroom for notes)
   2. September meeting
      • Summer lab log
      • Research report 1st draft
      • Regeneron STS status (individual projects only)
10. October
    1. First meeting
       • Research report 2nd draft
       • Regeneron STS registration & paperwork (optional)
       • Neuroscience registration & paperwork (optional)
    2. Second meeting
       • Research report 3rd draft
       • Regeneron STS registration & paperwork (optional)
    • Competitions
      • Neuroscience Research Prize (optional) Thursday, November 2, 2023
11. November
    1. November meeting
       • September/October lab log
       • Research report final draft
       • Regeneron STS registration & paperwork (optional)
       • JSHS registration & paperwork (optional)
       • Terra NYC registration & paperwork (mandatory)
    • Competitions
      • Regeneron Science Talent Search (optional) Wednesday, November 8, 2023
      • Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (optional) Thursday, November 30, 2023
12. December
    1. First meeting
       • Terra NYC registration & paperwork (mandatory)
       • November lab log
       • Research report supplemental draft (optional)
    2. Second meeting
       • Terra NYC registration & paperwork (mandatory)St. Joseph's University High School Poster Session registration (mandatory)
       • Poster instructions
       • Application for Change to Weighted Research Course (1.05)
       • Research report supplemental draft (optional)
    • Competitions
      • Terra NYC STEM Fair (mandatory)Tuesday, December 19, 2023
1. January
   1. Poster meeting
      • Scientific poster first draft
      • Terra NYC status
      • St. Joe's status
      • JSHS status
   2. Exit meeting
      • Poster status
      • Terra NYC status
      • St. Joe's status
      • JSHS status
      • Grades

Regeneron Science Talent Search

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (research report)

• Students are encouraged to enter this competition for extra credit (and to reduce their work load in the future).
• This competition is a combination of a research report and something similar to a college application (personal essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, standardized test scores, and lots of short answer questions).
• Read the the rules and instructions from the Society for Science.
• Register and begin the application process in front of your supervising teacher at SmartApply during September or October.
• This application has multiple parts
  • Personal Info
  • Essay Questions — This includes an abstract and layperson's summary (a.k.a. executive summary).
  • Project Recommendation — Your mentor does this part.
  • Teacher Recommendation — Your supervising teacher does this part.
  • Counselor Recommendation (a.k.a. Secondary School Report) and Official School Transcript — The College Office does this part. This really isn't a "recommendation" in the traditional sense.
  • A research report.
  • And for those who need it vertebrate animals, human participants, IRB, informed consent, etc.
• The entire process for students is done electronically. There are no paper documents. Save a copy of the final application pdf and submit it to Mr. Elert via sneakernet.
• The deadline for entry is Wednesday, November 8, 2023. You must provide proof to your supervising teacher that you have met this deadline and completed the application process before the end of the school day Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
• The top 300 Scholars will be announced on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
• The top 40 Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)

Thursday, November 30, 2023 (research paper)
Sunday, February 11, 2024 (presentation)

• Seniors who have completed a research report before the application deadline may enter this competition for extra credit. The competition has two parts: a research report and a slide deck.
• Team projects are allowed, but only one member of the team will present. Any other members of the team must attend as observers. Presenters will receive more credit than observers. All team members are responsible for contributing to the research report and slide deck equally.
• Deadline to submit applications and upload documents is Thursday, November 30, 2023. Applications are done online and have the following basic components:
  • Name, contact, and other info about the presenter
  • Abstract
  • Research paper
  • Statement of Assistance (SOA) form (signed by student, teacher, and mentor)
• Prepare a slide presentation for the symposium. Presenters will rehearse in February. The Symposium will be held at York College in Jamaica, Queens Sunday, February 11, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
• The top students at the NYC Metro JSHS move on to compete in the National JSHS May 1–4, 2024in Albuquerque, New Mexico .

Terra NYC STEM Fair

Tuesday, December 19, 2023(research report)
Sunday, March 3, 2024(virtual prelims)
Saturday, March 23, 2024(I.R.L. finals)

• Students in this class must enter and participate in this event.
• Register online in November when instructed by your supervising teacher.
• Read the rules and guidelines to ensure your application will be accepted.
• Begin filling out the application as soon as possible. Your "Research Plan" from junior year is now called the "Project Summary" and is written in past tense.
• The application deadline isTuesday, December 19, 2023, but everyone is expected to finishMonday, December 18, 2023.
• This year's Preliminary Round for all students will be held onSunday, March 3, 2024atn/a.
• The top 6 projects in each category will be invited to participate in the Finals RoundSaturday, March 23, 2024at theNYU Tandon School of Engineering.
• The Awards Ceremony follows onSunday, April 7, 2024atPfizer Auditorium at NYU Tandon School of Engineering
• 13 projects will be selected to represent New York City at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) inLos Angeles, CaliforniaMay 11–17, 2024.

St. Joseph's University High School Poster Session

Saturday, February 3, 2024

• Seniors in this class must participate in this event. Juniors may also participate, but this is not common.
• Register online as a "presenter" as soon as possible. Students who register later are more likely to be assigned to the smaller, more crowded room at the back of the building. The process can be finished in 5 minutes, so there is no reason to wait.
• Students who wish to compete as a team must register individually with the exact same project title. Team members do not need to register at the exact same time, but you should not wait too long.
• If you do not have a mentor, enter none in the "Research Institution", "Research Adviser", and "Adviser Email" fields.
• Forward your confirmation email to your supervising teacher — one per student. Registering is worth +4 points for the fall semester. Participating is worth +10 points for the spring semester.
• This event is open to high school students who have completed research in any scientific area during the past year and can present their findings in a poster.
• The posters will be judged by professors and/or scientific professionals and cash prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
• The competition is held at St. Joseph's University - New York in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn at 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205 on Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Awards are presented at the end of the event and breakfast is provided.
• This event is sponsored by the New York Section of the American Chemical Society.

Posters

The spring semester is full of events where you are expected to talk about your project to the public. This is typically done while standing next to a 4 foot wide by 3 foot tall poster that summarizes your project. In January, you will a prepare such a poster for use throughout the spring semester.

Fall Lab Logs

• Junior lab logs start with the January lab log, which is due on the first business day of February.
• Senior lab logs are due at the start of each month, with two exceptions.
  1. Summer lab logs are due on the first Monday of the semester.
  2. Combined September/October lab logs are due in November.
  3. November lab logs are due in December.
  4. December lab logs are due in January.
  5. January lab logs are due in February.

Honors Science Research

Honors credit is available for juniors and seniors who work on their project under the supervision of a mentor (PhD, MD, other qualified professional) affiliated with a regulated research institution (university, hospital, government agency, etc.). Eligible students will have their class grade weighted by 1.05 when their transcript average is computed. (AP classes are weighted by 1.1, in comparison.)

In order to qualify, students need to…

• Juniors
  • Fall semester: Be accepted into a regulated research institution by a mentor before the end of December. Have your mentor email us saying that you will be an intern, volunteer, etc. or that they will be supervising, mentoring, or advising you with your project. (Let them decide on the language.)
  • Spring semester: Keep a lab log of the work you do for this class in February, March, April, and May. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours). If you do not have a mentor at the beginning of the semester, you need one by the end of May.
• Seniors
  • Fall semester: Keep a lab log of the work you do for this class in September, October, November, and December. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours). Have your mentor fill out and sign a Qualified Scientist Form for the Terra NYC STEM Fair before the deadline in December.
  • Spring semester: Have your mentor contact us saying that you will continue to work with them or other people in their lab as an intern, volunteer, etc. Keep a lab log of the work you do for them (and for the class in general) in February, March, April, and May. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours).

Extra Credit

STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Math