SID Students Awarded for Pursuit of Scientific Excellence

The Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair is a yearly, statewide science and engineering fair open to students in Grades 7-12 who have an interest in the scientific field and encourages participation with the goal of developing proper research methods and critical thinking skills. Twenty-four students submitted projects for consideration with a select number advancing to the final competition round hosted at Quinnipiac University. The finalists included junior Frida Ramirez Moreno and senior Barbara Ramirez Moreno as a team, sophomore Rhea Hu, and seventh-grader Connor Hirsh. Freshmen Owen Yang, Jimmy Luo, and Alice Xiao along with eighth-graders David Esposito, Emma Gammans, and Gabi Pereira all earned special awards. 

Upper School Science teacher Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald serves as the SID program lead advisor and mentor. The Middle School program is under the direction of science teacher Paulomi Aldo.

“I am deeply proud of our students for their contributions to the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair this year,” said Dr. Fitzgerald. “These projects are the culmination of months of curiosity and hard work. I commend the award winners, and all of the student researchers, for their dedication to independent inquiry. I would also like to acknowledge seniors Sophia Vash and Neev Makin for entering the science fair all four years of their time in the Upper School.”

In addition to Dr. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Aldo, the students have been advised and mentored by the following faculty members: Upper School science teachers Dr. Gina D’Angelo, Sarrah Gavin, Daniel Kemp, Alice Loth, Jacob Marchesi, and Dr. Kelly Ryan along with Upper School math teacher Daniel Cuneo.

The Science, Innovation, & Design program is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to pursue independent research on scientific topics of their interest. It was established by Dr. Frank Gasparro during the 2011-2012 academic year. He served as the program director since its inception with Dr. Fitzgerald now at the helm. In 2022, the program expanded with the inclusion of Middle School students with Mrs. Aldo.

·         For his project titled Which Shapes are the best for making the most aerodynamic car, David Esposito earned a certificate and USAF Merchandise Package from the U.S. Air Force.

·         For her project titled The Effect of Fungi on Plastic Decomposition, Emma Gammans earned a certificate and $25 gift card from Ricoh Americas Corporation; Excellence in Engineering Design certificate from Robotics and Beyond with $230 toward admissions to STEM and Design summer camp.

·         For his project titled What is the Lowest Ratio of Earth to Mars Soil in which Plants can be Grown?, George Hirsh earned third place and $100 in the Physical Science Awards with CMS Dorothy Minervino and two medallions from the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions Environmental Sciences Awards and the Alexion Biotechnology Awards

·         For her project titled The Amount of Carbon Dioxide That Nannochloropsis, Chlorella, and Chlamydomonas can Photosynthesize, Gabi Pereira earned the Alumni Middle School Botany Award and $100 cash.

·         For her project titled Innovated Emergency Vital Sign Detector, Rhea Hu earned a medallion in the Stanley Black & Decker Applied Technology Awards and a medallion in the Pepsico Engineering Awards.

·         For their project titled Active Noise Cancellation Efficiencies of an Adaptive ANC System Using Destructive Interference to Reduce Harmful Low-frequency Urban Noise, Frida and Barbara Ramirez Moreno earned first honors/a medallion in the Physical Science Awards with CMS Dorothy Minervino and 4 year scholarship ($30,000 per year/ $120,000) to University of New Haven for exemplary 11th grade project by the University of New Haven Scholarship Awards.

·         For their project titled How Does pH Affect the Corrosion Rate of Steel?, Owen Yang, Jimmy Luo, and Alice Xiao as a group earned a certificate for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize and a $25 gift card given by the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair.