Science Enthusiasts Bring Home Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair Awards

Students in Hamden Hall’s signature program, Science, Innovation & Design (SID), continue to impress as their science-based research projects were honorably recognized and awarded at the 74^th annual Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair hosted at Quinnipiac University.

Nine students entered their projects into the competition with six students being selected as finalists. The students included eighth-graders Andrei Balas, Ravindu Karunaratne, Neev Makin, and Sophia Vash; and sophomores Owen Zeng and Joy Zhuo. In addition to being named finalists, all the eighth-grade students earned special award prizes with Neev receiving an invitation to compete at the Connecticut Invention Convention “Next Step Inventors” on May 2 and Sophia receiving an invitation to compete at the Broadcom Masters competition later this year.

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment for our students as their projects have been recognized on a larger scale,” said SID program director Dr. Frank Gasparro. “Being selected as winning finalists celebrates the culmination of their hard work and celebrates their efforts over the last several months. The passion and enthusiasm behind these projects showed at the judging presentation, and I could not be prouder of their achievements.”

Andrei’s project titled “2009 MacBook Restoration” refurbishes old laptops with updated software programs and data bases for students to use. He placed third in the Stanley Black & Decker Applied Technology Awards earning $100, a plaque, and medallion; finalist for the Computer Science Awards; and selected for the Wisner Chairman’s Award earning $500 and a plaque.

Ravindu’s project titled “iAAA band” (Impact-absorbing and alerting band) features a band worn around the hand of an elderly or disabled person to protect their head during a fall and alerts the surrounding people. He was a finalist for the Alexion Biotechnology Awards earning a medallion; finalist for the Lemelson Early Inventor Award receiving a certificate and $100 from the Lemelson Foundation; and finalist for the American Society of Safety Professionals, CT Valley Chapter, earning $150.

Neev’s project titled “The Latch” aims to create a free alternative readily available for nurses to find and locate veins in order to place an IV using a smartphone app. He placed second in the Stanley Black & Decker Applied Technology Awards earning $200, a plaque, and medallion; finalist for the PepsiCo Life Sciences Awards earning a medallion; third place in the Computer Science Awards receiving $100 and a plaque, and third place in the Collins Aerospace Engineering Awards receiving $100 and a plaque.

Sophia’s project titled “Copper Contamination of Freshwater Sources” investigated if certain plants and water animals can take away harmful contaminants in lakes using the scientific method of phytoremediation. She won second place in the PepsiCo Life Sciences Awards earning $200 and a plaque; first place in the Petit Family Foundation Women in Science & Engineering Awards earning $300 and a plaque; third place in the Environmental Sciences Awards earning $100 and a plaque; and the Excellence rank by Fox Pest Control for Environmental Management.

Owen and Joy’s project titled "Determining Carbon Dioxide Levels in Classroom Settings," measures the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in classrooms. The objective is to illustrate the relationship between classroom occupancy and carbon dioxide and oxygen levels to analyze whether those levels affected students’ concentration abilities and potential health risks.

Dr. Gasparro noted that interest in science has surged among students since the establishment of SID in 2012 as it enables students to highlight their intellectual curiosity and affords them the chance to become independent learners. Additionally, he said there has been an influx of student participants in science fairs with numbers increasing each year and he hopes to see the growth continue in the years to come.

“It is an honor to mentor and work with these students because their love of science is unmatched,” commented Dr. Gasparro.