April 18, 2017
One hundred sixteen science and engineering students from high schools, colleges, and universities around the world gathered online in April in the hopes of not only having the best research project, but also having the best science communication skills.
They competed in the fifth annual Student Research Showcase, run by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.
Students enter the competition by creating a website that contains a slideshow, a research abstract, and a video. Each component challenges students to communicate their research findings to different audiences. For example, the slideshow is intended for an audience with a technical background while the video targets a broader audience.
Approximately 60 Sigma Xi members volunteered from April 3–10 to judge the websites. Judges assessed the quality of the project’s scientific thought and method. They also critiqued how well the student communicated enthusiasm for their project, explained the significance of their research, used text, charts, and diagrams, and responded to questions.
Judges picked top presenters in the High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate divisions. Division winners will receive $500 award from Sigma Xi. Judges also picked top presenters in each of the research subject areas.
All participants will receive a certificate of participation. High school participants will be invited to submit a research manuscript to Sigma Xi's journal for pre-collegiate research in STEM, Chronicle of The New Researcher.
2017 Division Winners
High School Division
Improving Nitration Activity of Fused TxtE-CYP102AI Reductase Domain by Optimizing the Linker Length
Padmavathi Reddy, American Heritage High School
Section: Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Undergraduate Division
Protein Expression in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Amanda Baskfield, Ball State University
Section: Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Graduate Division
FeverPhone: Point of Care Diagnosis of Acute Febrile Illness using a Mobile Device
Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao, Cornell University
Section: Engineering
2017 Section Winners
Agricultural, Soil, and Natural Resources (TIE)
Sirex Woodwasps and Their Fungal Symbionts in Alabama Forests
Andrea C. Wahl, Auburn University
Response of Dryland Peanut Cultivars to Herbicide Tank-Mixtures Utilizing Paraquat
Kayla Marie Eason, The University of Georgia
Anthropology
A Preliminary Comparison of Morphological Features of the Extinct Giant Aye-Aye (Daubentonia robusta) and Extant Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Taylor Nguyen, North Carolina State University
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Improving Nitration Activity of Fused TxtE-CYP102AI Reductase Domain by Optimizing the Linker Length
Padmavathi Reddy, American Heritage High School
Chemistry
Characterizing Effect of Glutamine Position on Aβ Fiber Structure
Andrea Augustine, Eagle's Landing High School
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Anthropogenic Noise Impacts Reproductive Success in Songbirds in Savannah, Georgia
Carlee Skarin, Islands High School
Engineering
A Novel Methodology to Build Organic Thermoelectric Materials for Sustainable and Renewable Energy Applications
Vera Zarubin, The Bronx High School of Science
Environmental Science
Smog and Smoke- The Devils of Lung Cancer
Alisha Sood, Clear Creek High School
Human Behavioral & Social Sciences
The Combinational Effects of Environmental Enrichment and Nicotinamide After Controlled Cortical Impacts in Juvenile Rats
Ryan Holden, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Math and Computer Science
Using a Drone as an Autonomous Ultrasound Scanner
Bahaa Harraz, Centennial High School
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Can Flavonoids Cause DNA Damage and Chromosomal Translocations Similar to Those Seen in Leukemia?
Mimi Ughetta, The Lawrenceville School
Physics & Astronomy
Creating a Full-sky map of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Emission
Matthew Berkeley, The Catholic University of America
Physiology & Immunology
Antimicrobial Effect of Ozone on Oral Microbiota
Nithin Parsan, William P. Clements High School
People’s Choice Award
Voting for the People's Choice Award is open! Cast your vote here by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, April 17. Winner of the People’s Choice Award receives a $250 monetary award.
For more details about this competition, please visit the Student Research Showcase webpage.