May 17, 2019
The Sigma Xi judging team at the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
Approximately 1,800 high school students from more than 75 countries, regions, or territories qualified to showcase their independent research at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) on May 12–17 in Phoenix, Arizona. They qualified by winning at a local or school-sponsored science fair.
On May 16, the Society for Science & the Public, which runs Intel ISEF, announced the winners of the Special Organization Awards. These awards are distributed by corporate, government, and educational organizations along with honor societies, which provide approximately $5 million in awards, scientific trips, internships, and scholarships.
Sigma Xi provides $6,000 in special awards for life science and physical science projects that best demonstrate interdisciplinary research, to reflect the Society’s culture of bringing researchers from different backgrounds together. The award winners, as well as Sigma Xi's honorable mentions, receive a nomination to associate membership in Sigma Xi with the first year of dues paid and an invitation to submit a manuscript to Sigma Xi's referred journal for high school research, Chronicle of The New Researcher.
A group of Sigma Xi members volunteer each year to evaluate more than 300 presentations to select the award winners.
Eman Ghanem, Sigma Xi's director of Membership, Chapters, and Programs, presented a session about the opportunity for high school students to publish their research in Chronicle of The New Researcher. She also led a session for students about research ethics.
Judges
Sigma Xi thanks the following Sigma Xi members who volunteered as judges to select the winners of the Society's 2019 awards at Intel ISEF. Janelle Simmons, Sigma Xi's manager of programs, coordinated the judging process.
Alfred Cocanower, retired air traffic consultant
Eman Ghanem, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
Beatrice Krauss, University of Arizona
Priyanka Kushwaha, University of Arizona
Linda Mantel, Portland State University
Michael Quinlan, Midwestern University
Robert Sanford, Northern Arizona University
Vishal Shah, West Chester University
Malgorzata Wilk-Blaszcza, University of Texas- Arlington
2019 Sigma Xi Special Award Winners
Life Science Awards
First Place: $2,000
ENBM037T — Design of a Forearm Cumulative-Trauma-Disorder Risk Detector Using EMG Sensor Data Sent through an Arduino to a Mobile Application via Bluetooth
Dania Maraliz Villafuerte Gonzalez, Colegio Mater Salvatoris, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Larissa Raquel Cortes-Morales, Colegio Mater Salvatoris, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
Second Place: $1,000
PLNT056T — Environmental Friendly Seedling Nursery Balls from Cow Dung
Sutthida Iamsaard, Phanomsarakham "Phanom Adun Witthaya" School, Phanom Sarakham, Chachoengsao, Thailand
Thirakarn Wannakarn, Phanomsarakham "Phanom Adun Witthaya" School, Phanom Sarakham, Tha Than Sub-district, Chachoengsao, Thailand
Honorable Mention
ANIM012T — Aliens Invade Hong Kong: First Record of the New Guinea Flatworm (Platydemus manokwari) as an Invasive Species in Hong Kong, China
Elysia Ruo Yan Ye, Chinese International School, Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Muhua Yang, St. Joseph's College, Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Physical Science Awards
First Place: $2,000
ENEV082T — A Novel Computational Tool to Inform Cost-Effective Nutrition Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa
Garyk Jandl Brixi, Winston Churchill High School, Potomac, MD, United States of America
Lillian Kay Petersen, Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
Second Place: $1,000
EAEV022T — Potential Identification and Application of the Rhizophora apiculata and Sonneratia alba as a Bio Antifouling Agent for Antifoulant Paints
Carolline Mathilda Nggebu, Denpasar 3rd State Senior High School, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Wiratathya Putramas I Made, Denpasar 3rd State Senior High School, Badung, Bali, Indonesia
Honorable Mention
MATS019T — Alternative Tessellation and Inner Cone Design for Helmets
Yunha Ham, Peachtree Ridge High School, Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America
Yunseo Ham, Peachtree Ridge High School, Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America