May 04, 2016
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society brought together students and professional researchers online last month for its 4th annual Student Research Showcase. Approximately 40 high school, undergraduate, and graduate students entered this science communication competition. They submitted presentation websites that contain an abstract, video, and slideshow about their research projects.
From April 11–18, approximately 70 Sigma Xi members volunteered to judge the websites. Judges assessed presentations based on 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 the top presenters in the High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate divisions. The top project in each division will receive $500 from Sigma Xi. The Undergraduate Division had three presenters so their prize money will be split evenly between the presenters. The presentations were grouped by research area and the judges also named winners in each of these sections.
All participants will receive judges’ comments by email as well as a certificate of participation. They will be invited to become associate members of Sigma Xi, the international honor society for scientists and engineers. High school participants will be invited to submit a research paper to Sigma Xi’s journal for pre-college research, Chronicle of The New Researcher.
2016 Division Winners
High School Division
A Greener Cleaner: Investigating a Potential Biosorbent for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions
Ananya Karthik, Saint Francis High School
Section: Environmental Sciences
Undergraduate Division
Mounting Evidence of the False Consensus Effect in Male Bodybuilders
Bryan S. Nelson, Andre Nakkab, and Ward Pettibone, New York University
Section: Human Behavioral & Social Sciences
Graduate Division
Drying without dying―Resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides
Susan P. John, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Section: Physiology and Immunology
2016 Section Winners
Biochemistry
Development of a Novel Antiseptic Combination to Target MRSA and Pseudomonas
Janie Kim, Scripps Ranch High School
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Validating an Electroconvulsive Assay for Anti-Epileptic Drug Screening Using Drosophila melanogaster and Protein Kinase G
Matthew Dardet, Pine Crest School
Chemistry
Characterizing Substrate Specificity of Dopamine and Ascorbic Acid via Cyclic and Differential Pulse Voltammetry using Nitrogen-doped Porous Carbon and Graphene Based Electrodes
Malini Basu, Pine Crest School
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Functionality of the spotted salamander egg mass polymorphism
Matthew Pintar, University of Mississippi
Engineering
Synthesis and Application of Cost-Effective, Biomimetic Hydrogel Scaffolds Doped with Nanoscale Graphene Oxide: a Novel Approach to Cancer Therapy, Tissue Engineering, and Drug Delivery
Arvind Sridhar, Bellarmine College Preparatory
Human Behavioral & Social Sciences
Perception about Autism: An International Study
Esha Aneja, Dougherty Valley High School
Physics & Astronomy
An Automated Search for Gravitationally Lensed Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Pranav Sivakumar, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Math and Computer Science
Audio Classification of Humans in Distress
Matthew Stern, The Bronx High School of Science
Physiology & Immunology
Drying without dying―Resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides
Susan P. John, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Environmental Sciences
A Greener Cleaner: Investigating a Potential Biosorbent for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions
Ananya Karthik, Saint Francis High School
People's Choice Award
The public voted for the inaugural People's Choice Award, which is based solely on the merit of a presentation's video. The prize is $250.
Inaugural People's Choice Award winner
Development of a Novel Antiseptic Combination to Target MRSA and Pseudomonas
Jamie Kim, Scripps Ranch High School
Section: Biochemistry
For more details about this competition, please visit the Student Research Showcase page.