The Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair took Saturday, March 20th at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This was the 14th year of this regional Fair for the International Science and Engineering Fair. Students presented original research in science, mathematics and engineering. The fair has both a senior and junior division.
The major sponsors of this Fair are Rensselaer GE and the GE Elfun Society. Other corporate sponsors are Albany Molecular, Clough Harbor, Schenectady International and KAPL NOVA. Support is also received from Albany College of Pharmacy, Eastern Section of STANYS. Eastern Branch of American Microbiology Society, KAPL NOVA and a private donation from Rensselaer Professor Emeritus, Walter Eppenstein.
The Fair offers numerous prizes including two scholarships. Rensselaer offers a $12,000 scholarship upon acceptance to the school and Albany College of Pharmacy offers a $20,000 scholarship. Below is a summary of the awards offered this year.
Junior Division Grand Prizes
The top winner in 2004, Kaleigh Ahern, has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge.
First Place
Kaleigh Ahern, Richard O’Rourke MS
Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from Public Places
J-03
Second Place
Justin Bassett, Shaker Jr. HS
Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Efficient?
J-04
Third Place
Brendan Reilly, Shaker Jr. HS
Using Remote Control Cars to Simulate Rollovers in Sport Utility Vehicles
J-25
First Honorable Mention
Alexandria Kuhl, Broadalbin-Perth MS
How Different Chemicals Effect the Germination of Sunflower Seeds
J-18
Second Honorable Mention
Rotem Rusak, Shaker Jr. HS
What Factors in Liquid Makes Plants Grow the Best?
J-26
Third Honorable Mention
Courtney Schwarting
Jessica Brehm, Richard O’Rourke MS
The Effects of Organic and Synthetic Antacids on Hydrochloric Acid
J-2
Senior Division Grand Prizes
First Place
Colleen Moreland, Academy of the Holy Names
Electrophysiological Retinotectal Mapping in the Evaluation of Visual Function in a Rat Model for Glaucoma
S-22
Second Place
Zachary Lauria, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
The Role of Apocynin Derived Compounds in Cancer Treatment
S-18
Third Place
Eileen Tucker, Albany Academy for Girls
A Mathmatical Analysis of Supreme Court Voting Patterns Suggesting Excess Justices and Non-Divergent Courts
S-37
First Honorable Mention
Richard Bonventure, Bethlehem Central HS
Limits on Nucleon Decay at KamLAND
S-4
Second Honorable Mention
Packer Randall, Saratoga Springs HS
Expression of Syndecan-1 CD138 in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Correlates with Tumor Gleason Score & Pathological Stage
S-29
Third Honorable Mention
Anton Beza, Columbia HS
Over-production of Caspase-3/CPP32 Correlates With Tumor Severity in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma
S-3
Special Awards
ASM (American Society for Microbiology)
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Paul Rightmyer (sr.): The Effect of Mutagens on the Level of Transposition
S-32
Richard O’Rourke MS
Kaleigh Ahern (jr.): Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from Public Places
J-03
Eleanor M. Reed Research Excellence
Saratoga Springs HS
Packer Randall (sr.): Expression of Syndecan-1 CD138 in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Correlates with Tumor Gleason Score & Pathological Stage
S-29
Academy of the Holy Names
Lea Tessitore (jr.): Can Video Games Improve Safety for the Elderly on the Road?
J-28
NABT
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Thomas Clement (sr.): The Age and Growth of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in the Fulton Chain of Lakes
S-6
Shaker HS
Rotem Rusak: What Factors in Liquid Makes Plants Grow the Best?
J-26
Nuclear Society
Bethlehem Central HS
Richard Bonventure (sr.): Limits on Nucleon Decay at KamLAND
S-4
Shaker HS
Justin Bassett (jr.): Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Efficient?
J-4
U.S. Air Force
Glens Falls HS
Dan Elton: Novel High Energy Surface Treatments to Improve Adhesion on Structural Polymers
S-41
Academy of the Holy Names
Victoria DeMers: Hydro-glide
J-09
Shaker HS
Brendan Reilly: Remote Control Cars to Simulate Rollovers in SUVs
J-25
Walter. Eppenstein Astronomy/Physics Award
Bethlehem Central HS
Richard Bonventure: Limits on Nucleon Decay at KamLAND
S-4
American Meteorological Society
None
Albany College of Pharmacy-Biomedical Sciences Excellence Award ($20,000 scholarship)
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Robert Malizia: The Role of Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase II in Vascular Smooth Muscle Growth Over Seven Days
S-20
American Psychological Association (APA) and Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS)
Columbia HS
Hannah Byrnes-Enoch: Religiosity and Eating Behavior
S-5
ASM International Foundation Outstanding Materials Award
Glens Falls HS
Dan Elton: Novel High Energy Surface Treatments to Improve Adhesion on Structural Polymers
S-41
Association for Women Geoscientists
None
Eastman Kodak Company Photographic
Academy of the Holy Names
Sarah Hardwick: Leukocyte and Endothelial Cell Function Under Biochemical and Biophysical Stimuli
S-13
Herbert Hoover Young Engineer Award
Academy of the Holy Names
Sheila Tillman: Development of a Robotic Hand Prototype
S-35
Intel Excellence in Computer Science
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Jessie Klapper: Utilizing the Computational analysis Program Sfold to Identify and Rank Potential Hammerhead Ribozyme Cleavage Sites
S-17
Intel Excellence in Environmental Health & Safety
Hadley-Luzerne HS
Kaitlyn Sicke, AJ Brooks, and Jesse Keenan: Water Quality Assessment of the Upper Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers, Towns of Hadley and lake Luzerne
S-02
International Society for Optical Engineering
None
Mu Apha Theta
Broadalbin-Perth MS
Julie Mucilli, Charles Stocker, and Brian Clemente: Binomial Distribution
J-23
NACE International
None
National Society for Professional Engineers
Shaker HS
Brendan Reilly: Using Remote Control Cars to Simulate Rollovers in Sport Utility Vehicles
J-25
U.S. Metric
Guilderland Central HS
Geoffrey Kyle Benn, Bradley Anderson, and Jessica Lascoe: A Comparison of Water Usage and Growth of Phaseolus Vulgaris in Hydroponic and Soil Cultures
S-1
U.S. Army
Albany Academy for Girls
Eileen Tucker: A Mathematical Analysis of Supreme Court Voting Patterns Suggesting Excess Justices and Non-Divergent Courts
S-37
Schuylerville Central HS
Christina Peterson (sr): Effect of Focal Adhesion Kinase and Paxillin Overexpression in Cardiac Hypertrophy
S-27
Shaker HS
Arun Puttachi (sr): Exploring the E5 Oncoprotein: A Possible Cure for Cancer
S-28
Columbia HS
Alexander Michaels (sr): Growth of Extremophile Deinococcus radiodurans in Simulated Martian Regolith
S-40
Academy of the Holy Names
Victoria Demers (jr): Hydro-Glide
J-9
Academy of the Holy Names
Lea Tessitore: Can Video Games Improve Safety for the Elderly on the Road?
J-28
U.S. Dept. Health & Human Services
Saratoga Springs HS
Heidi Reid: Relationship Between Level of Calcium and Isoflavone, and Exercise Level, and Their Long Term Effects on Risk of Osteoporosis Diagnosis
S-30
U.S. Navy & Marine Corps
Columbia HS
Hannah Byrnes-Enoch (sr): Religiosity and Eating Behavior
S-5
Columbia HS
Eric Olson (sr): Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane with Nanotube Fillers
S-26
Academy of the Holy Names
Sheila Tillman: Development of a Robotic Hand Prototype
S-35
Broadalbin-Perth MS
Alexandria Kuhl: How Different Chemicals Effect the Germination of Sunflower Seeds
J-18
Yale Science & Engineering Association Inc
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Jesse Klapper: Utilizing the Computational analysis Program Sfold to Identify and Rank Potential Hammerhead Ribozyme Cleavage Sites
S-17
Water Environment Federation
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Brian Frederick
S-11
Rensselaer $12,000 Scholarship
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS
Jesse Klapper: Utilizing the Computational analysis Program Sfold to Identify and Rank Potential Hammerhead Ribozyme Cleavage Sites
S-17