Yorktown High School Science Research Students Excel in Competitions

More than 60 students in the Yorktown High School Science Research Program, a three-year program, recently competed in two international competitions. On Thursday, June 2, they will be showcasing their projects at the Science Symposium, to be held at the high school auditorium at 7 p.m.

At the International Sustainable Olympiad in Houston, Texas, won second place in Engineering and the Naval research award for his work in creating a solar cell tracking device that uses a shape memory alloy known as “Muscle Wire” to guide a solar panel to follow the path of the sun.

Amanda Cesario won second place in Environment for her work to determine the effect of a potential water purifying plant, Moringa, in removing substances such as E.coli in an effort to make the water drinkable. Her goal is to help people in developing nations who don’t have access to commercial water filtration systems.

In Los Angeles, California, at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Matthew McIntyre won second place in Microbiology and the U.S. Army Award for his work on a possible solution to the worldwide malaria epidemic for identifying the genetics of the parasite that causes malaria-likediseases, which could be targeted by future pharmaceuticals. Matthew won awards totaling more than $5,000 in scholarships and a trip to London, England. Last year, he presented and won fourth place in the category at the Intel ISEF.

Priya Mohindra and her partner, Gabriel Weissman of Horace Greeley High School, won fourth place in Biochemistry for their research on early detection of breast cancer by finding a better way to bind a cancer detection chemical to early stage breast cancer cells.

Cerabona's research won him the opportunity to present at ISEF as well, where he won fourth place in Engineering and the GE Energy Award for his work in creating a solar cell tracking device thatuses a shape memory alloy known as “Muscle Wire” to guide a solar panel to follow the path of the sun.

For more information about the competitions, visit www.isweeep.org and www.societyforscience.org/isef.