Shoreham-Wading River High School science teacher Dana Schaefer and students Derek Blanco, Ariel Greenberg and Anna Minetti shared some highlights of the Science Research course and its many opportunities at the May 7 Board of Education meeting. Students in the multiyear course learn to develop their independence in the scientific process, conducting research, documenting results and preparing scholarly papers and presentations.

The students shared information on their participation in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s SPARK (Student Partnerships for Advanced Research and Knowledge) program, the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, Long Island Science Congress and Barcode Long Island, in which students document and track biodiversity on and around Long Island, led by trained Long Island educators.

Mrs. Schaefer spoke of leading the students in the projects and her beginnings with the program and how Shoreham-Wading River High School 2021 graduate Jalal Sawas, now finishing his third year at Stony Brook University, was one of the first students to analyze sediment collected from the high school campus pond. The project continues with Derek Blanco who is finalizing his findings to be submitted for publication in a scientific education journal.

Some other historical highlights from this year mentioned at the meeting include Derek and student Dongkai (Alex) Zhang submitting their research projects into the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition and student Julianna O’Neill meeting with United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm during a visit to Brookhaven National Laboratory to share her microplastics research project.

Date Added: 5/13/2024