Cameron Snyder Attends Young Scientist Academy

High school youths from Middle Georgia and Atlanta recently showcased what they’ve learned this summer while studying at Georgia College’s Young Scientists Academy (YSA)–a growing summer program that gives academically-motivated youth and under-represented students a chance to experience university science labs and research techniques.

Eight students wrapped up a six-week learning spree, which included tests on cigarette vapors, sol gels and solar cells. They gave short presentations explaining their projects and then family, friends, teachers and college and high school administrators were given tours of lab space.

Cameron Snyder, a senior from Jasper County High School, was one of the eight students selected to participate in the program. He tested traditional cigarette smoke and discovered a cancer-causing compound that adheres to painted drywall. He was selected to receive this year’s American Chemical Society Project SEED award, a program that has supported 11,000 economically disadvantaged high school students worldwide.

Cameron was also invited to present his research at the Southeast Regional meeting of the American Chemical Society in October.

“We want to get youth excited about science,” said Dr. Catrena Lisse, director of Georgia College’s Science Education Center. “The entire first week is just learning safety in the lab and how to do research. They learned how to read scientific literature. I sit here entirely proud. Big words that scared them at first are now just everyday language. It has been a very fun six weeks.”

Dr Lisse was Cameron’s project advisor and is a professor of Chemistry at Georgia College.

In its eighth year, YSA is free to all participants. They each receive a $500 to $2,500 stipend, funded this year by a $7,500 grant from the American Chemical Society and $2,000 from the Franklin Foundation.

Young scientists developed procedures for experiments, charting their own course during experimentation. They learned how to make scientific arguments, create posters and network in the science community. They also toured campus and learned how to select and apply to college.

Other students include Aarya Kapani, a senior at Walton High School in Marietta, tested the capacity of berries to help solar cells absorb sunlight; Javin Wiggins, a senior from Putnam High School in Eatonton, developed animation for solar cell research; Aniba Reddick, a junior from Jones County High School, experimented on electronic cigarette smoke– something she found adheres to clothing and enters the skin; and Nina Strudwick, a junior from Bibb County’s Howard High School, who synthesized sol gel sensors to detect heavy metals in water; Hetket Mitchell, a junior from Baldwin County High School, said her participation in YSA has strengthened her confidence, making her want to pursue a career in chemistry.

“I’ve been given a lot of freedom. As a project leader, I’m creating my own type of solar cells,” Kapani said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”

“Being here gave me more respect for chemists and professors and college students,” said Hetket Mitchell. “It’s definitely a game changer. Now I’m learning how to conduct research, and I’m learning to present it and stand behind it and defend it. This is awesome.”