Students To Compete in Arizona
Three local high school students will have the opportunity to compete in Phoenix, Ariz. May 8-13 at Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF.)
Jasper County seniors Austin Norwood, Aneah Moore, and Brianna Nicholson (left to right with teacher Elizabeth Proctor) performed research on gene frequency of sickle cell among their local population in Monticello.
“It’s personal for me because I actually have the sickle cell trait,” said Miss Moore. “This was a way to learn more about it, but also raise awareness in our community.”
For their research entitled “Surveying Sickle Cell Allele Frequency,” the students garnered the Best in Show grand prize at this year’s Regional Science and Engineering Fair hosted by Georgia College’s Science Education Center. Now that work will take them to the world’s largest international pre-college science fair competition.
The three students and their teacher, Mrs. Proctor, will travel to the week-long conference with Georgia College’s Dr. Catrena Lisse, director of the Science Education Center.
“The Best of Show winner at our regional fair receives recognition for their work and gains the right to participate at state-level and higher-level competitions. It is my hope that the students will use ISEF to help open the doors of academic opportunity for their future,” said Dr. Lisse.
“They are about to meet with and be judged by some of the best scientists in the world. This will be a wonderful occasion for the students to network and demonstrate their motivation, critical thinking, ethics and other important skills.”
From their research, the seniors not only had the opportunity for hands-on experiential learning, but also learned skills of collaboration.
“It’s taken a lot of commitment and long hours,” said Miss Nicholson. “We also have learned so much more about science in the process and how to work as a team.”
Mr. Norwood, who plans to become an epidemiologist, says this research has opened doors in so many ways.
“I’ve always loved science and doing this research has helped me further my love of the subject,” said Mr. Norwood. “While it was difficult in many ways, it’s also been rewarding—it’s definitely led to a lot of college offers.”