Sigma Xi 2017 Student Research Showcase
Environmental Sciences
Modeling the Effects of Land Use Change on Flooding in Pacific Northwest Streams
Adam Nayak, Cleveland High School
Through the investigation of urban streams, this project validates the relationship between imperviousness and flood severity using historical data, and models future flooding events based upon trends in land use changes.
Smog and Smoke- The Devils of Lung Cancer
Alisha Sood, Clear Creek High School
The purpose of the study is to determine whether air pollutants, Ozone and Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, increase the risk of lung cancer.
The Protective Effect of Glutathione, alpha-Lipoic Acid, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine Against Acetamide and Acrylamide in Danio rerio Embryos
Diya Jayram, American Heritage High School
A toxicological study on the effectiveness of various antioxidants (glutathione, alpha-Lipoic acid, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine) against the environmental carcinogens, acetamide and acrylamide.
A Solution for Nematicidal Resistance in Parasites using RNAi
Emily Pallack, American Heritage High School
I first determined if a certain detoxification pathway in plant parasitic nematodes causes resistance to a promising pesticide. Then, I used RNA interference, a form of genetic modification, as a solution to the resistance.
Aquatic Osteoporosis: Remediating the Emerging Problem of Lake Calcium Decline
Isabella O'Brien, Westmount Secondary School
Investigation of the use of pulverized recycled shell waste as a means of remediating the emerging environmental problem of lake calcium decline & analysis of its effect on the viability of calcium sensitive Daphina pulex, a key component of aquatic food webs.
Light at Night: Cognitive Disruptor
Justin Nelson,Dublin Coffman High School
Artificial light is one of the great conveniences of modern society. However, recent studies suggest that chronic exposure to light at night (LAN) has serious health implications. This study uses Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) to determine whether a week of LAN can alter cognitive function.
Creating a Model to Restore Endangered Plant Species through Saving Cypripedium reginae
Katherine Duan, Phillips Academy
This five-year study is an attempt to develop a complete model for restoring Cypripedium reginae by studying its life cycle in the wild and everything about its tissues, anatomy, and in vitro growth requirements.
Aerobic Cometabolism of cis-DCE by Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC® 21198 with Isobutane Growth Substrate
Lauren Waldman, American Heritage High School
The cis form of 1,2-Dichloroethene (cis-DCE) is a widespread toxic chlorinated solvent contaminant that was aerobically degraded via cometabolic bioremediation using Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC® 21198.
Use of Waste Carbon Dioxide as a Renewable Reagent to Catalytically Synthesize Commercially Useful Cyclic Carbonates
Meghana Bollimpalli, Little Rock Central High School
My project focuses on using a waste toxic greenhouse gas (Carbon Dioxide) that is excessively available in the environment as a environmentally and economically beneficial renewable reagent to synthesize commercially useful Cyclic carbonates which have enormous synthetic potential.
A Novel Mathematical Model for Ice Storms
Tyrone Zhang,Bronx High School of Science
Ice storms are among the least understood weather phenomena in meteorology, due to the unique synoptic, mesoscale and microphysical processes on precipitation types. Ice storms cause massive economic and personal damage. This project was to investigate the thermodynamics and dynamics between the melting of the snow and the wind advection that maintains the warm mid-layer that is crucial to the formation of ice storms.
Modeling the Effects of Land Use Change on Flooding in Pacific Northwest Streams
Adam Nayak, Cleveland High School
Through the investigation of urban streams, this project validates the relationship between imperviousness and flood severity using historical data, and models future flooding events based upon trends in land use changes.
Smog and Smoke- The Devils of Lung Cancer
Alisha Sood, Clear Creek High School
The purpose of the study is to determine whether air pollutants, Ozone and Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, increase the risk of lung cancer.
The Protective Effect of Glutathione, alpha-Lipoic Acid, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine Against Acetamide and Acrylamide in Danio rerio Embryos
Diya Jayram, American Heritage High School
A toxicological study on the effectiveness of various antioxidants (glutathione, alpha-Lipoic acid, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine) against the environmental carcinogens, acetamide and acrylamide.
The Protective Effect of Glutathione, alpha-Lipoic Acid, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine Against Acetamide and Acrylamide in Danio rerio Embryos
Diya Jayram, American Heritage High School
A toxicological study on the effectiveness of various antioxidants (glutathione, alpha-Lipoic acid, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine) against the environmental carcinogens, acetamide and acrylamide.
A Solution for Nematicidal Resistance in Parasites using RNAi
Emily Pallack, American Heritage High School
I first determined if a certain detoxification pathway in plant parasitic nematodes causes resistance to a promising pesticide. Then, I used RNA interference, a form of genetic modification, as a solution to the resistance.