Shraddha Rathod '14, Kanah Shah '14, and Zachary Polizzi '14 represented NCSSM in the 4th biennial Singapore International Science Challenge from July 1 - 5, 2013 at the National Junior College in Singapore. This is the second time NCSSM has been invited to compete in this challenge.

 

The theme of this year's SISC was "Transpire, Transform, Transcend." This challenge consisted of 3 parts, a research competition, a group fieldwork challenge, and a group design and build challenge.

 

Kanan Shah presented her research, completed with Biology Instructor Kim Monahan, "Analysis of Genes Involved in the RAS-ERK Signaling Pathway in Cancer." Shah was chosen to present her poster individually to the Minister of Transport, who was the guest of honor for the opening ceremonies.

 

Zachary Polizzi presented his project "Design and Construction of a Multi-material 3D Printer," completed under the direction of Engineering Instructor Joe LoBuglio along with three other students during Mini-Term 2012.

 

Shraddha Rathod had her research project titled "The Optimization of Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency through Analysis of Anthocyanin and Chlorophyll-based Dyes" selected for publication in the inaugaral SISC Research Proceedings and presented her work in an oral presentation. Her work was completed with two other NCSSM students under the direction of Chemistry Instructor Myra Halpin.

 

About the Challenge

Challenges were constructed around water and a sustainable future. Students from different schools competed in teams in the fieldwork challenge to test river water and propose solutions for remediation of any problems found. The design and build challenge required students from multiple schools to plan a self-sustaining floating home, create fuel from biomatter, and generate and store energy from 'windmills' and 'solar panels' constructed during the challenge.

 

Awards

Each student designed structures to be more efficient for future generations. Shah's group earned First Runner Up in the Fieldwork Challenge, Rathod's group earned a Fourth Runner Up prize in the Fieldwork Challenge and Polizzi's group earned the top honors of Grand Champion in the Fieldwork Challenge.

 

Students enjoyed making new international friends and learning more about their cultures and lives. During the fieldwork and design and build competitions, they learned firsthand about international cooperation and working together with people from diverse backgrounds.

 

NCSSM looks forward to being invited to compete in future SISC events and congratulates these students for their hard work preparing and presenting their research and their innovations, team work skills, and application of science knowledge in this event.

 

This opportunity was supported and funded by the NCSSM Foundation.