7/8/13 - Students compete in Singapore

Shraddha Rathod, Kanan Shah, and Zachary Polizzi 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 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 Instrctor, Kim Monahan  ANALYSIS OF GENES INVOLVED IN THE RAS-ERK SIGNALING PATHWAY IN CANCER and was chosen to present her poster individuallly to the Minister of Transport, guest of honor for the opening ceremonies. Zachary Polizzi presented his miniterm project Design and Construction of a Multi-material 3D Printer, completed under the direction of Engineering Instructor Joe LoBuglio with 3 other students during Miniterm 2012. Shraddha Rathod had her research project entitled 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.
 

The 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. Even though our students did not earn an award in the design challenge portion, they each designed structures to be more efficient for future generations.  Each of our students earned kudos during the group challenges with Shah's group earning 1st Runner Up in the Fieldwork Challenge, Rathod's group earning a 4th Runner Up  in the Fieldwork Challenge, Polizzi's group earning the top honors of Grand Champion in the Fieldwork Challenge.
 

The 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. The students were accompanied by Physics Instructors Zo Webster and Charlie Payne. Dr Webster and Mr. Payne gave presentations to an international group of science, math, and technology faculty.

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. 

For more information on SISC see http://sisc.sg/