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More than 500 Minnesota students converged to compete in the 80th annual North Central State Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF). The SSEF is an annual competition that has been the pinnacle of project-based education for the best and brightest Minnesota students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The State Science & Engineering Fair’s mission is to foster students to become informed citizens who are well versed in the methods and ideas of science and to inspire Minnesota students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

2018 State Science Fair Highlights! 

More than 500 Minnesota students converged to compete in the 80th annual North Central State Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF). The SSEF is an annual competition that has been the pinnacle of project-based education for the best and brightest Minnesota students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The State Science & Engineering Fair’s mission is to foster students to become informed citizens who are well versed in the methods and ideas of science and to inspire Minnesota students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

2018 State Science Fair Highlights! 

More than 500 Minnesota students converged to compete in the 80th annual North Central State Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF). The SSEF is an annual competition that has been the pinnacle of project-based education for the best and brightest Minnesota students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The State Science & Engineering Fair’s mission is to foster students to become informed citizens who are well versed in the methods and ideas of science and to inspire Minnesota students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

2018 State Science Fair Highlights! 

Congratulations to all of the teams who participated in the 2018 MN Regional Science Bowl for High School Students!

Congratulations to all of the teams who participated in the 2018 MN Regional Science Bowl for High School Students!

Congratulations to all of the teams who participated in the 2018 MN Regional Science Bowl for High School Students!

Our 2018 Annual meeting/Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the University of St. Thomas 

A few of the Winchell research projects conducted this year by undergraduates throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, which were presented April 22, 2017, at Macalester College.

 A Mayo Clinic doctor had samples but not enough time to make use of them for a theory. Students Joey Murdock and Hannah Hartog at Concordia University's Department of Biology were looking for a research project. Advisor Mary Ann Yang was the middle person and mentor who put the team together. The result: "Differential protein expression comparison between fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma patient versus normal subject." Can proteomic screening on FC-HCC tumor samples reliably be identified through differential expression of proteins utilizing western blot analysis?

What are the variables that make microspheres dependable vehicles for controlled dosage of medicinal drugs? Daniel Sievert (advisor Kenneth Rohly) of Bethel University's Chemistry Department tested time, amount of organic solvent, amount of aqueous solvent, amount of drug, spin and other variables to maximize the size of microspheres. How well is the chloroquine released based on the variables? That was the subject of "Optimization of polycaprolactone microsphere size through synthesis manipulation."

Nanotubes, molecular sensors, thin films and field-effect transistors might benefit from the use of triimdes as a tool of sustainable engineering, compared to the electron-conducting properties of aromatic diimides. Can mellitic triimdes be stacked and assembled to form supramolecular structures? That's what Kofi Ofosu (with advisor Dennis Cao) of Macalester College's Department of Chemistry sought to find out with "Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of mellitic triimides."

With the loss of green space worldwide, what are the benefits of green roof systems? Whitney Gearhart, Paige Ohlund, Jocelyn Wiegand (advisor Jane Wattrus) of College of St. Scholastica's Department of Biology studied "Effect of moisture differences on soil microarthropod abundance, and diversity of green roof systems." Green roof beds that received no supplemental watering had higher abundances of microarthropods as well as more species diversity. Their data provided implications on how to better maintain green roof systems in order to maximize environmental benefits.

  St. Olaf students have had a rich opportunity to explore environmental variables on agriculture. Thomas Knee (Kathleen Shea, advisor) studied "Disturbance in prairie ecosystems: the effects of fire on restored prairies in southeastern Minnesota." Since 1989 St. Olaf has restored about 61 hectares of agricultural land to prairie to conserve biodiversity; each section of St. Olaf prairie is burned every two to five years. How does species diversity, soil moisture, organic matter and nitrates vary in these sections, and why?

Margaret Noun (Kathleen Shea, advisor) examined "Effects of land management and agriculture on Rice and Heath Creek in Southeastern Minnesota." What are the effects of riparian buffers on water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity in a spring-fed stream and a lake-fed stream? Does proximity to agricultural fields make a difference? 

Can a low-cost microbial fuel cell be constructed using a strip of copper, aluminum, a potted plant and simple electronics? The team of Ariya Ishida and Shane Kosieradzki (advisor Bruce Bolon) of Hamline University's Physics Department generated power using plant waste as nutrients for anaerobic bacterial respiration within the soil.

In "Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of two-dimensional tin sulfide nanosheets," Elizabeth Juarez Diaz (advisor John Dwyer) of St. Catherine University's Chemistry Department repots on efforts to synthesize nanosheets of tin monosulfide via a green hydrothermal synthesis, and strategies to controllably produce single- or few-layer nanosheets with large lateral dimensions.

With antibiotic resistance worsening globally, can bacterial cultures grown in nutrient broth solutions trigger antibiotic production? Brandon O'Connor (advisor Mitchell Maddox) of Bethel University's Chemistry Department looked at "Isolation of active compounds in antibiotic-producing bacteria."

Protein Farnesyltransferase has been successful in transferring non-natural substrates to Ras proteins — mutated in up to 30 percent of human cancers — using copper-catalyzed click chemistry. However, that process is toxic to living cells. In this research a bioorthogonal PFTase substrted was synthesized that does not require a copper catalyst. Shelby Auger (advisor James Wollack) of St. Catherine's Department of Chemistry presented her results, "Synthesis of a PFTase substrate containing a terminal olefin capable of tetrazine ligation."

How can 3D printing be designed with an optical cage system and accessories that is printable on any entry-level commercially available 3D printer at a much lower cost? David Shepler (advisor Brandon Winters) of Bethel University's Department of Chemistry created something for just under $60, compared to a high-end model of $430, for a two-foot section that could be used widely at schools.

The Carleton College Department of Biology team of Jackson Raynor, Sandy Carson and Apoorva Handigol (advisor Debby Walser-Kuntz) collected data demonstrating that BPA exposure during early zebrafish development alters baseline innate immune signaling as well as injury responses.

Current Minnesota rules require septic tank capacity to increase by 50 percent with the installation of food waste disposal because it may induce sludge accumulation and deteriorate tank effluent. Maneewan Sinchai (advisor Bo Hu), from the University of Minnesota's Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, explored "Degradation of food waste in simulated septic tank," finding a marginal reduction in water quality with food waste, without a negative impact on septic tank performance. Sludge accumulation from food waste was evident, but also without a significant difference between septic tank with sewage and that with additional food waste. A possible result of her research, she suggested, is improvement in regulations around septic tanks, used by more than 20 percent of U.S. households to treat wastewater. 

Thanks to our Winchell Symposium sponsors!

Our 2018 Annual meeting/Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the University of St. Thomas 

A few of the Winchell research projects conducted this year by undergraduates throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, which were presented April 22, 2017, at Macalester College.

 A Mayo Clinic doctor had samples but not enough time to make use of them for a theory. Students Joey Murdock and Hannah Hartog at Concordia University's Department of Biology were looking for a research project. Advisor Mary Ann Yang was the middle person and mentor who put the team together. The result: "Differential protein expression comparison between fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma patient versus normal subject." Can proteomic screening on FC-HCC tumor samples reliably be identified through differential expression of proteins utilizing western blot analysis?

What are the variables that make microspheres dependable vehicles for controlled dosage of medicinal drugs? Daniel Sievert (advisor Kenneth Rohly) of Bethel University's Chemistry Department tested time, amount of organic solvent, amount of aqueous solvent, amount of drug, spin and other variables to maximize the size of microspheres. How well is the chloroquine released based on the variables? That was the subject of "Optimization of polycaprolactone microsphere size through synthesis manipulation."

Nanotubes, molecular sensors, thin films and field-effect transistors might benefit from the use of triimdes as a tool of sustainable engineering, compared to the electron-conducting properties of aromatic diimides. Can mellitic triimdes be stacked and assembled to form supramolecular structures? That's what Kofi Ofosu (with advisor Dennis Cao) of Macalester College's Department of Chemistry sought to find out with "Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of mellitic triimides."

With the loss of green space worldwide, what are the benefits of green roof systems? Whitney Gearhart, Paige Ohlund, Jocelyn Wiegand (advisor Jane Wattrus) of College of St. Scholastica's Department of Biology studied "Effect of moisture differences on soil microarthropod abundance, and diversity of green roof systems." Green roof beds that received no supplemental watering had higher abundances of microarthropods as well as more species diversity. Their data provided implications on how to better maintain green roof systems in order to maximize environmental benefits.

  St. Olaf students have had a rich opportunity to explore environmental variables on agriculture. Thomas Knee (Kathleen Shea, advisor) studied "Disturbance in prairie ecosystems: the effects of fire on restored prairies in southeastern Minnesota." Since 1989 St. Olaf has restored about 61 hectares of agricultural land to prairie to conserve biodiversity; each section of St. Olaf prairie is burned every two to five years. How does species diversity, soil moisture, organic matter and nitrates vary in these sections, and why?

Margaret Noun (Kathleen Shea, advisor) examined "Effects of land management and agriculture on Rice and Heath Creek in Southeastern Minnesota." What are the effects of riparian buffers on water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity in a spring-fed stream and a lake-fed stream? Does proximity to agricultural fields make a difference? 

Can a low-cost microbial fuel cell be constructed using a strip of copper, aluminum, a potted plant and simple electronics? The team of Ariya Ishida and Shane Kosieradzki (advisor Bruce Bolon) of Hamline University's Physics Department generated power using plant waste as nutrients for anaerobic bacterial respiration within the soil.

In "Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of two-dimensional tin sulfide nanosheets," Elizabeth Juarez Diaz (advisor John Dwyer) of St. Catherine University's Chemistry Department repots on efforts to synthesize nanosheets of tin monosulfide via a green hydrothermal synthesis, and strategies to controllably produce single- or few-layer nanosheets with large lateral dimensions.

With antibiotic resistance worsening globally, can bacterial cultures grown in nutrient broth solutions trigger antibiotic production? Brandon O'Connor (advisor Mitchell Maddox) of Bethel University's Chemistry Department looked at "Isolation of active compounds in antibiotic-producing bacteria."

Protein Farnesyltransferase has been successful in transferring non-natural substrates to Ras proteins — mutated in up to 30 percent of human cancers — using copper-catalyzed click chemistry. However, that process is toxic to living cells. In this research a bioorthogonal PFTase substrted was synthesized that does not require a copper catalyst. Shelby Auger (advisor James Wollack) of St. Catherine's Department of Chemistry presented her results, "Synthesis of a PFTase substrate containing a terminal olefin capable of tetrazine ligation."

How can 3D printing be designed with an optical cage system and accessories that is printable on any entry-level commercially available 3D printer at a much lower cost? David Shepler (advisor Brandon Winters) of Bethel University's Department of Chemistry created something for just under $60, compared to a high-end model of $430, for a two-foot section that could be used widely at schools.

The Carleton College Department of Biology team of Jackson Raynor, Sandy Carson and Apoorva Handigol (advisor Debby Walser-Kuntz) collected data demonstrating that BPA exposure during early zebrafish development alters baseline innate immune signaling as well as injury responses.

Current Minnesota rules require septic tank capacity to increase by 50 percent with the installation of food waste disposal because it may induce sludge accumulation and deteriorate tank effluent. Maneewan Sinchai (advisor Bo Hu), from the University of Minnesota's Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, explored "Degradation of food waste in simulated septic tank," finding a marginal reduction in water quality with food waste, without a negative impact on septic tank performance. Sludge accumulation from food waste was evident, but also without a significant difference between septic tank with sewage and that with additional food waste. A possible result of her research, she suggested, is improvement in regulations around septic tanks, used by more than 20 percent of U.S. households to treat wastewater. 

Thanks to our Winchell Symposium sponsors!

Our 2018 Annual meeting/Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the University of St. Thomas 

A few of the Winchell research projects conducted this year by undergraduates throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, which were presented April 22, 2017, at Macalester College.

 A Mayo Clinic doctor had samples but not enough time to make use of them for a theory. Students Joey Murdock and Hannah Hartog at Concordia University's Department of Biology were looking for a research project. Advisor Mary Ann Yang was the middle person and mentor who put the team together. The result: "Differential protein expression comparison between fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma patient versus normal subject." Can proteomic screening on FC-HCC tumor samples reliably be identified through differential expression of proteins utilizing western blot analysis?

What are the variables that make microspheres dependable vehicles for controlled dosage of medicinal drugs? Daniel Sievert (advisor Kenneth Rohly) of Bethel University's Chemistry Department tested time, amount of organic solvent, amount of aqueous solvent, amount of drug, spin and other variables to maximize the size of microspheres. How well is the chloroquine released based on the variables? That was the subject of "Optimization of polycaprolactone microsphere size through synthesis manipulation."

Nanotubes, molecular sensors, thin films and field-effect transistors might benefit from the use of triimdes as a tool of sustainable engineering, compared to the electron-conducting properties of aromatic diimides. Can mellitic triimdes be stacked and assembled to form supramolecular structures? That's what Kofi Ofosu (with advisor Dennis Cao) of Macalester College's Department of Chemistry sought to find out with "Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of mellitic triimides."

With the loss of green space worldwide, what are the benefits of green roof systems? Whitney Gearhart, Paige Ohlund, Jocelyn Wiegand (advisor Jane Wattrus) of College of St. Scholastica's Department of Biology studied "Effect of moisture differences on soil microarthropod abundance, and diversity of green roof systems." Green roof beds that received no supplemental watering had higher abundances of microarthropods as well as more species diversity. Their data provided implications on how to better maintain green roof systems in order to maximize environmental benefits.

  St. Olaf students have had a rich opportunity to explore environmental variables on agriculture. Thomas Knee (Kathleen Shea, advisor) studied "Disturbance in prairie ecosystems: the effects of fire on restored prairies in southeastern Minnesota." Since 1989 St. Olaf has restored about 61 hectares of agricultural land to prairie to conserve biodiversity; each section of St. Olaf prairie is burned every two to five years. How does species diversity, soil moisture, organic matter and nitrates vary in these sections, and why?

Margaret Noun (Kathleen Shea, advisor) examined "Effects of land management and agriculture on Rice and Heath Creek in Southeastern Minnesota." What are the effects of riparian buffers on water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity in a spring-fed stream and a lake-fed stream? Does proximity to agricultural fields make a difference? 

Can a low-cost microbial fuel cell be constructed using a strip of copper, aluminum, a potted plant and simple electronics? The team of Ariya Ishida and Shane Kosieradzki (advisor Bruce Bolon) of Hamline University's Physics Department generated power using plant waste as nutrients for anaerobic bacterial respiration within the soil.

In "Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of two-dimensional tin sulfide nanosheets," Elizabeth Juarez Diaz (advisor John Dwyer) of St. Catherine University's Chemistry Department repots on efforts to synthesize nanosheets of tin monosulfide via a green hydrothermal synthesis, and strategies to controllably produce single- or few-layer nanosheets with large lateral dimensions.

With antibiotic resistance worsening globally, can bacterial cultures grown in nutrient broth solutions trigger antibiotic production? Brandon O'Connor (advisor Mitchell Maddox) of Bethel University's Chemistry Department looked at "Isolation of active compounds in antibiotic-producing bacteria."

Protein Farnesyltransferase has been successful in transferring non-natural substrates to Ras proteins — mutated in up to 30 percent of human cancers — using copper-catalyzed click chemistry. However, that process is toxic to living cells. In this research a bioorthogonal PFTase substrted was synthesized that does not require a copper catalyst. Shelby Auger (advisor James Wollack) of St. Catherine's Department of Chemistry presented her results, "Synthesis of a PFTase substrate containing a terminal olefin capable of tetrazine ligation."

How can 3D printing be designed with an optical cage system and accessories that is printable on any entry-level commercially available 3D printer at a much lower cost? David Shepler (advisor Brandon Winters) of Bethel University's Department of Chemistry created something for just under $60, compared to a high-end model of $430, for a two-foot section that could be used widely at schools.

The Carleton College Department of Biology team of Jackson Raynor, Sandy Carson and Apoorva Handigol (advisor Debby Walser-Kuntz) collected data demonstrating that BPA exposure during early zebrafish development alters baseline innate immune signaling as well as injury responses.

Current Minnesota rules require septic tank capacity to increase by 50 percent with the installation of food waste disposal because it may induce sludge accumulation and deteriorate tank effluent. Maneewan Sinchai (advisor Bo Hu), from the University of Minnesota's Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, explored "Degradation of food waste in simulated septic tank," finding a marginal reduction in water quality with food waste, without a negative impact on septic tank performance. Sludge accumulation from food waste was evident, but also without a significant difference between septic tank with sewage and that with additional food waste. A possible result of her research, she suggested, is improvement in regulations around septic tanks, used by more than 20 percent of U.S. households to treat wastewater. 

Thanks to our Winchell Symposium sponsors!

There were 83 Minnesota students who advanced from regional competitions to compete in the 49^th annual North Central Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS), held at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis on March 25. The JSHS is an annual competition sponsored by the research arm of the Department of Defense, with the aim to prepare and support students to contribute as future scientists and engineers.

Click here for a few photos from the day.

Five finalists were selected by judges to win an expense-paid trip to the National JSHS, to be held April 26-30 in San Diego, which brings together 400 participants. The top two finalists will present their original research at the National JSHS. The top three finalists win a total of $4,500 in tuition scholarships.

• 5th place – Kerui Yang, “Effects of pH on polyvinyl alcohol behavior in aqueous solutions”
• 4th place – Nathaniel Farmer, “Are you protected? Wearable mask fit monitor – Year 2”
• 3rd place – Nikhil Marda, “On equal points separation by planar cell decompositions”
• 2nd place – Manashree Padiyath, “Unleading the way: Remediation of lead-contaminated water with Coriandrum Savitvum (cilantro) biochar
• 1st place – Harini Kethar, “A cost-effective, patient-friendly, and biocompatible treatment for chronic pain and peripheral nerve damage using genetically engineered ‘smart’ nanoparticles”

An annual tradition at JSHS is for the students to sit down for lunch with professional scientists to discuss everything from how they got where they are, to insights about STEM careers, to sharing stories of personal interests.

One of the students at the table was Emilia of St. Paul, whose research project in 2017 was to determine whether a micro-organism would survive in Martian soil to allow maize to grow. A challenge was creating Martian soil — she was able to order many parts needed from Amazon, but NASA analysis of Martian soil revealed that 17% of it consists of toxic components. She wasn’t able to replicate the soil exactly — a project she said she’s been interested in since 7^th grade, “before The Martian movie came out” — but she also learned that, even without the toxic materials, the micro-organism could not thrive.

Guest speaker was Maria Gini, a robotics specialist at the University of Minnesota, who talked with the group about her work, which includes developing algorithms for robots to decide how to allocate tasks among themselves, explore unknown environments, work as a team in search and rescue operations, or navigate in dense crowds.

Other STEM specialists who sat down to talk with students included:

• Dr. Carroll Arnett, biomedical
• Dr. Jose Pablo Dundore-Arias, plant pathology
• Dr. Josh Marrell, theoretical chemistry
• Dr. Christina Smith, plant and microbial biology
• Allison Haaning, Ph.D. candidate, agricultural genomes
• Gary Caple, environmental health and safety, Medtronic
• Dr. Kathy Mahan, pulmonary care medicine
• Dr. Jason Owens, chemical engineering, Bechman Coulter
• Ami Thompson, Ph.D. candidate, conservation biology/entomology
• Dr. Abdullah Jaradat, agricultural research, U of M — Morris

There were 83 Minnesota students who advanced from regional competitions to compete in the 49^th annual North Central Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS), held at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis on March 25. The JSHS is an annual competition sponsored by the research arm of the Department of Defense, with the aim to prepare and support students to contribute as future scientists and engineers.

Click here for a few photos from the day.

Five finalists were selected by judges to win an expense-paid trip to the National JSHS, to be held April 26-30 in San Diego, which brings together 400 participants. The top two finalists will present their original research at the National JSHS. The top three finalists win a total of $4,500 in tuition scholarships.

• 5th place – Kerui Yang, “Effects of pH on polyvinyl alcohol behavior in aqueous solutions”
• 4th place – Nathaniel Farmer, “Are you protected? Wearable mask fit monitor – Year 2”
• 3rd place – Nikhil Marda, “On equal points separation by planar cell decompositions”
• 2nd place – Manashree Padiyath, “Unleading the way: Remediation of lead-contaminated water with Coriandrum Savitvum (cilantro) biochar
• 1st place – Harini Kethar, “A cost-effective, patient-friendly, and biocompatible treatment for chronic pain and peripheral nerve damage using genetically engineered ‘smart’ nanoparticles”

An annual tradition at JSHS is for the students to sit down for lunch with professional scientists to discuss everything from how they got where they are, to insights about STEM careers, to sharing stories of personal interests.

One of the students at the table was Emilia of St. Paul, whose research project in 2017 was to determine whether a micro-organism would survive in Martian soil to allow maize to grow. A challenge was creating Martian soil — she was able to order many parts needed from Amazon, but NASA analysis of Martian soil revealed that 17% of it consists of toxic components. She wasn’t able to replicate the soil exactly — a project she said she’s been interested in since 7^th grade, “before The Martian movie came out” — but she also learned that, even without the toxic materials, the micro-organism could not thrive.

Guest speaker was Maria Gini, a robotics specialist at the University of Minnesota, who talked with the group about her work, which includes developing algorithms for robots to decide how to allocate tasks among themselves, explore unknown environments, work as a team in search and rescue operations, or navigate in dense crowds.

Other STEM specialists who sat down to talk with students included:

• Dr. Carroll Arnett, biomedical
• Dr. Jose Pablo Dundore-Arias, plant pathology
• Dr. Josh Marrell, theoretical chemistry
• Dr. Christina Smith, plant and microbial biology
• Allison Haaning, Ph.D. candidate, agricultural genomes
• Gary Caple, environmental health and safety, Medtronic
• Dr. Kathy Mahan, pulmonary care medicine
• Dr. Jason Owens, chemical engineering, Bechman Coulter
• Ami Thompson, Ph.D. candidate, conservation biology/entomology
• Dr. Abdullah Jaradat, agricultural research, U of M — Morris

There were 83 Minnesota students who advanced from regional competitions to compete in the 49^th annual North Central Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS), held at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis on March 25. The JSHS is an annual competition sponsored by the research arm of the Department of Defense, with the aim to prepare and support students to contribute as future scientists and engineers.

Click here for a few photos from the day.

Five finalists were selected by judges to win an expense-paid trip to the National JSHS, to be held April 26-30 in San Diego, which brings together 400 participants. The top two finalists will present their original research at the National JSHS. The top three finalists win a total of $4,500 in tuition scholarships.

• 5th place – Kerui Yang, “Effects of pH on polyvinyl alcohol behavior in aqueous solutions”
• 4th place – Nathaniel Farmer, “Are you protected? Wearable mask fit monitor – Year 2”
• 3rd place – Nikhil Marda, “On equal points separation by planar cell decompositions”
• 2nd place – Manashree Padiyath, “Unleading the way: Remediation of lead-contaminated water with Coriandrum Savitvum (cilantro) biochar
• 1st place – Harini Kethar, “A cost-effective, patient-friendly, and biocompatible treatment for chronic pain and peripheral nerve damage using genetically engineered ‘smart’ nanoparticles”

An annual tradition at JSHS is for the students to sit down for lunch with professional scientists to discuss everything from how they got where they are, to insights about STEM careers, to sharing stories of personal interests.

One of the students at the table was Emilia of St. Paul, whose research project in 2017 was to determine whether a micro-organism would survive in Martian soil to allow maize to grow. A challenge was creating Martian soil — she was able to order many parts needed from Amazon, but NASA analysis of Martian soil revealed that 17% of it consists of toxic components. She wasn’t able to replicate the soil exactly — a project she said she’s been interested in since 7^th grade, “before The Martian movie came out” — but she also learned that, even without the toxic materials, the micro-organism could not thrive.

Guest speaker was Maria Gini, a robotics specialist at the University of Minnesota, who talked with the group about her work, which includes developing algorithms for robots to decide how to allocate tasks among themselves, explore unknown environments, work as a team in search and rescue operations, or navigate in dense crowds.

Other STEM specialists who sat down to talk with students included:

• Dr. Carroll Arnett, biomedical
• Dr. Jose Pablo Dundore-Arias, plant pathology
• Dr. Josh Marrell, theoretical chemistry
• Dr. Christina Smith, plant and microbial biology
• Allison Haaning, Ph.D. candidate, agricultural genomes
• Gary Caple, environmental health and safety, Medtronic
• Dr. Kathy Mahan, pulmonary care medicine
• Dr. Jason Owens, chemical engineering, Bechman Coulter
• Ami Thompson, Ph.D. candidate, conservation biology/entomology
• Dr. Abdullah Jaradat, agricultural research, U of M — Morris

A total of 185 students from 37 teams representing 20 schools participated in the tournament. Teams spent months preparing for the event that features head-to-head competition in a fast-paced question and answer format similar to the TV show, Jeopardy. The students were quizzed on questions in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Energy, Mathematics and Physics. [MORE TEAM PHOTOS COMING]

First 16 in order

Edina 1

Wayzata 3

Edina 2

Wayzata 1

Blake 2

Minnetonka 2

Woodbury 2

Mounds View 2

Wayzata 2

Eden Prairie 1

Minnetonka 1

Chaska 2

Mounds View 1

St. Paul Academy 1

Parnassus 1

Maple Grove sent a team to the High School Science Bowl for the first time. Here's how team captain Taylor Nelson summed up the experience.

• "I was surprised by how good some of the teams were. Some teams knew almost every answer to every question. They were very intimidating. Though, there were also teams that didn't answer many questions, and teams that couldn't answer many questions correctly. What I enjoyed? Answering questions that are challenging, and working within a team. I tried to be humorous about not being able to answer tough questions, which helped make the experience even better. I also liked that it is similar to Jeopardy, but on a team. You don't feel alone, or alone feel the burden of a loss. I would equate it to the same enjoyment that people get from playing sports, except, you're using your brain so much more. Practicing for the tournament is where most of the effort comes in. That is where the true fun and learning comes from. It provides for a fun and resume-building activity." Taylor intends to learn more in the sciences after he starts college next year — his favorites are physics and biology.
• Teammate Anna Chabica is a ninth grader who is considering a career in medicine, with a particular interest in biology. "I want to help people the most I can for my career. I can only do so by knowing a lot, and participating in Science Bowl has helped me learn about all the branches of science." She added, "Science Bowl helps me meet people who have the same interests as me. Most of all, it's really fun and exciting to be part of."
• Junior Alessandro Snyder said his passion is psychology. "While the Science Bowl doesn't involve psychology-related questions, and while many criticize psychology as a legitimate science, it's still a field that I find extremely interesting, and I plan to act on that interest by studying the topic further at a college. The unexplained areas of psychology fascinate me, and that's why I've always enjoyed science - because it explains the unexplained." He enjoyed preparing for Science Bowl because "many of the questions cover a broad base of all science topics, and many of the questions are rather obscure, which only really enhances the learning. Plus, it helps allow all different kinds of people get together to learn more about science for the competition."

Photo of Maple Grove team, left to right: Carter Herman, Missy Deisting, Taylor Nelson (standing), Anna Chabica, and Alessandro Snyder.

Did not make the cut for final 16

Eden Prairie 2

Chanhassen 1

Burnsville 1,2,3

Woodbury 1

Carlton 1

STP Acad 2

Chaska 1

Stillwater 1

Woodbury 3

Blake 1

Albany 1

Kennedy 1

Albany 2

St Anthony Village 1

Albany 3

Chanhassen 2

Harding 1

Jefferson 1

Harding 2

A total of 185 students from 37 teams representing 20 schools participated in the tournament. Teams spent months preparing for the event that features head-to-head competition in a fast-paced question and answer format similar to the TV show, Jeopardy. The students were quizzed on questions in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Energy, Mathematics and Physics. [MORE TEAM PHOTOS COMING]

First 16 in order

Edina 1

Wayzata 3

Edina 2

Wayzata 1

Blake 2

Minnetonka 2

Woodbury 2

Mounds View 2

Wayzata 2

Eden Prairie 1

Minnetonka 1

Chaska 2

Mounds View 1

St. Paul Academy 1

Parnassus 1

Maple Grove sent a team to the High School Science Bowl for the first time. Here's how team captain Taylor Nelson summed up the experience.

• "I was surprised by how good some of the teams were. Some teams knew almost every answer to every question. They were very intimidating. Though, there were also teams that didn't answer many questions, and teams that couldn't answer many questions correctly. What I enjoyed? Answering questions that are challenging, and working within a team. I tried to be humorous about not being able to answer tough questions, which helped make the experience even better. I also liked that it is similar to Jeopardy, but on a team. You don't feel alone, or alone feel the burden of a loss. I would equate it to the same enjoyment that people get from playing sports, except, you're using your brain so much more. Practicing for the tournament is where most of the effort comes in. That is where the true fun and learning comes from. It provides for a fun and resume-building activity." Taylor intends to learn more in the sciences after he starts college next year — his favorites are physics and biology.
• Teammate Anna Chabica is a ninth grader who is considering a career in medicine, with a particular interest in biology. "I want to help people the most I can for my career. I can only do so by knowing a lot, and participating in Science Bowl has helped me learn about all the branches of science." She added, "Science Bowl helps me meet people who have the same interests as me. Most of all, it's really fun and exciting to be part of."
• Junior Alessandro Snyder said his passion is psychology. "While the Science Bowl doesn't involve psychology-related questions, and while many criticize psychology as a legitimate science, it's still a field that I find extremely interesting, and I plan to act on that interest by studying the topic further at a college. The unexplained areas of psychology fascinate me, and that's why I've always enjoyed science - because it explains the unexplained." He enjoyed preparing for Science Bowl because "many of the questions cover a broad base of all science topics, and many of the questions are rather obscure, which only really enhances the learning. Plus, it helps allow all different kinds of people get together to learn more about science for the competition."

Photo of Maple Grove team, left to right: Carter Herman, Missy Deisting, Taylor Nelson (standing), Anna Chabica, and Alessandro Snyder.

Did not make the cut for final 16

Eden Prairie 2

Chanhassen 1

Burnsville 1,2,3

Woodbury 1

Carlton 1

STP Acad 2

Chaska 1

Stillwater 1

Woodbury 3

Blake 1

Albany 1

Kennedy 1

Albany 2

St Anthony Village 1

Albany 3

Chanhassen 2

Harding 1

Jefferson 1

Harding 2

A total of 185 students from 37 teams representing 20 schools participated in the tournament. Teams spent months preparing for the event that features head-to-head competition in a fast-paced question and answer format similar to the TV show, Jeopardy. The students were quizzed on questions in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Energy, Mathematics and Physics. [MORE TEAM PHOTOS COMING]

First 16 in order

Edina 1

Wayzata 3

Edina 2

Wayzata 1

Blake 2

Minnetonka 2

Woodbury 2

Mounds View 2

Wayzata 2

Eden Prairie 1

Minnetonka 1

Chaska 2

Mounds View 1

St. Paul Academy 1

Parnassus 1

Maple Grove sent a team to the High School Science Bowl for the first time. Here's how team captain Taylor Nelson summed up the experience.

• "I was surprised by how good some of the teams were. Some teams knew almost every answer to every question. They were very intimidating. Though, there were also teams that didn't answer many questions, and teams that couldn't answer many questions correctly. What I enjoyed? Answering questions that are challenging, and working within a team. I tried to be humorous about not being able to answer tough questions, which helped make the experience even better. I also liked that it is similar to Jeopardy, but on a team. You don't feel alone, or alone feel the burden of a loss. I would equate it to the same enjoyment that people get from playing sports, except, you're using your brain so much more. Practicing for the tournament is where most of the effort comes in. That is where the true fun and learning comes from. It provides for a fun and resume-building activity." Taylor intends to learn more in the sciences after he starts college next year — his favorites are physics and biology.
• Teammate Anna Chabica is a ninth grader who is considering a career in medicine, with a particular interest in biology. "I want to help people the most I can for my career. I can only do so by knowing a lot, and participating in Science Bowl has helped me learn about all the branches of science." She added, "Science Bowl helps me meet people who have the same interests as me. Most of all, it's really fun and exciting to be part of."
• Junior Alessandro Snyder said his passion is psychology. "While the Science Bowl doesn't involve psychology-related questions, and while many criticize psychology as a legitimate science, it's still a field that I find extremely interesting, and I plan to act on that interest by studying the topic further at a college. The unexplained areas of psychology fascinate me, and that's why I've always enjoyed science - because it explains the unexplained." He enjoyed preparing for Science Bowl because "many of the questions cover a broad base of all science topics, and many of the questions are rather obscure, which only really enhances the learning. Plus, it helps allow all different kinds of people get together to learn more about science for the competition."

Photo of Maple Grove team, left to right: Carter Herman, Missy Deisting, Taylor Nelson (standing), Anna Chabica, and Alessandro Snyder.

Did not make the cut for final 16

Eden Prairie 2

Chanhassen 1

Burnsville 1,2,3

Woodbury 1

Carlton 1

STP Acad 2

Chaska 1

Stillwater 1

Woodbury 3

Blake 1

Albany 1

Kennedy 1

Albany 2

St Anthony Village 1

Albany 3

Chanhassen 2

Harding 1

Jefferson 1

Harding 2

Here's how some of our local students did at the 2016 International Science & Engineering Fair.

The global representation at National Science & Engineering Fair, held this year in Phoenix, introduces high school students to peers from places as far-flung as Qatar, Romania, Luxembourg and Argentina.

• Full 2016 Grand Award winners
• Full 2016 Special Award winners

Ester Rose Archer (top left)... Madeline McCue and Evelyn McChesney (top center)... Fair parent chaperones (top left).... some of the Minnesota contingent at international fair (center)... Archana Murali and Elena Berman (bottom)

Intel ISEF 2016 GRAND AWARD WINNERS

May 13, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced Grand Awards of the Intel ISEF 2016. Student winners are 9th through 12th graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel ISEF 2016 by winning a top prize at a local, regional, state or national science fair.

Translational Medical Science

Team project:  Brennen Clark and Prashant Godishala Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

CHINA TRIP - Intel Foundation Cultural and Scientific Visit to China Award for their research "Predicting a Cancerous Outcome: Creating a Novel Test for Assessing Risk of Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer."

BEST IN CATEGORY - $5,000

First Grand - $3,000

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Team project: Archana Bhagyalakshmi Murali, and Elena Alexandra Berman, Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Second Grand $1,500 – “Window to the Brain: Using Retinal Biomarkers to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease”

Biomedical Engineering

Team project: Madeline Chawla McCue, and Evelyn Grace McChesney, Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Second Grand $1,500 – “Turning Probiotics into Antibiotics: Engineering a Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Probiotic via Inclusion of Antimicrobial Peptide-Encoding DNA”, Year Two

Environmental Engineering

Ester Rose Archer, Loyola High School, Mankato, Minnesota 

Third Grand $1,000 - “Reducing Phosphorus in Stormwater Basins Using Algae Spherification”

Embedded Systems

Andrew John Eggebraaten, John Marshall High School, Rochester, Minnesota

Fourth Grand $500 - Engineering a Modern-Day Enigma Machine

Serena Liang Jing, Saint Paul Central High School, St. Paul, Minnesota

Fourth Grand- $500 – “Inexpensive, Portable Glucose Monitor for Diabetics via a Crosslinked Sensing Fluid”

The Best Overall Award Winning Projects (1,760 ISEF Students worldwide)

1.      Han Jie (Austin) Wang, of Vancouver, Canada is the recipient of the first place Gordon E. Moore Award and $75,000 for developing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that more efficiently convert organic waste into electricity.

2.      Syamantak Payra, Friendswood, Texas, received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for developing a low-cost electronically-aided knee brace that allows an individual with a weakened leg to walk more naturally.

3.      Kathy Liu, of Salt Lake City, Utah, received the other Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 for developing an alternative battery component that could significantly improve battery performance and safety.

Intel ISEF 2016 Special Awards Ceremony

May 12, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced Special Awards of the Intel ISEF 2016. Student winners are ninth through twelfth graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel ISEF 2016 by winning a top award at a local, regional, state or national science fair. 

ALCOA FOUNDATION – Pujan Patel – Mayo High School, Rochester MN

Sustainable Design in Transportation, Second Award $1,500

Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately $446 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than $550 million since 1952. Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation have contributed $38 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, focusing on Environment and Education. Through this work, Alcoa Foundation is building innovative partnerships, engaging its people to improve the environment and educating tomorrow's leaders.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURE SCIENCE – Sam Guldan, Cathedral High School, New Ulm MN

First Award of $1,000

Founded in 1903, the purposes of the American Society for Horticultural Science are to promote and encourage national and international interest in scientific research and education in horticulture in all its branches.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY – Pujan Patel, Mayo High School, Rochester, MN and Claire Wentzlaff, Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN

Arizona State University Intel ISEF Scholarship

Arizona State University is pleased to offer a comprehensive scholarship combining a monetary award and an environment focusing on knowledge, learning and research. The New American University Intel ISEF Scholarship is renewable for four years, Individuals and teams will be considered for these awards.

CHINA ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY –  (CAST) - Serena Liang, St Paul Central High School, St Paul, MN

Award of $ 1,200

China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is the largest organization of scientists and technologists in China. One of its missions is to promote public understanding of science. Having developed science education programs, CAST supports youth and adolescents in becoming citizens with high scientific literacy. CAST awards are given to the projects that best reflect the originality and innovation of the students' work in all scientific disciplines.

SIGMA Xi, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY – Brennan Clark and Prashant Godishala, Breck High School, Golden Valley, MN

Second Life Science Award of $1,000

Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi is the international honor society of research scientists and engineers, with a distinguished history of service to science and society. This multi-disciplinary society includes members who were elected based on their research achievements or potential, and historically, more than 200 members have won the Nobel Prize. The Society is pleased to offer awards for the best demonstration of interdisciplinary research.

Here's how some of our local students did at the 2016 International Science & Engineering Fair.

The global representation at National Science & Engineering Fair, held this year in Phoenix, introduces high school students to peers from places as far-flung as Qatar, Romania, Luxembourg and Argentina.

• Full 2016 Grand Award winners
• Full 2016 Special Award winners

Ester Rose Archer (top left)... Madeline McCue and Evelyn McChesney (top center)... Fair parent chaperones (top left).... some of the Minnesota contingent at international fair (center)... Archana Murali and Elena Berman (bottom)

Intel ISEF 2016 GRAND AWARD WINNERS

May 13, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced Grand Awards of the Intel ISEF 2016. Student winners are 9th through 12th graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel ISEF 2016 by winning a top prize at a local, regional, state or national science fair.

Translational Medical Science

Team project:  Brennen Clark and Prashant Godishala Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

CHINA TRIP - Intel Foundation Cultural and Scientific Visit to China Award for their research "Predicting a Cancerous Outcome: Creating a Novel Test for Assessing Risk of Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer."

BEST IN CATEGORY - $5,000

First Grand - $3,000

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Team project: Archana Bhagyalakshmi Murali, and Elena Alexandra Berman, Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Second Grand $1,500 – “Window to the Brain: Using Retinal Biomarkers to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease”

Biomedical Engineering

Team project: Madeline Chawla McCue, and Evelyn Grace McChesney, Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Second Grand $1,500 – “Turning Probiotics into Antibiotics: Engineering a Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Probiotic via Inclusion of Antimicrobial Peptide-Encoding DNA”, Year Two

Environmental Engineering

Ester Rose Archer, Loyola High School, Mankato, Minnesota 

Third Grand $1,000 - “Reducing Phosphorus in Stormwater Basins Using Algae Spherification”

Embedded Systems

Andrew John Eggebraaten, John Marshall High School, Rochester, Minnesota

Fourth Grand $500 - Engineering a Modern-Day Enigma Machine

Serena Liang Jing, Saint Paul Central High School, St. Paul, Minnesota

Fourth Grand- $500 – “Inexpensive, Portable Glucose Monitor for Diabetics via a Crosslinked Sensing Fluid”

The Best Overall Award Winning Projects (1,760 ISEF Students worldwide)

1.      Han Jie (Austin) Wang, of Vancouver, Canada is the recipient of the first place Gordon E. Moore Award and $75,000 for developing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that more efficiently convert organic waste into electricity.

2.      Syamantak Payra, Friendswood, Texas, received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for developing a low-cost electronically-aided knee brace that allows an individual with a weakened leg to walk more naturally.

3.      Kathy Liu, of Salt Lake City, Utah, received the other Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 for developing an alternative battery component that could significantly improve battery performance and safety.

Intel ISEF 2016 Special Awards Ceremony

May 12, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced Special Awards of the Intel ISEF 2016. Student winners are ninth through twelfth graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel ISEF 2016 by winning a top award at a local, regional, state or national science fair. 

ALCOA FOUNDATION – Pujan Patel – Mayo High School, Rochester MN

Sustainable Design in Transportation, Second Award $1,500

Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately $446 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than $550 million since 1952. Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation have contributed $38 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, focusing on Environment and Education. Through this work, Alcoa Foundation is building innovative partnerships, engaging its people to improve the environment and educating tomorrow's leaders.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURE SCIENCE – Sam Guldan, Cathedral High School, New Ulm MN

First Award of $1,000

Founded in 1903, the purposes of the American Society for Horticultural Science are to promote and encourage national and international interest in scientific research and education in horticulture in all its branches.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY – Pujan Patel, Mayo High School, Rochester, MN and Claire Wentzlaff, Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN

Arizona State University Intel ISEF Scholarship

Arizona State University is pleased to offer a comprehensive scholarship combining a monetary award and an environment focusing on knowledge, learning and research. The New American University Intel ISEF Scholarship is renewable for four years, Individuals and teams will be considered for these awards.

CHINA ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY –  (CAST) - Serena Liang, St Paul Central High School, St Paul, MN

Award of $ 1,200

China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is the largest organization of scientists and technologists in China. One of its missions is to promote public understanding of science. Having developed science education programs, CAST supports youth and adolescents in becoming citizens with high scientific literacy. CAST awards are given to the projects that best reflect the originality and innovation of the students' work in all scientific disciplines.

SIGMA Xi, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY – Brennan Clark and Prashant Godishala, Breck High School, Golden Valley, MN

Second Life Science Award of $1,000

Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi is the international honor society of research scientists and engineers, with a distinguished history of service to science and society. This multi-disciplinary society includes members who were elected based on their research achievements or potential, and historically, more than 200 members have won the Nobel Prize. The Society is pleased to offer awards for the best demonstration of interdisciplinary research.

Here's how some of our local students did at the 2016 International Science & Engineering Fair.

The global representation at National Science & Engineering Fair, held this year in Phoenix, introduces high school students to peers from places as far-flung as Qatar, Romania, Luxembourg and Argentina.

• Full 2016 Grand Award winners
• Full 2016 Special Award winners

Ester Rose Archer (top left)... Madeline McCue and Evelyn McChesney (top center)... Fair parent chaperones (top left).... some of the Minnesota contingent at international fair (center)... Archana Murali and Elena Berman (bottom)

Intel ISEF 2016 GRAND AWARD WINNERS

May 13, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced Grand Awards of the Intel ISEF 2016. Student winners are 9th through 12th graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel ISEF 2016 by winning a top prize at a local, regional, state or national science fair.

Translational Medical Science

Team project:  Brennen Clark and Prashant Godishala Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

CHINA TRIP - Intel Foundation Cultural and Scientific Visit to China Award for their research "Predicting a Cancerous Outcome: Creating a Novel Test for Assessing Risk of Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer."

BEST IN CATEGORY - $5,000

First Grand - $3,000

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Team project: Archana Bhagyalakshmi Murali, and Elena Alexandra Berman, Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Second Grand $1,500 – “Window to the Brain: Using Retinal Biomarkers to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease”

Biomedical Engineering

Team project: Madeline Chawla McCue, and Evelyn Grace McChesney, Breck School, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Second Grand $1,500 – “Turning Probiotics into Antibiotics: Engineering a Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Probiotic via Inclusion of Antimicrobial Peptide-Encoding DNA”, Year Two

Environmental Engineering

Ester Rose Archer, Loyola High School, Mankato, Minnesota 

Third Grand $1,000 - “Reducing Phosphorus in Stormwater Basins Using Algae Spherification”

Embedded Systems

Andrew John Eggebraaten, John Marshall High School, Rochester, Minnesota

Fourth Grand $500 - Engineering a Modern-Day Enigma Machine

Serena Liang Jing, Saint Paul Central High School, St. Paul, Minnesota

Fourth Grand- $500 – “Inexpensive, Portable Glucose Monitor for Diabetics via a Crosslinked Sensing Fluid”

The Best Overall Award Winning Projects (1,760 ISEF Students worldwide)

1.      Han Jie (Austin) Wang, of Vancouver, Canada is the recipient of the first place Gordon E. Moore Award and $75,000 for developing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that more efficiently convert organic waste into electricity.

2.      Syamantak Payra, Friendswood, Texas, received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for developing a low-cost electronically-aided knee brace that allows an individual with a weakened leg to walk more naturally.

3.      Kathy Liu, of Salt Lake City, Utah, received the other Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 for developing an alternative battery component that could significantly improve battery performance and safety.

Intel ISEF 2016 Special Awards Ceremony

May 12, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Society for Science & the Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced Special Awards of the Intel ISEF 2016. Student winners are ninth through twelfth graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel ISEF 2016 by winning a top award at a local, regional, state or national science fair. 

ALCOA FOUNDATION – Pujan Patel – Mayo High School, Rochester MN

Sustainable Design in Transportation, Second Award $1,500

Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately $446 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than $550 million since 1952. Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation have contributed $38 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, focusing on Environment and Education. Through this work, Alcoa Foundation is building innovative partnerships, engaging its people to improve the environment and educating tomorrow's leaders.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURE SCIENCE – Sam Guldan, Cathedral High School, New Ulm MN

First Award of $1,000

Founded in 1903, the purposes of the American Society for Horticultural Science are to promote and encourage national and international interest in scientific research and education in horticulture in all its branches.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY – Pujan Patel, Mayo High School, Rochester, MN and Claire Wentzlaff, Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN

Arizona State University Intel ISEF Scholarship

Arizona State University is pleased to offer a comprehensive scholarship combining a monetary award and an environment focusing on knowledge, learning and research. The New American University Intel ISEF Scholarship is renewable for four years, Individuals and teams will be considered for these awards.

CHINA ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY –  (CAST) - Serena Liang, St Paul Central High School, St Paul, MN

Award of $ 1,200

China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is the largest organization of scientists and technologists in China. One of its missions is to promote public understanding of science. Having developed science education programs, CAST supports youth and adolescents in becoming citizens with high scientific literacy. CAST awards are given to the projects that best reflect the originality and innovation of the students' work in all scientific disciplines.

SIGMA Xi, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY – Brennan Clark and Prashant Godishala, Breck High School, Golden Valley, MN

Second Life Science Award of $1,000

Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi is the international honor society of research scientists and engineers, with a distinguished history of service to science and society. This multi-disciplinary society includes members who were elected based on their research achievements or potential, and historically, more than 200 members have won the Nobel Prize. The Society is pleased to offer awards for the best demonstration of interdisciplinary research.

Some of the winners are featured in the Minnesota Academy of Science Journal of Student Research.  

High school students are invited to apply to the STEM Communicator awards program by March 15 each year in order to participate. Find details here.

To learn more: kmnewell@mnmas.org

2016 Winners

Carlos A. Sanchez and Jiahao Liang: “Real-time Human Breath Analysis Designing an Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometer for the Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds.”

Darartu Gamada: “Identifying Gene Function in Antibody Mediated Kidney Rejection.”

Elena Berman and Archana MuralI: “Window to the Brain: Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease Using Retinal Biomarkers.”

Emelia Topp-Johnson: “Behind the Kernels III: An Evaluation of Fungal Endophytes of Maize and their Hypothesized Mitigation of Temperature.”

Isabella Jennings and Cole Maxwell: “Biomolecular Modeling, Simulation, and Design of a Bivalent CB2-CCR5 Ligand for the Potential Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Brain.”

Madeline McCue and Evelyn McChesney: “Engineering a Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Probiotic via Inclusion of Antimicrobial Peptide-encoding DNA, Year Two.”

Meghana Iyer: “Bioengineering the Lung: Investigating the Effects of a Lung Extracellular Matrix on the Growth and Differentiation of Stem Cells into Definitive Endoderm.”

Prashant Godishala and  Brennan Clark: “Predicting a Cancerous Outcome:
Creating a Novel Test for Assessing Risk of Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.”

Samuel Rex and Genevieve Weiler: “Printing an Organ: Developing a Protocol to Bioprint a Gastro-esophageal Junction.”

Sarah Carlson and Siddarth Eswaraachi: “Cleaner Water: Investigating Homogentisate Chemotaxis Receptors in Pseudomanas Putida F1 for Bioremediaton of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Year Two.”

2016 Honorable Mention

Alexander Guzman and Cassidy Yueh: “Modeling Energy Demand Compared to Methane Gas Production from Anaerobically Digested Oreochromis Aureus Waste in Aquaponics Systems.”

Alma Jorgenson: “Clean Greens: Microbial Safety of Deep Winter Greens.”

Fiona Chow: “All About Those Blades.”

Harini Kethar: “Bioengineered RGS5 Induced Adenoviral Drug Delivery and Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation to Suppress Cardiac Disease Vasoconstrictor Remodeling.”

Moira Southern and Ryan Etzwiler: “Programming a Socially Assistive Humanoid NAO Robot to Deliver Physical Therapy to Children with Down Syndrome.”

Preethi Kaliappan: “Determining the Most Effective Metropolitan Roof Type to Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect and Overall City Atmosphere Heating.”

Nick Schatz: "A Novel Stylometric Solution to the Problem of Many Potential Authors"

Serena Jing: "Inexpensive, Portable Glucose Monitor for Diabetics via a Crosslinked Sensing Fluid."

Smita Bhoopatiraju: "Phonological and Semantic Features in Four- and Six-Year-Olds’ Foreign Word Learning."

Some of the winners are featured in the Minnesota Academy of Science Journal of Student Research.  

High school students are invited to apply to the STEM Communicator awards program by March 15 each year in order to participate. Find details here.

To learn more: kmnewell@mnmas.org

2016 Winners

Carlos A. Sanchez and Jiahao Liang: “Real-time Human Breath Analysis Designing an Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometer for the Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds.”

Darartu Gamada: “Identifying Gene Function in Antibody Mediated Kidney Rejection.”

Elena Berman and Archana MuralI: “Window to the Brain: Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease Using Retinal Biomarkers.”

Emelia Topp-Johnson: “Behind the Kernels III: An Evaluation of Fungal Endophytes of Maize and their Hypothesized Mitigation of Temperature.”

Isabella Jennings and Cole Maxwell: “Biomolecular Modeling, Simulation, and Design of a Bivalent CB2-CCR5 Ligand for the Potential Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Brain.”

Madeline McCue and Evelyn McChesney: “Engineering a Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Probiotic via Inclusion of Antimicrobial Peptide-encoding DNA, Year Two.”

Meghana Iyer: “Bioengineering the Lung: Investigating the Effects of a Lung Extracellular Matrix on the Growth and Differentiation of Stem Cells into Definitive Endoderm.”

Prashant Godishala and  Brennan Clark: “Predicting a Cancerous Outcome:
Creating a Novel Test for Assessing Risk of Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.”

Samuel Rex and Genevieve Weiler: “Printing an Organ: Developing a Protocol to Bioprint a Gastro-esophageal Junction.”

Sarah Carlson and Siddarth Eswaraachi: “Cleaner Water: Investigating Homogentisate Chemotaxis Receptors in Pseudomanas Putida F1 for Bioremediaton of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Year Two.”

2016 Honorable Mention

Alexander Guzman and Cassidy Yueh: “Modeling Energy Demand Compared to Methane Gas Production from Anaerobically Digested Oreochromis Aureus Waste in Aquaponics Systems.”

Alma Jorgenson: “Clean Greens: Microbial Safety of Deep Winter Greens.”

Fiona Chow: “All About Those Blades.”

Harini Kethar: “Bioengineered RGS5 Induced Adenoviral Drug Delivery and Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation to Suppress Cardiac Disease Vasoconstrictor Remodeling.”

Moira Southern and Ryan Etzwiler: “Programming a Socially Assistive Humanoid NAO Robot to Deliver Physical Therapy to Children with Down Syndrome.”

Preethi Kaliappan: “Determining the Most Effective Metropolitan Roof Type to Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect and Overall City Atmosphere Heating.”

Nick Schatz: "A Novel Stylometric Solution to the Problem of Many Potential Authors"

Serena Jing: "Inexpensive, Portable Glucose Monitor for Diabetics via a Crosslinked Sensing Fluid."

Smita Bhoopatiraju: "Phonological and Semantic Features in Four- and Six-Year-Olds’ Foreign Word Learning."

Some of the winners are featured in the Minnesota Academy of Science Journal of Student Research.  

High school students are invited to apply to the STEM Communicator awards program by March 15 each year in order to participate. Find details here.

To learn more: kmnewell@mnmas.org

2016 Winners

Carlos A. Sanchez and Jiahao Liang: “Real-time Human Breath Analysis Designing an Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometer for the Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds.”

Darartu Gamada: “Identifying Gene Function in Antibody Mediated Kidney Rejection.”

Elena Berman and Archana MuralI: “Window to the Brain: Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease Using Retinal Biomarkers.”

Emelia Topp-Johnson: “Behind the Kernels III: An Evaluation of Fungal Endophytes of Maize and their Hypothesized Mitigation of Temperature.”

Isabella Jennings and Cole Maxwell: “Biomolecular Modeling, Simulation, and Design of a Bivalent CB2-CCR5 Ligand for the Potential Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Brain.”

Madeline McCue and Evelyn McChesney: “Engineering a Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Probiotic via Inclusion of Antimicrobial Peptide-encoding DNA, Year Two.”

Meghana Iyer: “Bioengineering the Lung: Investigating the Effects of a Lung Extracellular Matrix on the Growth and Differentiation of Stem Cells into Definitive Endoderm.”

Prashant Godishala and  Brennan Clark: “Predicting a Cancerous Outcome:
Creating a Novel Test for Assessing Risk of Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.”

Samuel Rex and Genevieve Weiler: “Printing an Organ: Developing a Protocol to Bioprint a Gastro-esophageal Junction.”

Sarah Carlson and Siddarth Eswaraachi: “Cleaner Water: Investigating Homogentisate Chemotaxis Receptors in Pseudomanas Putida F1 for Bioremediaton of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Year Two.”

2016 Honorable Mention

Alexander Guzman and Cassidy Yueh: “Modeling Energy Demand Compared to Methane Gas Production from Anaerobically Digested Oreochromis Aureus Waste in Aquaponics Systems.”

Alma Jorgenson: “Clean Greens: Microbial Safety of Deep Winter Greens.”

Fiona Chow: “All About Those Blades.”

Harini Kethar: “Bioengineered RGS5 Induced Adenoviral Drug Delivery and Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation to Suppress Cardiac Disease Vasoconstrictor Remodeling.”

Moira Southern and Ryan Etzwiler: “Programming a Socially Assistive Humanoid NAO Robot to Deliver Physical Therapy to Children with Down Syndrome.”

Preethi Kaliappan: “Determining the Most Effective Metropolitan Roof Type to Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect and Overall City Atmosphere Heating.”

Nick Schatz: "A Novel Stylometric Solution to the Problem of Many Potential Authors"

Serena Jing: "Inexpensive, Portable Glucose Monitor for Diabetics via a Crosslinked Sensing Fluid."

Smita Bhoopatiraju: "Phonological and Semantic Features in Four- and Six-Year-Olds’ Foreign Word Learning."

At the recent Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, keynote speaker Heidi Teoh, of General Mills, spoke to high school students about innovation. 

With a doctorate in food science, Teoh talked about her background and interests in using technology and creativity to decide “what comes next?” We are busier and more health-conscious. Our food production is impacted globally by climate change. Social media is an accelerator to wanting new things faster. We want “real food in our food.”

For General Mills, that means making changes to such long-term products as Trix, after artificial food and color lost favor with customers. Consumers want highly functional ingredients, with an extended shelf life, with less sugar and salt, no trans fat, gluten-free options, and fewer carbs. It keeps people like Teoh continuously finding alternatives that work. Some goals are easier than others to figure out.

She noted that stamina is a powerful skill. As is waking up every day with a passion to solve problems. “We love challenges,” she said. “There is always more science and engineering that needs to happen. It’s invigorating.”

At the recent Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, keynote speaker Heidi Teoh, of General Mills, spoke to high school students about innovation. 

With a doctorate in food science, Teoh talked about her background and interests in using technology and creativity to decide “what comes next?” We are busier and more health-conscious. Our food production is impacted globally by climate change. Social media is an accelerator to wanting new things faster. We want “real food in our food.”

For General Mills, that means making changes to such long-term products as Trix, after artificial food and color lost favor with customers. Consumers want highly functional ingredients, with an extended shelf life, with less sugar and salt, no trans fat, gluten-free options, and fewer carbs. It keeps people like Teoh continuously finding alternatives that work. Some goals are easier than others to figure out.

She noted that stamina is a powerful skill. As is waking up every day with a passion to solve problems. “We love challenges,” she said. “There is always more science and engineering that needs to happen. It’s invigorating.”

At the recent Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, keynote speaker Heidi Teoh, of General Mills, spoke to high school students about innovation. 

With a doctorate in food science, Teoh talked about her background and interests in using technology and creativity to decide “what comes next?” We are busier and more health-conscious. Our food production is impacted globally by climate change. Social media is an accelerator to wanting new things faster. We want “real food in our food.”

For General Mills, that means making changes to such long-term products as Trix, after artificial food and color lost favor with customers. Consumers want highly functional ingredients, with an extended shelf life, with less sugar and salt, no trans fat, gluten-free options, and fewer carbs. It keeps people like Teoh continuously finding alternatives that work. Some goals are easier than others to figure out.

She noted that stamina is a powerful skill. As is waking up every day with a passion to solve problems. “We love challenges,” she said. “There is always more science and engineering that needs to happen. It’s invigorating.”

Minnesota Academy of Science offers several programs that offer young Minnesota students opportunities to showcase their STEM learning and research. We are beginning to showcase some of our alumni who have benefitted from Minnesota Academy of Science programs and all the hard-working advisers and coaches across the state. [Please share your own stories as an alumnus or adviser of MAS programs; mikkimorrissette @ mnmas.org]

See details below of his June 22, 2016, talk ""A Scientific Journey to the Bottom of the Earth: Discovering the Mysteries of the Antarctic Humpback Whale," as well as images and links to information about his trip.

Spotlight: Logan Pallin and advisor Cynthia Welsh

Cynthia Welsh is a Cloquet science teacher and the NE Minnesota Regional Science Fair director. One of the students who came through the local Science Fair program is Logan Pallin. In 7^th grade, he did a research project about Monarch butterflies. As an 8^th grader, he was studying crayfish and benthic macroinvertebrates. [See image below.] Now a graduate student, Pallin chatted with Welsh’s 7^th grade class via Google [image below] on the eve of his trip to Antarctica to study the effect of climate change on Humpback whales. He arrived at Palmer Station on January 9, 2016, and posted with an undergraduate colleague about his travels. 

Welsh said Pallin found his research niche when he began to do stream work in Cloquet. “For three years his work looked at the effect of a rain garden on a local trout stream. His project took him all over the United States, to Intel ISEF, ISWEEEP, and the National Stockholm Junior Waterprize.” 

She tells her students to decide on their dream college and apply. “Logan wanted to go to Duke University. He applied, and they paid for a site visit. I gave him 15 copies of his senior research paper and told him to pass it out to anyone that would take it. It landed on the desk of the American Indian recruiter/advocate, and within a few days they offered him a full ride to Duke University. The summer of his junior year at Duke he was interning with professors  who were among the world’s experts on humpback whales. Logan’s job was to do a PCR analysis of the whale samples they were sending back from Antarctica.

“Because of his JSHS and Science Fair experience,” Welsh continued, “Logan knew how to write a good research paper. He asked the scientists if they were going to write a paper on this work. They said no, but that he could, as lead author on the paper. This led to the work he is doing today at Oregon State University, where he is working with the world’s expert on whale genetics. He plans to return to Duke University to work on his Ph.D.

“Logan is a special individual because he knows how to work hard, how to never give up, how to keep focused on the next task without getting overwhelmed by all that scientific research can ask of you, by following his passion and making that his life’s work --because then every day is an adventure!”

Welsh notes that all of her seniors’ research projects influenced the major they declared for college, and helped them receive scholarships to Yale, Stanford, Duke and Pennsylvania State. One student was asked to present at the first-ever White House Science Fair in D.C. Five thus far have published in professional journals. She believes the opportunity to engage in-depth research through the programs gives students a much stronger idea of what they want to pursue in college.

She appreciates the one-on-one mentoring action between teacher and student. “After six years of working together, the students and I develop a close trusting relationship,” she says. “I have witnessed that when students are allowed to explore their interests, unbelievable things happen. Working on a science research project is the perfect example of how students can challenge themselves to stick with a long-term tough subject/project.”

Tales/Tails from his trip

Logan returned from four months tracking humpback whales in Antarctica and will share his experiences with the local Minnesota community where his science career began.

"A Scientific Journey to the Bottom of the Earth: Discovering the Mysteries of the Antarctic Humpback Whale"

Wednesday, June 22, 2016
3 to 4:30pm, and 5-6:30pm
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Auditorium
2101 14th Street Cloquet, MN 55720

He will talk about studying humpback whales, life at Palmer Station, and the various projects he worked on while there. The presentation will include short videos and photos of his time there. There will be a time for questions after the presentation.

All research was conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service Permit (NMFS) 14809-2.

Here is a map of Pallin’s journey. 

Minnesota Academy of Science offers several programs that offer young Minnesota students opportunities to showcase their STEM learning and research. We are beginning to showcase some of our alumni who have benefitted from Minnesota Academy of Science programs and all the hard-working advisers and coaches across the state. [Please share your own stories as an alumnus or adviser of MAS programs; mikkimorrissette @ mnmas.org]

See details below of his June 22, 2016, talk ""A Scientific Journey to the Bottom of the Earth: Discovering the Mysteries of the Antarctic Humpback Whale," as well as images and links to information about his trip.

Spotlight: Logan Pallin and advisor Cynthia Welsh

Cynthia Welsh is a Cloquet science teacher and the NE Minnesota Regional Science Fair director. One of the students who came through the local Science Fair program is Logan Pallin. In 7^th grade, he did a research project about Monarch butterflies. As an 8^th grader, he was studying crayfish and benthic macroinvertebrates. [See image below.] Now a graduate student, Pallin chatted with Welsh’s 7^th grade class via Google [image below] on the eve of his trip to Antarctica to study the effect of climate change on Humpback whales. He arrived at Palmer Station on January 9, 2016, and posted with an undergraduate colleague about his travels. 

Welsh said Pallin found his research niche when he began to do stream work in Cloquet. “For three years his work looked at the effect of a rain garden on a local trout stream. His project took him all over the United States, to Intel ISEF, ISWEEEP, and the National Stockholm Junior Waterprize.” 

She tells her students to decide on their dream college and apply. “Logan wanted to go to Duke University. He applied, and they paid for a site visit. I gave him 15 copies of his senior research paper and told him to pass it out to anyone that would take it. It landed on the desk of the American Indian recruiter/advocate, and within a few days they offered him a full ride to Duke University. The summer of his junior year at Duke he was interning with professors  who were among the world’s experts on humpback whales. Logan’s job was to do a PCR analysis of the whale samples they were sending back from Antarctica.

“Because of his JSHS and Science Fair experience,” Welsh continued, “Logan knew how to write a good research paper. He asked the scientists if they were going to write a paper on this work. They said no, but that he could, as lead author on the paper. This led to the work he is doing today at Oregon State University, where he is working with the world’s expert on whale genetics. He plans to return to Duke University to work on his Ph.D.

“Logan is a special individual because he knows how to work hard, how to never give up, how to keep focused on the next task without getting overwhelmed by all that scientific research can ask of you, by following his passion and making that his life’s work --because then every day is an adventure!”

Welsh notes that all of her seniors’ research projects influenced the major they declared for college, and helped them receive scholarships to Yale, Stanford, Duke and Pennsylvania State. One student was asked to present at the first-ever White House Science Fair in D.C. Five thus far have published in professional journals. She believes the opportunity to engage in-depth research through the programs gives students a much stronger idea of what they want to pursue in college.

She appreciates the one-on-one mentoring action between teacher and student. “After six years of working together, the students and I develop a close trusting relationship,” she says. “I have witnessed that when students are allowed to explore their interests, unbelievable things happen. Working on a science research project is the perfect example of how students can challenge themselves to stick with a long-term tough subject/project.”

Tales/Tails from his trip

Logan returned from four months tracking humpback whales in Antarctica and will share his experiences with the local Minnesota community where his science career began.

"A Scientific Journey to the Bottom of the Earth: Discovering the Mysteries of the Antarctic Humpback Whale"

Wednesday, June 22, 2016
3 to 4:30pm, and 5-6:30pm
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Auditorium
2101 14th Street Cloquet, MN 55720

He will talk about studying humpback whales, life at Palmer Station, and the various projects he worked on while there. The presentation will include short videos and photos of his time there. There will be a time for questions after the presentation.

All research was conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service Permit (NMFS) 14809-2.

Here is a map of Pallin’s journey. 

Minnesota Academy of Science offers several programs that offer young Minnesota students opportunities to showcase their STEM learning and research. We are beginning to showcase some of our alumni who have benefitted from Minnesota Academy of Science programs and all the hard-working advisers and coaches across the state. [Please share your own stories as an alumnus or adviser of MAS programs; mikkimorrissette @ mnmas.org]

See details below of his June 22, 2016, talk ""A Scientific Journey to the Bottom of the Earth: Discovering the Mysteries of the Antarctic Humpback Whale," as well as images and links to information about his trip.

Spotlight: Logan Pallin and advisor Cynthia Welsh

Cynthia Welsh is a Cloquet science teacher and the NE Minnesota Regional Science Fair director. One of the students who came through the local Science Fair program is Logan Pallin. In 7^th grade, he did a research project about Monarch butterflies. As an 8^th grader, he was studying crayfish and benthic macroinvertebrates. [See image below.] Now a graduate student, Pallin chatted with Welsh’s 7^th grade class via Google [image below] on the eve of his trip to Antarctica to study the effect of climate change on Humpback whales. He arrived at Palmer Station on January 9, 2016, and posted with an undergraduate colleague about his travels. 

Welsh said Pallin found his research niche when he began to do stream work in Cloquet. “For three years his work looked at the effect of a rain garden on a local trout stream. His project took him all over the United States, to Intel ISEF, ISWEEEP, and the National Stockholm Junior Waterprize.” 

She tells her students to decide on their dream college and apply. “Logan wanted to go to Duke University. He applied, and they paid for a site visit. I gave him 15 copies of his senior research paper and told him to pass it out to anyone that would take it. It landed on the desk of the American Indian recruiter/advocate, and within a few days they offered him a full ride to Duke University. The summer of his junior year at Duke he was interning with professors  who were among the world’s experts on humpback whales. Logan’s job was to do a PCR analysis of the whale samples they were sending back from Antarctica.

“Because of his JSHS and Science Fair experience,” Welsh continued, “Logan knew how to write a good research paper. He asked the scientists if they were going to write a paper on this work. They said no, but that he could, as lead author on the paper. This led to the work he is doing today at Oregon State University, where he is working with the world’s expert on whale genetics. He plans to return to Duke University to work on his Ph.D.

“Logan is a special individual because he knows how to work hard, how to never give up, how to keep focused on the next task without getting overwhelmed by all that scientific research can ask of you, by following his passion and making that his life’s work --because then every day is an adventure!”

Welsh notes that all of her seniors’ research projects influenced the major they declared for college, and helped them receive scholarships to Yale, Stanford, Duke and Pennsylvania State. One student was asked to present at the first-ever White House Science Fair in D.C. Five thus far have published in professional journals. She believes the opportunity to engage in-depth research through the programs gives students a much stronger idea of what they want to pursue in college.

She appreciates the one-on-one mentoring action between teacher and student. “After six years of working together, the students and I develop a close trusting relationship,” she says. “I have witnessed that when students are allowed to explore their interests, unbelievable things happen. Working on a science research project is the perfect example of how students can challenge themselves to stick with a long-term tough subject/project.”

Tales/Tails from his trip

Logan returned from four months tracking humpback whales in Antarctica and will share his experiences with the local Minnesota community where his science career began.

"A Scientific Journey to the Bottom of the Earth: Discovering the Mysteries of the Antarctic Humpback Whale"

Wednesday, June 22, 2016
3 to 4:30pm, and 5-6:30pm
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Auditorium
2101 14th Street Cloquet, MN 55720

He will talk about studying humpback whales, life at Palmer Station, and the various projects he worked on while there. The presentation will include short videos and photos of his time there. There will be a time for questions after the presentation.

All research was conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service Permit (NMFS) 14809-2.

Here is a map of Pallin’s journey. 

NEXT UP for MinnTS -- a joint meeting of scientific and technical societies  

DATE: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

TIME: tours, 4-6pm; dinner & talks, 6-9pm

LOCATION: 3M Company, Maplewood MN, Innovation Center (building 278)

RESERVATIONS CLOSE SOON! March 8

COST: $30

Flyer about 2016 MinnTS event

For more details, including reservations, address, and directions: www.MinnTS.org

Members of the Minnesota Academy of Science can attend MinnTS at a discounted price. 

REGISTER AS AN MAS member and you will receive a discounted price!

2016 Featured Speakers

Michael Finegan, Director of Business Development, Multitech (replacement speaker)

What exactly is the "Internet of Things" (IoT), and what impact is it going to have on you and your organization?

This growing topic of conversation not only has the potential to impact how we live, but also how we work. IoT is growing at an astronomical rate. To prepare for IoT, companies in all sectors must build a connected device strategy that makes sense - from both a financial and logistical standpoint - if they want to capitalize on the enormous opportunity IoT offers. This presentation will discuss business models around the IoT applied to specific industries, and explore the technologies available and device strategies to connect your "things" to the Internet.

Noah Korba, General Mills Senior Manager, Global IT Security Infrastructure, Forensics & Incident Response

Cybersecurity touches all aspects of our lives, from personal banking to national defense. Impacts from recent attacks are far reaching – from the exposure of social security numbers, health records and credit card numbers, to intellectual property and national defense secrets. In 2014 alone, the U.S. government spent $31B to defend against cyber attacks. Noah Korba will discuss who the attackers are, what they’re after, and how they monetize their spoils. He’ll draw on experience as an ethical hacker to provide examples of the effects of recent cyber attacks on corporations and government. Finally, he’ll provide common ways for MinnTS members to protect themselves from these threats.

The 2015 Event

The 13th Annual Minnesota Technical Symposium (MinnTS) was held March 19th, 2015 at Medtronic Headquarters in Fridley, MN. The featured speakers at the 2015 MinnTS were Dr. Richard Danila and Marc Roe. Dr. Danila presented on the reasons why there has been a global emergence of infectious diseases in the last 20 years with an emphasis on the current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and its implications for Minnesota. 

NEXT UP for MinnTS -- a joint meeting of scientific and technical societies  

DATE: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

TIME: tours, 4-6pm; dinner & talks, 6-9pm

LOCATION: 3M Company, Maplewood MN, Innovation Center (building 278)

RESERVATIONS CLOSE SOON! March 8

COST: $30

Flyer about 2016 MinnTS event

For more details, including reservations, address, and directions: www.MinnTS.org

Members of the Minnesota Academy of Science can attend MinnTS at a discounted price. 

REGISTER AS AN MAS member and you will receive a discounted price!

2016 Featured Speakers

Michael Finegan, Director of Business Development, Multitech (replacement speaker)

What exactly is the "Internet of Things" (IoT), and what impact is it going to have on you and your organization?

This growing topic of conversation not only has the potential to impact how we live, but also how we work. IoT is growing at an astronomical rate. To prepare for IoT, companies in all sectors must build a connected device strategy that makes sense - from both a financial and logistical standpoint - if they want to capitalize on the enormous opportunity IoT offers. This presentation will discuss business models around the IoT applied to specific industries, and explore the technologies available and device strategies to connect your "things" to the Internet.

Noah Korba, General Mills Senior Manager, Global IT Security Infrastructure, Forensics & Incident Response

Cybersecurity touches all aspects of our lives, from personal banking to national defense. Impacts from recent attacks are far reaching – from the exposure of social security numbers, health records and credit card numbers, to intellectual property and national defense secrets. In 2014 alone, the U.S. government spent $31B to defend against cyber attacks. Noah Korba will discuss who the attackers are, what they’re after, and how they monetize their spoils. He’ll draw on experience as an ethical hacker to provide examples of the effects of recent cyber attacks on corporations and government. Finally, he’ll provide common ways for MinnTS members to protect themselves from these threats.

The 2015 Event

The 13th Annual Minnesota Technical Symposium (MinnTS) was held March 19th, 2015 at Medtronic Headquarters in Fridley, MN. The featured speakers at the 2015 MinnTS were Dr. Richard Danila and Marc Roe. Dr. Danila presented on the reasons why there has been a global emergence of infectious diseases in the last 20 years with an emphasis on the current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and its implications for Minnesota. 

NEXT UP for MinnTS -- a joint meeting of scientific and technical societies  

DATE: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

TIME: tours, 4-6pm; dinner & talks, 6-9pm

LOCATION: 3M Company, Maplewood MN, Innovation Center (building 278)

RESERVATIONS CLOSE SOON! March 8

COST: $30

Flyer about 2016 MinnTS event

For more details, including reservations, address, and directions: www.MinnTS.org

Members of the Minnesota Academy of Science can attend MinnTS at a discounted price. 

REGISTER AS AN MAS member and you will receive a discounted price!

2016 Featured Speakers

Michael Finegan, Director of Business Development, Multitech (replacement speaker)

What exactly is the "Internet of Things" (IoT), and what impact is it going to have on you and your organization?

This growing topic of conversation not only has the potential to impact how we live, but also how we work. IoT is growing at an astronomical rate. To prepare for IoT, companies in all sectors must build a connected device strategy that makes sense - from both a financial and logistical standpoint - if they want to capitalize on the enormous opportunity IoT offers. This presentation will discuss business models around the IoT applied to specific industries, and explore the technologies available and device strategies to connect your "things" to the Internet.

Noah Korba, General Mills Senior Manager, Global IT Security Infrastructure, Forensics & Incident Response

Cybersecurity touches all aspects of our lives, from personal banking to national defense. Impacts from recent attacks are far reaching – from the exposure of social security numbers, health records and credit card numbers, to intellectual property and national defense secrets. In 2014 alone, the U.S. government spent $31B to defend against cyber attacks. Noah Korba will discuss who the attackers are, what they’re after, and how they monetize their spoils. He’ll draw on experience as an ethical hacker to provide examples of the effects of recent cyber attacks on corporations and government. Finally, he’ll provide common ways for MinnTS members to protect themselves from these threats.

The 2015 Event

The 13th Annual Minnesota Technical Symposium (MinnTS) was held March 19th, 2015 at Medtronic Headquarters in Fridley, MN. The featured speakers at the 2015 MinnTS were Dr. Richard Danila and Marc Roe. Dr. Danila presented on the reasons why there has been a global emergence of infectious diseases in the last 20 years with an emphasis on the current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and its implications for Minnesota. 

The Minnesota Academy of Science programs enable us to get a glimpse at some of our future STEM specialists -- a strongly needed pool for academia and industry. There have been special efforts to encourage more girls to stick with their science, technology, engineering and mathematics interests for the long term. We talked with a few high school teenage girls after their participation in the 2016 Regional High School Science Bowl.

Q: Did you grow up with a particular interest in math/science?

Atte: From a young age both my parents encouraged me to get involved in science-based activities. I practically lived in the Science Museum on weekends and during the week I participated in Mad Science club. Over the summer I spent my time watching everything from Magic School Bus to Popular Mechanics.

Heidi: I have grown up with science and math all around me. My parents took me to Science Museums, camping, interesting and educational vacations. My dad is also an engineer, so he loves showing me and my sister cool toys and experiments he learns about. In 6th grade I participated in the Minnesota State Science Fair (the only person from my school). It was enjoyable, but I decided to try something different the next year. Through my dad’s work we learned about the Science Bowl. I decided to get a team together, and in 8th grade we started practicing once a week after school. Once we got to high school we all had busy schedules and changed practices to weekends. We had been competing for four years now and our team changes every year.

Marisa: Growing up, I was relatively skilled at math and science, but I was not in an environment to be particularly advanced in these subjects until I came to St. John's Preparatory School. As I entered sixth grade at Prep, I was given the opportunity to test out of Pre-Algebra, and was subsequently more challenged in math. Additionally, my sixth grade class took advantage of the biodiversity of the St. John's campus by having hands-on experiences such as collecting plant and water specimens. While I was in sixth grade with a developing interest for science, my older brother was a sophomore in high school and was a star student in subjects including math and physics. At this point, I began to develop a sort of friendly competition with my older brother, and I started trying to surpass the standards he set for me. As I progressed through the Prep school, I continually took advantage of advanced math and science courses, and my interest in these subjects was further influenced by several teachers. I appreciated that my teachers taught the theory behind equations and emphasized the critical thinking skills necessary for math and science. Their influence led me to take competition exams, research math independently, study Earth science independently, attend a STEM camp, and counsel a science camp. When I learned about Science Bowl, I became very excited to compete, thinking my interests and experiences had prepared me well for the questions that might be asked. I was eager to take part in another science-related challenge.  

Q: What answer(s) are you most proud of from the Science Bowl?

Atte: A few of the biology questions I answered. I am impressed how much I was able to recall from my biology class three years ago.

Marisa: An answer about fiber optics. I remembered learning about fiber optics in my International Baccalaureate Physics class last year (which is taught by Mr. Miller, my Science Bowl coach). I correctly buzzed in with the answer. It was fun to see the look of approval on Mr. Miller's face when I gave the correct answer. 

Heidi: My favorite questions to answer are about Astronomy, Earth Science, and Energy. I really enjoy knowing and learning more about how our universe works, how this planet works, and the different ways humans can use energy right here on Earth. I took a few chances at the Bowl and got four questions right in which I buzzed in before the question was finished. This was a risky choice, since if I had gotten the answer wrong, my team would have lost points. I also enjoyed meeting a team that was made up of all freshman. It reminded me of when my team was all freshman at our first high school competition. It was a daunting year, but we were even more excited to compete the next year after we had learned even more. I also enjoyed getting  a question right about a term we learned a few weeks earlier in AP Chemistry. It is my teacher's favorite term, and he teaches it enthusiastically. It was fun to go back and tell my teacher we were able to get some answers correct because of him.

Q: How do you gel with teammates?

Atte: We work well as a team. The majority of us have been together since ninth grade. We also know each other outside of Science Bowl, from being on the same sports teams and in a lot of the same classes.

Heidi: When we first started working together as a team, we began learning who knew what types of questions. Everyone has a subject they are passionate about. After we learned that, it was easy to know who to look to if you did not know the answer. The fact that we are all close friends perhaps gives us the greatest advantage. We trust each other and work well as a team.

Marisa: I think that working well together has been one of the strengths of my team. The other members of Team 1 are some of my best friends. Three of these teammates are on the Knowledge Bowl team with which I have won the state Knowledge Bowl tournament. As a result, we are used to supporting each other in both competitive and noncompetitive environments. It took some time to learn which specific scientific subjects were strengths for each team member. Throughout this process, there was also a shift in leadership; I became the Science Bowl captain, whereas a different team member is the Knowledge Bowl captain. I think our chemistry outside of Science Bowl helped strengthen our team, and that experiencing Science Bowl challenged and reinforced that chemistry.

Marisa Gaetz (seated middle): Through her attendance at St. John's Prep she has been able to take college courses at affiliated St. John's University -- Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Topology, non-Euclidean Geometry, Number Theory. She helped coordinate the St. John's Prep team for the 2016 Science Bowl -- her only appearance in the Bowl -- after learning about it through her science strengths in the state Knowledge Bowl. At the Science Bowl she particularly enjoyed answering questions on Earth Science and Astronomy. She likes to fill her spare time with soccer, softball, jazz band, and a ping pong club that she started. Her dream since middle school has been to attend MIT -- she has been accepted there for next fall in an 'early action' decision. She intends to major in mathematics and get a major or minor in physics. 

Heidi Krauss (far left): She has aspirations of a double major in Theater and Geology, with a particular interest in Planetary Geology. She loves volcanoes and astronomy. "On my most recent visit to the University of Minnesota Duluth, I met a student who was getting his Doctorate in Planetary Geology. He talked to me about how he was figuring out how the volcanoes on Venus were formed. This sounded just like what I want to do with my life. My dream school right now is the University of Minnesota Duluth." She was the Snow Queen in her school's winter play of "The Snow Queen," and is directing the spring one-act play. She plays the trombone in two bands and volunteers when she can. 

Atte Kadoma: She attends Math and Science Academy, where she has competed in Science Bowl for five years, and loves answering questions about Earth Science and Chemistry. She also is taking courses at the University of Minnesota, where she is enrolled as a full-time PSEO student. In her previous semester there she made the dean's list for the College of Continuing Education. All the classes she is taking there are STEM classes that will go towards a degree in Materials Engineering. She is an avid reader who enjoys spending time outside. 

The Minnesota Academy of Science programs enable us to get a glimpse at some of our future STEM specialists -- a strongly needed pool for academia and industry. There have been special efforts to encourage more girls to stick with their science, technology, engineering and mathematics interests for the long term. We talked with a few high school teenage girls after their participation in the 2016 Regional High School Science Bowl.

Q: Did you grow up with a particular interest in math/science?

Atte: From a young age both my parents encouraged me to get involved in science-based activities. I practically lived in the Science Museum on weekends and during the week I participated in Mad Science club. Over the summer I spent my time watching everything from Magic School Bus to Popular Mechanics.

Heidi: I have grown up with science and math all around me. My parents took me to Science Museums, camping, interesting and educational vacations. My dad is also an engineer, so he loves showing me and my sister cool toys and experiments he learns about. In 6th grade I participated in the Minnesota State Science Fair (the only person from my school). It was enjoyable, but I decided to try something different the next year. Through my dad’s work we learned about the Science Bowl. I decided to get a team together, and in 8th grade we started practicing once a week after school. Once we got to high school we all had busy schedules and changed practices to weekends. We had been competing for four years now and our team changes every year.

Marisa: Growing up, I was relatively skilled at math and science, but I was not in an environment to be particularly advanced in these subjects until I came to St. John's Preparatory School. As I entered sixth grade at Prep, I was given the opportunity to test out of Pre-Algebra, and was subsequently more challenged in math. Additionally, my sixth grade class took advantage of the biodiversity of the St. John's campus by having hands-on experiences such as collecting plant and water specimens. While I was in sixth grade with a developing interest for science, my older brother was a sophomore in high school and was a star student in subjects including math and physics. At this point, I began to develop a sort of friendly competition with my older brother, and I started trying to surpass the standards he set for me. As I progressed through the Prep school, I continually took advantage of advanced math and science courses, and my interest in these subjects was further influenced by several teachers. I appreciated that my teachers taught the theory behind equations and emphasized the critical thinking skills necessary for math and science. Their influence led me to take competition exams, research math independently, study Earth science independently, attend a STEM camp, and counsel a science camp. When I learned about Science Bowl, I became very excited to compete, thinking my interests and experiences had prepared me well for the questions that might be asked. I was eager to take part in another science-related challenge.  

Q: What answer(s) are you most proud of from the Science Bowl?

Atte: A few of the biology questions I answered. I am impressed how much I was able to recall from my biology class three years ago.

Marisa: An answer about fiber optics. I remembered learning about fiber optics in my International Baccalaureate Physics class last year (which is taught by Mr. Miller, my Science Bowl coach). I correctly buzzed in with the answer. It was fun to see the look of approval on Mr. Miller's face when I gave the correct answer. 

Heidi: My favorite questions to answer are about Astronomy, Earth Science, and Energy. I really enjoy knowing and learning more about how our universe works, how this planet works, and the different ways humans can use energy right here on Earth. I took a few chances at the Bowl and got four questions right in which I buzzed in before the question was finished. This was a risky choice, since if I had gotten the answer wrong, my team would have lost points. I also enjoyed meeting a team that was made up of all freshman. It reminded me of when my team was all freshman at our first high school competition. It was a daunting year, but we were even more excited to compete the next year after we had learned even more. I also enjoyed getting  a question right about a term we learned a few weeks earlier in AP Chemistry. It is my teacher's favorite term, and he teaches it enthusiastically. It was fun to go back and tell my teacher we were able to get some answers correct because of him.

Q: How do you gel with teammates?

Atte: We work well as a team. The majority of us have been together since ninth grade. We also know each other outside of Science Bowl, from being on the same sports teams and in a lot of the same classes.

Heidi: When we first started working together as a team, we began learning who knew what types of questions. Everyone has a subject they are passionate about. After we learned that, it was easy to know who to look to if you did not know the answer. The fact that we are all close friends perhaps gives us the greatest advantage. We trust each other and work well as a team.

Marisa: I think that working well together has been one of the strengths of my team. The other members of Team 1 are some of my best friends. Three of these teammates are on the Knowledge Bowl team with which I have won the state Knowledge Bowl tournament. As a result, we are used to supporting each other in both competitive and noncompetitive environments. It took some time to learn which specific scientific subjects were strengths for each team member. Throughout this process, there was also a shift in leadership; I became the Science Bowl captain, whereas a different team member is the Knowledge Bowl captain. I think our chemistry outside of Science Bowl helped strengthen our team, and that experiencing Science Bowl challenged and reinforced that chemistry.

Marisa Gaetz (seated middle): Through her attendance at St. John's Prep she has been able to take college courses at affiliated St. John's University -- Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Topology, non-Euclidean Geometry, Number Theory. She helped coordinate the St. John's Prep team for the 2016 Science Bowl -- her only appearance in the Bowl -- after learning about it through her science strengths in the state Knowledge Bowl. At the Science Bowl she particularly enjoyed answering questions on Earth Science and Astronomy. She likes to fill her spare time with soccer, softball, jazz band, and a ping pong club that she started. Her dream since middle school has been to attend MIT -- she has been accepted there for next fall in an 'early action' decision. She intends to major in mathematics and get a major or minor in physics. 

Heidi Krauss (far left): She has aspirations of a double major in Theater and Geology, with a particular interest in Planetary Geology. She loves volcanoes and astronomy. "On my most recent visit to the University of Minnesota Duluth, I met a student who was getting his Doctorate in Planetary Geology. He talked to me about how he was figuring out how the volcanoes on Venus were formed. This sounded just like what I want to do with my life. My dream school right now is the University of Minnesota Duluth." She was the Snow Queen in her school's winter play of "The Snow Queen," and is directing the spring one-act play. She plays the trombone in two bands and volunteers when she can. 

Atte Kadoma: She attends Math and Science Academy, where she has competed in Science Bowl for five years, and loves answering questions about Earth Science and Chemistry. She also is taking courses at the University of Minnesota, where she is enrolled as a full-time PSEO student. In her previous semester there she made the dean's list for the College of Continuing Education. All the classes she is taking there are STEM classes that will go towards a degree in Materials Engineering. She is an avid reader who enjoys spending time outside. 

The Minnesota Academy of Science programs enable us to get a glimpse at some of our future STEM specialists -- a strongly needed pool for academia and industry. There have been special efforts to encourage more girls to stick with their science, technology, engineering and mathematics interests for the long term. We talked with a few high school teenage girls after their participation in the 2016 Regional High School Science Bowl.

Q: Did you grow up with a particular interest in math/science?

Atte: From a young age both my parents encouraged me to get involved in science-based activities. I practically lived in the Science Museum on weekends and during the week I participated in Mad Science club. Over the summer I spent my time watching everything from Magic School Bus to Popular Mechanics.

Heidi: I have grown up with science and math all around me. My parents took me to Science Museums, camping, interesting and educational vacations. My dad is also an engineer, so he loves showing me and my sister cool toys and experiments he learns about. In 6th grade I participated in the Minnesota State Science Fair (the only person from my school). It was enjoyable, but I decided to try something different the next year. Through my dad’s work we learned about the Science Bowl. I decided to get a team together, and in 8th grade we started practicing once a week after school. Once we got to high school we all had busy schedules and changed practices to weekends. We had been competing for four years now and our team changes every year.

Marisa: Growing up, I was relatively skilled at math and science, but I was not in an environment to be particularly advanced in these subjects until I came to St. John's Preparatory School. As I entered sixth grade at Prep, I was given the opportunity to test out of Pre-Algebra, and was subsequently more challenged in math. Additionally, my sixth grade class took advantage of the biodiversity of the St. John's campus by having hands-on experiences such as collecting plant and water specimens. While I was in sixth grade with a developing interest for science, my older brother was a sophomore in high school and was a star student in subjects including math and physics. At this point, I began to develop a sort of friendly competition with my older brother, and I started trying to surpass the standards he set for me. As I progressed through the Prep school, I continually took advantage of advanced math and science courses, and my interest in these subjects was further influenced by several teachers. I appreciated that my teachers taught the theory behind equations and emphasized the critical thinking skills necessary for math and science. Their influence led me to take competition exams, research math independently, study Earth science independently, attend a STEM camp, and counsel a science camp. When I learned about Science Bowl, I became very excited to compete, thinking my interests and experiences had prepared me well for the questions that might be asked. I was eager to take part in another science-related challenge.  

Q: What answer(s) are you most proud of from the Science Bowl?

Atte: A few of the biology questions I answered. I am impressed how much I was able to recall from my biology class three years ago.

Marisa: An answer about fiber optics. I remembered learning about fiber optics in my International Baccalaureate Physics class last year (which is taught by Mr. Miller, my Science Bowl coach). I correctly buzzed in with the answer. It was fun to see the look of approval on Mr. Miller's face when I gave the correct answer. 

Heidi: My favorite questions to answer are about Astronomy, Earth Science, and Energy. I really enjoy knowing and learning more about how our universe works, how this planet works, and the different ways humans can use energy right here on Earth. I took a few chances at the Bowl and got four questions right in which I buzzed in before the question was finished. This was a risky choice, since if I had gotten the answer wrong, my team would have lost points. I also enjoyed meeting a team that was made up of all freshman. It reminded me of when my team was all freshman at our first high school competition. It was a daunting year, but we were even more excited to compete the next year after we had learned even more. I also enjoyed getting  a question right about a term we learned a few weeks earlier in AP Chemistry. It is my teacher's favorite term, and he teaches it enthusiastically. It was fun to go back and tell my teacher we were able to get some answers correct because of him.

Q: How do you gel with teammates?

Atte: We work well as a team. The majority of us have been together since ninth grade. We also know each other outside of Science Bowl, from being on the same sports teams and in a lot of the same classes.

Heidi: When we first started working together as a team, we began learning who knew what types of questions. Everyone has a subject they are passionate about. After we learned that, it was easy to know who to look to if you did not know the answer. The fact that we are all close friends perhaps gives us the greatest advantage. We trust each other and work well as a team.

Marisa: I think that working well together has been one of the strengths of my team. The other members of Team 1 are some of my best friends. Three of these teammates are on the Knowledge Bowl team with which I have won the state Knowledge Bowl tournament. As a result, we are used to supporting each other in both competitive and noncompetitive environments. It took some time to learn which specific scientific subjects were strengths for each team member. Throughout this process, there was also a shift in leadership; I became the Science Bowl captain, whereas a different team member is the Knowledge Bowl captain. I think our chemistry outside of Science Bowl helped strengthen our team, and that experiencing Science Bowl challenged and reinforced that chemistry.

Marisa Gaetz (seated middle): Through her attendance at St. John's Prep she has been able to take college courses at affiliated St. John's University -- Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Topology, non-Euclidean Geometry, Number Theory. She helped coordinate the St. John's Prep team for the 2016 Science Bowl -- her only appearance in the Bowl -- after learning about it through her science strengths in the state Knowledge Bowl. At the Science Bowl she particularly enjoyed answering questions on Earth Science and Astronomy. She likes to fill her spare time with soccer, softball, jazz band, and a ping pong club that she started. Her dream since middle school has been to attend MIT -- she has been accepted there for next fall in an 'early action' decision. She intends to major in mathematics and get a major or minor in physics. 

Heidi Krauss (far left): She has aspirations of a double major in Theater and Geology, with a particular interest in Planetary Geology. She loves volcanoes and astronomy. "On my most recent visit to the University of Minnesota Duluth, I met a student who was getting his Doctorate in Planetary Geology. He talked to me about how he was figuring out how the volcanoes on Venus were formed. This sounded just like what I want to do with my life. My dream school right now is the University of Minnesota Duluth." She was the Snow Queen in her school's winter play of "The Snow Queen," and is directing the spring one-act play. She plays the trombone in two bands and volunteers when she can. 

Atte Kadoma: She attends Math and Science Academy, where she has competed in Science Bowl for five years, and loves answering questions about Earth Science and Chemistry. She also is taking courses at the University of Minnesota, where she is enrolled as a full-time PSEO student. In her previous semester there she made the dean's list for the College of Continuing Education. All the classes she is taking there are STEM classes that will go towards a degree in Materials Engineering. She is an avid reader who enjoys spending time outside. 

Call For Nominations: 2016 Seagate Excellence In Science Mentoring Award

Nomination Deadline: February 27, 2016

Nominate an outstanding teacher who generates interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math and who supports hands-on projects and exploration of science outside of the classroom.  Who can nominate?  students, parents, administrators, other teachers, friends of the teacher being nominated. The teacher cannot nominate themselves.

The Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award recognizes outstanding science teachers from around the state who mentor students with their science fair projects and who find creative ways to nurture students’ interest in scientific research and discovery. The award acknowledges teachers who go above and beyond the classroom to promote science education in their schools and who encourage students to engage in hands-on projects and experiences outside the classroom.

Seagate Technology gives two awards – one for a teacher with less than 10 years of experience and another for teachers with 11 or more years of experience. Award recipients receive a $1,000 cash award, a plaque, and a Seagate portable hard drive. The teachers’ schoool science departments also receive a $1,000 cash award and a plaque for their showcase. Award recipients are announced at the State Science & Engineering Fair.

Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, fellow teachers, or school administrators (self-nominations are not accepted). Please see the nomination form below for details. The selection committee prefers at least two nominations, so pass this form along to your classmates, parents, and other teachers.

Click HERE for the Nomiation form.

Call For Nominations: 2016 Seagate Excellence In Science Mentoring Award

Nomination Deadline: February 27, 2016

Nominate an outstanding teacher who generates interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math and who supports hands-on projects and exploration of science outside of the classroom.  Who can nominate?  students, parents, administrators, other teachers, friends of the teacher being nominated. The teacher cannot nominate themselves.

The Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award recognizes outstanding science teachers from around the state who mentor students with their science fair projects and who find creative ways to nurture students’ interest in scientific research and discovery. The award acknowledges teachers who go above and beyond the classroom to promote science education in their schools and who encourage students to engage in hands-on projects and experiences outside the classroom.

Seagate Technology gives two awards – one for a teacher with less than 10 years of experience and another for teachers with 11 or more years of experience. Award recipients receive a $1,000 cash award, a plaque, and a Seagate portable hard drive. The teachers’ schoool science departments also receive a $1,000 cash award and a plaque for their showcase. Award recipients are announced at the State Science & Engineering Fair.

Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, fellow teachers, or school administrators (self-nominations are not accepted). Please see the nomination form below for details. The selection committee prefers at least two nominations, so pass this form along to your classmates, parents, and other teachers.

Click HERE for the Nomiation form.

Call For Nominations: 2016 Seagate Excellence In Science Mentoring Award

Nomination Deadline: February 27, 2016

Nominate an outstanding teacher who generates interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math and who supports hands-on projects and exploration of science outside of the classroom.  Who can nominate?  students, parents, administrators, other teachers, friends of the teacher being nominated. The teacher cannot nominate themselves.

The Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award recognizes outstanding science teachers from around the state who mentor students with their science fair projects and who find creative ways to nurture students’ interest in scientific research and discovery. The award acknowledges teachers who go above and beyond the classroom to promote science education in their schools and who encourage students to engage in hands-on projects and experiences outside the classroom.

Seagate Technology gives two awards – one for a teacher with less than 10 years of experience and another for teachers with 11 or more years of experience. Award recipients receive a $1,000 cash award, a plaque, and a Seagate portable hard drive. The teachers’ schoool science departments also receive a $1,000 cash award and a plaque for their showcase. Award recipients are announced at the State Science & Engineering Fair.

Teachers can be nominated by students, parents, fellow teachers, or school administrators (self-nominations are not accepted). Please see the nomination form below for details. The selection committee prefers at least two nominations, so pass this form along to your classmates, parents, and other teachers.

Click HERE for the Nomiation form.

Due to delays in evaluation return-time, the announcement of the winners of the High School STEM Communicator Awards will be made in early May. We regret the inconvenience and will post the announcement and notify winners as soon as we are able. 

Due to delays in evaluation return-time, the announcement of the winners of the High School STEM Communicator Awards will be made in early May. We regret the inconvenience and will post the announcement and notify winners as soon as we are able. 

Due to delays in evaluation return-time, the announcement of the winners of the High School STEM Communicator Awards will be made in early May. We regret the inconvenience and will post the announcement and notify winners as soon as we are able.