The 33rd Annual Regeneron Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair was held at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, March 18. It was a remarkable showcase of research projects from an array of 21-project categories, including Biomedical Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Microbiology and Plant Sciences. Students representing schools from the greater capital region competed in two divisions: Junior Division for 6th -8th graders and Senior Division for 9th -12th graders.
As a judge in the Senior Division, I was captivated by the passion and enthusiasm of the researchers as they described their work. One researcher, a high school senior, studied the peripheral biomarkers of ACL injury and recovery in cadets attending the US Military Academy at West Point. From the results of her study she acknowledged that she wanted to have more data over a specific period of time to assess the changes in the recovery process. When asked how she would get that data, she proudly announced that she was planning to attend West Point and continue her research as a college student there.
Another remarkable researcher, a high school junior, enthusiastically demonstrated a novel device he built that measures elevated eye pressure to help detect the early onset of glaucoma. The concept was based on using a thin film force sensitive resistor based pressure sensor to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). He devised several prototypes and explained how each of was improved until he found the model that could accurately measure high IOP, a major risk factor for glaucoma. From the preliminary results and with further optimization, he hopes to market an affordable, home monitoring device for IOP to provide early screening of elevated eye pressure and detect the disease at an early stage. As the 1st place Grand Prize winner of the Senior Division, he is certainly on a successful path ahead!
