JERSEY SHORE JUNIOR SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM (JSJSS) PRESS RELEASE, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENT GAYLE GRANT, ASSOCIATION OF OLD CROWS GARDEN STATE CHAPTER (AOC-GSC)
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) participated in the 2nd annual Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium (JSJSS) on March 23, 2018 at Ocean County College and April 20, 2018 at the Ramada Suites in Toms River, NJ. The Symposium is organized to help promote outstanding achievement and experimentation in STEM at the high school level (grades 9-12). The wide-ranging and comprehensive subjects highlighted at this two-day Symposium were extremely impressive. More importantly, the projects presented by student finalists represent their knowledge, hard work, commitment, and future successes as they prepare to become doctors, scientists, engineers, and professionals.
The Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium is one of 48 regional symposia held nationwide and coordinated by the Junior Science & Humanities Symposia (JSHS) division of the Academy of Applied Science, NH. JSJSS is funded by Ocean County College and the United States Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The JSJSS recognizes students for their original research achievements in STEM. Throughout 10 New Jersey high schools, 76 students submitted research papers to be considered for participation in the JSJSS competition. After an extensive review process, 10 finalists were chosen to present their papers at the JSJSS to an audience of over 150, including students, teachers, and individuals involved in various STEM disciplines. A group of 17 judges selected the top five presenters who were awarded an expense-paid trip to the 56th National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) in Hunt Valley, MD (May 2-5, 2018). The JSHS awards over $340,000 in scholarships and cash awards to regional and national winners each year, making the program an attractive opportunity for motivated students who want to pursue higher education in the areas of science, engineering, and mathematics (www.jshs.org).
The two-day Symposium included 10 student research papers, six banquet posters, and over 40 general poster session presentations. The Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium is co- sponsored by Ocean County College, Naval Weapons Station Earle, NAVAIR, and Picatinny Arsenal. Several other professional organizations and industry partners also offered support to the JSJSS, including: New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), U.S. Army Communications- Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Command (CERDEC), Association of Old Crows (AOC) Garden State Chapter, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA); Army Picatinny Chapter and Central Jersey Chapter, New Jersey Post Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), Jersey Shore Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), Naval Civilian Managers Association (NCMA) Lakehurst Chapter, Harris Corporation (Clifton, NJ), and Aspen Consulting Group (Manasquan, NJ).
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, represented by Assistant Director of Extension Michael Danko, bestowed two participant awards for Top Environmental Paper. Ahri Han of Tenafly High School received a first place prize of $300, while Sadie Wolfarth of the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science went home with a $200 prize for second place.
JSJSS Executive Board members included AOC-GSC members Gayle Grant of CERDEC Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate, JB-MDL, Lakehurst, NJ and Nicole Zaretski of Harris, Clifton, NJ. Ms. Grant leads the CERDEC and professional community volunteers, technical papers, student mentors, Symposium judges, poster session, and general poster session. Ms. Zaretski additionally provided teacher, student, and general poster session support during the two-day event.
Special thanks to additional AOC-GSC members and volunteers who participated as papers reviewers and judges, including: John Albanese, Brian Charnick, Sorin Davidovici, Tom Hoose, Tom Kesolits, Tom Newsome, and Joe Zaroff.
JSJSS Paper Winners (2018): 1st Place – Tiffany Fang of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “The Studies of Human and Road Characteristics on Road Safety Evaluation 2nd Place - Eric Zheng of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “An underactuated PASA finger capable of perfectly linear motion with compensatory displacement” 3rd Place – Anjali Chakradhar of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “Synthesis and Evaluation of Boron-based Natural Product Derivatives as Anti-Cancer Agents”
Honorable Mentions: Isabella Impalli of Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ “Applications and Mechanism of RNAIII-Inhibiting Peptide on Staphylococci” Lucas Goldman of Tenafly High School, Tenafly, NJ “Targeting the Adenosine A2A Receptor to Mediate Inflammation in Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis”
Additional Presenters: Julienne Chaqour of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “Abscisic acid: An Antiangiogenic Phytohormone that Modulates the Phenotypical Plasticity of Endothelial Cells and Macrophages” Katherine Dai of Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ “A Targeted Pharmalogical Approach for Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by suppressing tumor Growth with 3-Bromopyruvate (3-BP)” Ahri Han of Tenafly High School, Tenafly, NJ “Adsorption Capacity of Magnetite Nanoparticles for the Removal of Copper Ions from an Aqueous System” Sadie Wolfarth of the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science, Stafford Township, NJ “Biological Impact of Sunscreen Active Ingredients on Gammarus Species” Daphne Yang of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “The Effects of Playing a Musical Instrument on Multitasking Ability”
(Left to right) 1st row JSJSS Paper Winners: Tiffany Fang, Isabella Impalli; Anjali Chakradhar, Lucas Goldman, Eric Zheng; 2nd row JSJSS Executive Committee: Doug Wong, Gaetan Mangano, Gayle Grant, Paul Silberquit, John Rosendale, Mike Danko, Pam Dixon-Kuhn
JSJSS Banquet Poster Winners (2018): 1st Place – Emily Mayo of Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ “Constricting Diabetes: How harnessing the extreme physiology of the Burmese python could lead to novel alternative diabetes treatments” 2nd Place – Clairisse Whang of Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ “Hidden in plain sight: Lipid droplets, a new culprit in Alzheimer’s pathology” 3rd Place - Sharmi Shah of Colonia High School, Colonia, NJ “Analysis of Transmitted and Reflected Laser Signal Disruption via Transparent Irregular Surfaces”
Honorable Mentions: Eric Chai of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “Developing a Novel Method of Measuring Analog Signals Without Analog Circuits” Yuri Han of Tenafly High School, Tenafly, NJ “Ocean Wave Modeling and Wave Power Calculation Using Wave Height and Period Data from the National Data Buoy Center Database” Adithya Paramasivam of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ “Investigating a Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach to diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma through ANN-based Neoantigen Prediction in MHC I Receptor Immune Escape”
(Left to right) Sitting: Yuri Han, Adithya Paramasivam, Eric Chai, Sharmi Shah, Clairisse Whang, Emily Mayo; standing: Gayle Grant, Paul Silberquit, Roy Smith, Dennis Blazak, COL (R) Sam Fuoco, Gaetan Mangano
JSJSS Additional Awards (2018): Student Choice (paper) – Matt Dreyer for “Evolution of Phasic Cycles in Army Ants” Physical Sciences (1st Place) – Esha Shah of Colonia High School Mathematics & Computer Science (1st Place) – Michael Grantham of Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences Environmental Science (1st Place) – Lily Brouder of Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences Environmental Science (2nd Place) – Stephanie Shue of Bergen County Academies Environmental Science (3rd Place) – Rory Hogan of Toms River HS South Engineering & Technology (1st Place) – Sathya Edamadaka of High Technology High School Engineering & Technology (2nd Place) – Ankit Yande of Colonia High School Engineering & Technology (3rd Place) – Jai Yoon Chung of Tenafly High School Medicine & Health/Biomedical Sciences (1st Place) – Maximilan Eimbinder of Tenafly High School Medicine & Health/Biomedical Sciences (2nd Place) – Daphne Zhou of Tenafly High School Medicine & Health/Biomedical Sciences (3rd Place) – Zemei Zhou of Tenafly High School Most Outstanding Field Work Award – Jordyn Pagnozzi of Colonia High School Best Use of Photography Award – Rachael Staino of Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences Most Artistic Award – Janelle Jean-Louis of Toms River High School South Best Home-Based Scientist Award – Sean Huston of Toms River High School South Honorable Mentions: Alexis Meier of Toms River High School South Denia Diaz of Union City High School
JSJSS Volunteer Reviewers (2018):
Drexel University - Elizabeth Watson Food Safe Systems - Rich Ritota Georgian Court University - Jean Parry, Michelle Esposito Kean University - Carisa Davis, Lucas James Kirby, Nancy LeFleur, Lauren Mackey Lorentzen Monmouth County Division of Planning - Linda Brennen Monmouth University - Nikita Burrows, Tom Herrington, Dottie Lobo New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Lee Lippincott, Joel Pecchioli, Jorge Reyes New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium - Diana Burich, Jody Sackett Rowan College at Burlington County - Jennifer Rienzi Rutgers University - Nicole Fahrenfeld, Chris Free, Clayton Leadbettter, Mike Roswell Stockton University - Melanie Schroer, Adam Aguiar Union County College - Marie Muntes-Matias Stevens Institute of Technology - Amy Williams
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The JSHS is a highly accomplished Department of Defense National program that sets a standard for academic excellence. It connects researchers and educators located in university settings, government laboratories and private research centers with talented and motivated high school students and their teachers. Every year, more than 10,000 students participate in the forth-eight Regional Symposiums held on university campuses across the country including Alaska, and the Department of Defense, schools in Europe and the Pacific. Participating in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) program offers students and their teachers many benefits.