Falmouth Academy sent fourteen students and thirteen projects to the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair held on May 4 and 5 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and brought home top awards.
A first place went to junior Emma Keeler ‘19 of Rochester for her project, “Bioprospecting for Benthic Fungi and Their Bactericidal Antibiotics.” She also received the Applied Biomath Award, the Naval Science Award, and is an alternate to the Harvard Summer Secondary Program. Emma will compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, PA next week where over 77 countries will be represented and more than $5 million in scholarships and prizes will be awarded.
Grace Russell ‘19 of Mattapoisett was awarded an Honorable Mention for her project, “The Effect of Lowered Oxygen Levels on Hermit Crab Behavior.”
Having the opportunity to present scholarly scientific work teaches students to engage in the pursuit of authentic knowledge, in-depth experimentation, and thoughtful analysis. All Falmouth Academy students in Grades 7 through 11 conduct original independent scientific research and take part in the Falmouth Academy Science and Engineering Fair, now in its 30th year. Seniors can opt to participate and this year, three competed at the state level.