Best Scientific Method winners Eleanor Philips, Emma Katz, Joanna Chen and Nicholas Berkowitz.
The sixth annual Cornell Science Challenge, a joint program of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences and the East Side Middle School in Manhattan, was held in Olin Hall Gym on April 8, with Dr. Max Gomez of WNBC-TV as a special guest.
Best Scientific Method runner-ups Sophia Brault, Matthew Goldenberg, Ana Bowens and Yan Zhen Lin.
The Cornell Science Challenge is a 12-week program that gives seventh-grade students from East Side Middle School the opportunity to be mentored by students and other volunteers from the Graduate School and Medical College; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and The Rockefeller University. Participating mentors include graduate students, research technicians, faculty members and postdoctoral fellows.
Best Presentation winners Andrew Bulkin, Chloe Rosenberg, Ladan Haji-Mohamed and Caroline Curtin.
From Jan. 13 to April 8, 28 mentors volunteered and made visits to East Side Middle School, located at P.S. 158 (York Avenue and 77th Street). The mentors worked with groups of four to five students (121 total), introducing them to the basics of the scientific method: hypothesis, experimentation and analysis. They also met with the seventh-graders after school and arranged visits to laboratories at Weill Cornell, The Rockefeller University, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Each group of students chose a research topic and hypothesis, and designed and conducted an experiment to test the hypothesis. Afterward, they collected and analyzed the data.
Most Creative winners Sarah Horn, Rebecca Arsham, Elena Bondolo, Brian Chan and Thomas Glickson.
"The Cornell Science Challenge is designed to give middle-school students hands-on experience with hypothesis-driven science—and, at the same time, have some fun," said Dr. Brian Turner, fellowships and outreach director for Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. "In the last six years, more than 800 middle-school students have participated. The program fills a huge need for improving the access to quality science education, in an enthusiastic and supportive environment."
Dr. Joel Pardee, associate dean of the Graduate School, acknowledged the hard work of the middle-school class' teacher, Alicia Pilgrim, and commented on how impressed he was with the accuracy and professionalism of the students' work.
Three junior judges, winners from last year's competition who are now eighth-graders, helped judge the competition along with graduate students. WNBC-TV's Dr. Max Gomez presented awards in various categories, which included Best Scientific Method, Best Presentation, Most Creative and the People's Choice Award.
2003 Cornell Science Challenge Topics and Winners
Best Scientific Method:
"Taste and Memory"
Nicholas Berkowitz
Joanna Chen
Emma Katz
Eleanor Philips
East Side Middle School students present and discuss their projects with fellow students, mentors and judges.
Best Scientific Method (Runner-Up):
"Colors on Plant Growth"
Ana Bowens
Sophia Brault
Matthew Goldenberg
Yan Zhen Lin
Most Creative:
"The Memory Maze"
Rebecca Arsham
Elena Brondolo
Brian Chan
Thomas Glickson
Sarah Horn
Most Creative (Runner-Up):
"Peer Influence"
Sophie Balis-Harris
Koh Kazama
Caroline Rutherford
Salvador Sapeg
Best Presentation:
"Getting to the Heart of Health"
Andrew Bulkin
Caroline Curtin
Ladan Haji-Mohamed
Chloe Rosenberg
Best Presentation, (Runner-Up):
"Mold, Mold, Mold"
Rebecca Avellino
Jessica Cannizzaro
Shahayra Hinojosa
Shane Janvrin
Nicole Parada
Junior Judge Award:
"Drama Queens and Tough Guys"
Sasha Diamond
Tierney Hamilton
Isabel Kagan
Caroline Mills
Jay Roche
People's Choice Award:
"How Good Is Your Pad?"
Dana Bakirtjy
Malik Houari
Katherine Kennedy
Isabella Soteldo
Neneh McKenzie, a seventh-grader, designed the "2003 Cornell Science Challenge" T-shirts.
Photos by Amelia Panico.