Saturday, June 14, 2025
Budding scientists from South Side High School put their research skills to the test at the school’s annual science fair, an event designed to ignite a passion for STEM in younger students.
This year’s fair featured all ninth-grade students and select 10th-grade chemistry students. Under the guidance of their teachers, students conducted experiments or wrote research papers exploring a wide range of scientific topics, from plant growth to paint pigments to biopolymers.
“The goal is to expose our younger students to the research process, to try to pique interest in science research as a concept,” Patrick Walsh, South Side High principal, said. “It helps them develop critical thinking, problem-solving and writing skills in the STEM fields.”
Student projects were evaluated by a panel of teachers using a standardized rubric, and winners were announced across several categories at the April 28 fair.
Living Environment Winners
First Place: Christina Thangavelu, Julianna Bragino and Olivia Bragino — “The Effects of Recyclable Materials on Plant Growth”
Second Place: Daphne Thorne — “The Effect of Various Sugars on Sourdough Yeast Development”
Third Place: Elyse Rodriguez and Lila Termini — “The Effects of Preservatives on French Fries”
Chemistry Winners
First Place: Darcy Behan, Danielle Lu and Madeline Rich — “How Does the Molecular Structure of Pigments Affect the Rate at Which They Separate from Paint?”
Second Place: Natalie Cammalleri, Adelaide Fox and Lyla Murphy — “What is the Effect of Acidic Beverages on Tooth Enamel?”
Third Place: Anthony Martinez, Jadyn Bereny Morales and Jayden Nunez Bodden — “How Do Fresh and Canned Pineapples Affect Gelatin Setting Due to the Enzymes in Pineapple?”
Science Research Skills 1 Winners
First Place: Basim Jamal, Evangelos Markou and Casey Testa — “Can Capsaicin and Honey Help Battle Bacterial Diseases?”
Second Place: Dila Kalem and Cassidy Morris — “How Does Air Quality Measure Before and After Different Air Filtration Treatments?”
Science Research Skills 2 Winners
First Place: Christian Chan — “Nature’s Glue: Stabilizing Soil with Bacterial Biopolymers”
Second Place: Eric Greene — “Creating a Diagnostic Tool for Parkinson’s Disease Using a KNN Algorithm”
The Science Fair is a cornerstone of the school’s efforts to build a strong foundation in STEM education, encouraging students to think critically, ask questions and explore the world through a scientific lens.
