23rd Annual Science and Engineering Fair Recap

MVRHS hosted its 23rd Annual Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday March 19th. Sixteen investigative and engineering projects were scored by nineteen judges from a wide selection of Island organizations. Twenty four Physics students in ten teams also competed in a wind turbine challenge.

MVRHS is so grateful for the community support from judges and our sponsors Tisbury Waterways, Inc. Marine & Paleobiological Research Institute, Lagoon Pond Association, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Island Grown Initiative, Vineyard Conservation Society, Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, Vineyard Power, MV Surfcasters Association, The Munn Family and Louis Paciello and Great Harbor Market for delicious food.

In addition Jessie Dlabaj and Lily Sebastian, Daniel Serpa, Caroline Kelleher and Maia Donnelly competed in the Region V Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair, held virtually on March 5th. Jessie Dlabaj and Lily Sebastian and Maia Donnelly will be competing in the State Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair on May 5th and 6th. To view photos of the fair, click here.

Results

Grand Prize: The Dr. James H. Porter/Tisbury Waterway Inc, Award
Huck Moore
Removing CO₂ in seawater through electrical charges
To reduce ocean acidification, a design would be constructed that would involve sending an electrical charge being sent through a tub of sea water turning the CO2 mixed in it into calcium carbonate.

*MVRHS Sophomore Huck Moore took home first prize*

1st Place Investigative
Maia Donnelly
An Investigation Into the Effect of Activated Charcoal and Hydrogen Peroxide on Polluted Water Samples at Different Time Intervals
I’m testing the effect of activated charcoal on copper and lead concentrations in polluted water and the effect of hydrogen peroxide on sterilizing microorganisms in said polluted water.

2nd Place Investigative
Daniel Serpa
Constructing Straw Insulation as an Alternative to Harmful Polystyrene
The use of straw as an alternative for polystyrene in shipping materials was studied throughout this simulation. Polystyrene is a plastic substance that is environmentally harmful. The use of straw is more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Straw pallets were crafted using three molds along with an adhesive. Raw chicken, frozen overnight, was then placed within the straw pallets and a polystyrene container. Their initial and final temperatures were taken over a two day span.

3rd Place Investigative
Edward Cherry
How Rising Sea Surface Temperatures in the Cape Cod Bay Impact the Cold Stunning Phenomenon on Loggerhead Turtles
This project is an attempt to prove a correlation between rising SST of the Cape Cod Bay over the past years and the numbers of local Cold-stunned Loggerheads.

1st Place Engineering
Kinley Rinzin
Metal Cutting Ring Protector
A metal protector ring that helps cut vegetables, fruits, and meat faster. And also with high level of safety and comfort. Small and compact.

2nd Place Engineering
Jacob Riis
SEAsaw Upweller Scaled-down Prototype
Existing upwellers (for growing oysters) pump water over oyster spat. My design moves oyster spat through water to optimize feeding without need for power.

3rd Place Engineering
Clara Cabral
Kayla Dow
Recycled Reversible Clothing
Clothing that can be worn during hot & colder days, just reverse. Using recycled clothing can help eliminate clothing waste.

Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation Award
Daniel Serpa
Constructing Straw Insulation as an Alternative to Harmful Polystyrene
The use of straw as an alternative for polystyrene in shipping materials was studied throughout this simulation. Polystyrene is a plastic substance that is environmentally harmful. The use of straw is more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Straw pallets were crafted using three molds along with an adhesive. Raw chicken, frozen overnight, was then placed within the straw pallets and a polystyrene container. Their initial and final temperatures were taken over a two day span.

The Island Grown Initiative Award
Aidan Ziegenhorn
Effects of Soil Acidity on plants
An experiment of how the acidity of soil affects the growth of sugar pea plants.

The Marine and Paleobiological Research Institute (MRPI) Award
Jessie Dlabaj and Lily Sebastian
Testing MV Ticks for Borrelia and Babesia Microti
We are testing Martha’s Vineyard deer ticks for Lyme Disease and Babesiosis and determining infection rates of each disease.

Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association Award
Jacob Riis
SEAsaw Upweller Scaled-down Prototype
Existing upwellers (for growing oysters) pump water over oyster spat. My design moves oyster spat through water to optimize feeding without need for power.

Sustainability Award sponsored by The Munn Family
Clara Cabral and Kayla Dow
Recycled Reversible Clothing
Clothing that can be worn during hot & colder days, just reverse. Using recycled clothing can help eliminate clothing waste.

Lagoon Pond Association Award
Quinlan Slavin
The effect of carbon dioxide on the pH of seawater
In this experiment I wanted to explore how the increase of CO₂ in our atmosphere will affect the acidity of our oceans.

Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group Award
Huck Moore
Removing CO₂ in seawater through electrical charges
To reduce ocean acidification, a design would be constructed that would involve sending an electrical charge being sent through a tub of sea water turning the CO2 mixed in it into calcium carbonate.

Earth Science Award
Jacksun Engler
Farming In today’s world
My project tests if that ancestral island fertilizers techniques offer a better and safer alternative to man-made chemical fertilizers.

Biology Award
Zachary Utz
The Effects of Antibiotics on Beneficial Gut Bacteria
This project tested the antibiotic resistance of probiotic bacteria in comparison of two other bacterial strains using penicillin and ampicillin.

Physics Award
Lily Moran and Laiza Miller
Healthy Frozen Snack Alternative
We are conducting this design to help satisfy people’s sweet tooth without all the extra unwanted ingredients like sugar and carbs. Along with our possible target audience, which are elderly and children. We want to make a uniform composition among all our recipes just with different tastes. We want to balance the ratio of ingredients in our popsicles to liquid so that they are able to freeze and thaw well.

Chemistry Award
Owen Kiernan
Ocean Acidity
Testing the effect of different pH levels on shells over the course of multiple days.

Technology Award
Brook Ward and Violet MacPhail
Engineering a Natural and Plant-Based Fabric Dye
The goal of this project is to create a natural, vibrant, and long-lasting fabric dye made from local plants. The dye will be made by natural ingredients in attempt to make clothes more colorful and environmentally safe than clothes with non-natural dyes.

Wind Turbine Results

Direct Drive Turbines: