One Triangle student is digging into earth science research.
Desmen Andrew Boykin from Graham Park Middle School was recognized at the Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS) Research Symposium.
Held at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, the 78th annual event ran from May 21 to 23, according to a release from PWCS.
The middle school student won first place in the Ecology and Earth Science Category. He wrote “The Effect of Micro-Plastic Polymers on the Ficus Religiosa Bodhi Tree’s Shoot and Root systems.”
In addition, he earned the Dorothy Knowlton Award and was among the four students who received the American Junior Academy of Science top recognition.
The Ertel Thompson Memorial Endowment Award was presented to Desmen, as well.
Desmen was one of several students from Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) who took part in the symposium.
Students from Benton Middle School in Manassas and Colgan High School in Manassas also attended.
Below, is more information about the participants.
Benton Middle School students:
- Tony Bright, Arman Lateef, and Gabriel Ralston won first place in the Animal and Human Sciences category. They presented “To breathe or not to breathe: Can face masks diminish inhaled pollution and improve health outcomes in Drosophila melanogaster?”
- Max Sigrest placed second in the Engineering and Technology category. His research is called “Invisible Fence: #NotJustForDogs: The effect of subdividing an array of an 802.11ac SOHO Router on the ability to localize a mobile device.”
- Fares Elsherbiny and Caleb Morgan won second place in the Human Behavior for their research, which is titled “Fidget Wars: The effect of fidget toys on the concentration of school-age children.”
- Shan Lateef, a former Benton Middle School student and a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, received first place in the Medicine and Health category for the high school division. He also won a Best of Symposium award.
Colgan High School students:
- Nicholas Morgan and Malak Elsherbiny discussed their research, which they called “The Effect of Magnets on Plant Growth Rate and Size.”
