Eighth Annual

Science Research

Symposium

 

Margaretville

Central School

 

 

May 31, 2007

 

 

 

”What lies behind us

and what lies before us

are tiny matters

compared to what lies within us”

 

                                     Oliver Wendell Holmes                                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule for the Evening

 

 

7:00  Welcome - Opening Comments

         - Mr. Ken Meskill, Director

 

         Keynote Address

         - Investigator Rodney Westbrook

            New York State Police Troop C        

 

         Senior Presentation

         - Casey Moore

 

         Junior Presentation

         - Brandon LaBumbard

             

         Sophomore Introductions

 

         Honors and Closing Remarks

         - Mr. Ken Meskill

 

         Poster Session

         - We would like to invite you to join us for a   

            poster session hosted by the students.  Feel  

            free to explore their work and ask

            questions.     

         

            Please enjoy the refreshments.

 

 

 

Thank you for coming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview of the

Science Research Program

 

     After enrolling in the course, students begin to

explore, gather and summarize information on the topics they are most interested in.  During their sophomore year, students narrow down their topics until they have one they want to explore in depth and are hopefully

passionate about.  Students conduct online bibliographic searches for scientific literature, which they read and present to the class, furthering their knowledge on their topic of interest and the scientific method.  Students use every resource possible, such as authors cited, online searches and facility visits, to contact potential mentors and develop a working relationship with them.  This is a critical aspect of the course, with the goal of broadening the students’ opportunities, perspective and subsequent growth.

 

     Junior year is when students actively engage in

implementing their own original research with the

guidance of their mentors.  This includes defining and redefining a hypothesis, formulating goals and plans, setting timelines and conducting their formal research. 

 

     During their senior year, students complete and

finalize data collection, data analysis, results and their conclusions.  They then write and finalize their research paper.  Students enter competitions and submit their

papers for review and publication in an appropriate

scientific journal.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keynote Speaker

 

     Rodney Westbrook is an Investigator with the New York State Bureau of Criminal Justice, in the Forensic Identification Unit, New York State Police Troop C, based in Sydney, New York.  Prior to this he was a Police Officer for over 17 years, with 9 years experience processing crime scenes.  He is an expert in latent fingerprints with additional training in bloodstain pattern analysis and fire investigation. 

 

 

Casey Moore

 

     Casey is a senior in the Science Research class.  Casey’s research is titled “A Study of Prejudice Toward High School Student-Athletes.”  Over the past three years Casey has researched, designed and conducted a survey that investigates different attitudes that could possibly be held toward high school student-athletes.  These views could be either positive or negative.  His study looks at attitudes held by both students and teachers, and also looks at student and teacher attitude differences towards male student-athletes and female student-athletes.

      

 

 

      Honors and Accomplishments:

 

                      - RPI Medal

                      - Acceptance and Enrollment in RPI

                      - Elmira College Key Award

                      - 21 College Credits

                      - Soccer-1st team all-star, Captain

                      - Basketball-All-star team, Captain

                      - Senate President as Sr., VP as Jr.

 

 

Brandon LaBumbard

 

     Brandon is a junior in the Science Research Program. He has investigated wildlife related topics over the past two years but settled on wildlife management based on the public’s opinions. He has read many research papers dealing with wildlife management over the past few months. His research is designed to compare opinions related to wildlife held by people in rural and urban areas.  He will base his survey on one designed and conducted in 1999 by Douglas Reiter, Mark Brunson, and Robert Schmidt, all from Utah State University.

 

 

 

 

Kory Ancona

 

     Kory is currently a sophomore in the Science Research Program.  In the past she was studying the possibility of homosexual heredity, dreams and environmental engineering.  She decided that since she wanted to be some sort of environmental engineer in the future she would go down that path.  Her current investigation is in the field of Hybrid Fuel Cell

Systems of the Proton Exchange Membrane variety (PEMFC).  Kory is investigating the hydrogen specificities of the fuel compared to the efficiency of the membrane, PEM lifespan and variables affecting them.  She is also exploring the possibility of using the car itself to perform electrolysis with water right on the vehicle, thus removing the need for fueling stations, which is one of the factors preventing Hydrogen vehicles from hitting the commercial market.  She plans on working in a research facility over the summer to aid her studies and help her design a potential hypothesis.     

 

Brandi Balcom

 

     Brandi is currently a sophomore in the Science Research Program. She is currently investigating the difference in children’s (ages 4-6) imagination between urban and rural areas. Her tentative hypothesis is that children who live in rural areas will have a greater imagination than those children living in urban areas. To verify this hypothesis Brandi is exploring different methods of how imagination is measured. These include Barron Inkblots, Holtzman Inkblots, Imaginative Play Predisposition, Imaginative Training Procedure and the recording of the child’s physical movements, facial expressions, social interchanges, play equipment used, all verbalizations and the tone of voice.

 

 

Kaitlin Buerge

 

     Kaitlin is a sophomore in Science Research. When she entered the course she was interested in laughter, which included the reasons why people laugh, and the effects of laughter on stress and creativity. She is currently investigating the effects of having a sense of humor on creativity in adolescents. Her tentative hypothesis is that a sense of humor will have a positive effect on creativity in high school students. Currently, Kaitlin is reading research papers to deepen her understanding of the techniques used in measuring sense of humor and creativity.  She is also searching for a possible mentor to help in her research.

 

Holly MacDonald

 

     Holly is a sophomore. Near the beginning of the course, Holly was looking into bioluminescence in fish and sea life, Celtic culture and art, art therapy, and
psyconeuroimmunology or PNI. She is currently exploring the overall wellbeing of an artist based on studies showing a correlation between art and its affects on the body emotionally and physically, as well as studies that show personality differences of
artists and their association with traits of mental illnesses. In her future studies she hopes to establish a connection between the overall wellness of an artist being better then that of a non-artist.

 

 

 

Senior Comments

 

     Over the past three years I have found Science Research to be one of the most valuable classes that I have taken. I would like to thank Mr. Meskill along with the Administration and Board of Education for making this class available to students.  I would also like to thank my parents, Pat and Randy Moore, as well as the Science Research class and my teacher, Mr. Meskill, for their help and support in completing my research.

 

     Looking back on my time at Margaretville Central School my one regret is not pushing harder to bring more AP and college classes to our school.  As I enter the “real world” and start to compete against competitive students at a large university, I’m

realizing that I’m at a disadvantage. I have not taken as many college and AP classes, like AP Physics or Chemistry, as most other students entering RPI, the college I will be attending this fall.  From my experiences, I urge both underclassmen and even more importantly the parents of these underclassmen, to push for classes like AP Physics and Chemistry.

 

     Once again I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in the three years I have been a Science Research student.  Your help has been truly appreciated.

 

               Casey Moore

 

 

 

 

 

Science Research Sponsors

 

     Last year, the Science Research Class established a new Student Assistance Project.  All the equipment and money raised by the students help cover some of the expenses that their investigations may require.  This is in addition to the support the School Board

already provides.  These expenses may include special equipment, materials, travel, admission to conferences, workshops and special facilities, and professional membership fees. 

 

     These sponsors also support a small Scholarship Fund to help graduating Science Research students make the transition to college life after MCS.   

 

     Contributing sponsors this year are:

 

        - The Flour Patch and Ms. Kari Blish

 

        - Permacrete Home Services

 

        - Mr. Randy Moore and Mrs. Patricia Moore

 

        - Ms. Jen Rhoades

 

        - Mrs. Barbara Meskill and the Meskill  

           Family

 

     The generosity of the folks listed above opens a world of opportunities and experiences to the students of Science Research.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude.

 

Acknowledgements

 

     The students of the Science Research Program and Mr. Meskill extend their sincere appreciation to all of the following for their kind assistance and continued support:

   

 

     MCS Board of Education

     The Administration

     Mrs. Patricia Moore, Librarian

     Ms. Beth Johnson, Technology

     Mrs. Ceil Thomas

     Mrs. Teresa Goodchild, Office

     Mrs. Karen Deitrich, Office

     Mrs. Carol Norwich, Office

     Mr. Tom Rapin, Art

     Mr. George Redden, Science

     Mr. Alan Seidman, Science

     Mrs. Jen Leaver, Math

     Dr. Judi Warring, School Psychologist

     Mr. Gary Robeson, Guidance

     Dr. Dan Wulff, SUNY Albany

     Mr. Len Behr, SUNY Albany

     Ms. Valerie Holmes, Ossining High School

     Mrs. Joan Lawrence-Bauer, MARK Project

     Mrs. Kathleen Curley, Life Skills

     Ms. Jen Rhoades

     The Custodial Staff

     Ms. Kari Blish and the Flour Patch

     Science Research Sponsors

 

     The students also extend special thanks to their

parents, families, friends, teachers, coaches and

mentors for all their support and guidance.