CLEVELAND — Months and months of research and experiments have come down to this, the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair.
300 projects from seventh to 12th grade students across our region. From tracking the weather to what structure can hold up in an earthquake, the entries span the biological and physical sciences. Students are tackling real world questions about the environment, artificial intelligence and more.
“They're doing research that are interest to them that are applicable to real life. So it's not just, you know, let's find out how the wind moves and things like that,” said NEOSEF President, Oanh Loi-Powell. “So that's just fascinating to me.”
“Now this might not look. Like much, but they could be the future of plastic,” explains Alishba Siddiqi, a 7th grader at Lake Ridge Academy, showing off her project.
How about paper made from invasive plant species to replace the use of plastics.
“The climate isn't going to get any better if we don't do anything about it,” said Siddiqi. “That's why I really want to encourage people to try making something, even if it might not seem a lot. It could be something big.”
Another big idea, using A.I. to determine what plants have diseases to prevent the loss of crops. In a handheld device called SmartFarm.
“My aim is to reduce the amount of food that's being wasted every single year because of crop diseases. Increasingly, we're going to end up needing more food as the population around the world continues to grow,” said Eashan Kosaraju, a 10th grader at Solon High School. “And so my aim is to reduce the amount of food that we're losing so that it's easier to meet the aim that we need.”
Not only did the students step up, so did local companies, over 200 professionals served as judges.
“I'm proud of the kids. I'm proud of the volunteers that, you know, offer up their time to professionals to hold it. And it's just thankful to the companies in Northeast Ohio that is are supporting us,” said Loi-Powell.
Multiple first place winners took home cash prizes. Five grand prize winners with represent Northeast Ohio in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angles in May. 18-hundred project from 80 countries.
“So, we know that we're doing science work that is comparable to the rest of the world. And it's just very fascinating to see how they do,” said Loi-Powell.
We would like to congratulate the five grand prize winners.
- John Anand - Home School
- Nathan Kalhan - Hawken High School
- Robbie Land - Mentor High School
- Tatyana Sowerby - Mentor High School
- Nina Van Zandweghe - Solon High School
Again, they will get an all-expenses paid trip to compete in Los Angles this coming May.