By Larissa Belova

The author acknowledges contributions of Karen Chien, Natasha Wadlington, and Susan Meschel.

AWIS Chicago Chapter awarded 5 Special Awards to middle to high school female students during the 2014 Chicago Public School Student Science Fair that took place at the Museum of Science and Industry on March 20-23, 2014. Seven AWIS members, who donated their time and expertise as judges, reviewed 190 exhibits from scientific categories ranging from Aerospace Science to Zoology. Judges evaluated scientific merit of presentations, thoroughness of research approach, and in-depths understanding of studied topics demonstrated during presentations.

The 64th Annual Citywide Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair took place at the Museum of Science and Industry on March 20-23, 2014. Approximately 300 participants selected from 11 Regional Science Fairs exhibited at this three-day event. In addition to the exhibition, the fair also hosted the CPS Student Science Symposium and the Illinois Junior Academy of Sciences (IJAS) Essay Contests. Approximately 50 students participated in the exhibition and 25 research paper presentations were selected to attend the IJAS State Science Fair, which will take place on May 2-3, 2014 at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Four top-scoring students from the CPS Student Science Fair will participate at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, California, on May 11-16, 2014.
This year approximately 300 judges from the scientific, academic, and business communities generously donated their time, efforts, and expertise to evaluate the most scientifically talented students from the Chicago Public Schools. In addition, around 70 Special Awards from individuals, industry, educational organizations, and professional societies were awarded to outstanding exhibitors. Celebrating Women’s History Month in March, the Chicago Chapter of the Association for Women in Sciences (AWIS) summoned volunteer judges to recognize 5 exhibits in various STEM sciences made by girls. Susan Meschel, Natasha Wadlington, Marla Issac, Kayla Chase, Kathleen Filetti-Shapiro, Larissa Belova, and Karen Chien reviewed about 190 exhibits from scientific categories ranging from Aerospace Science to Zoology. Judges evaluated scientific merit of presentations, thoroughness of research approach, and in-depths understanding of studied topics demonstrated during presentations. Every judge came up with 2-3 contenders that competed for 5 awards. Let’s have a look at the most striking research projects our judges described in their reports.
The exhibits on biochemistry that Nathasha Wadlington, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago, reviewed “broke down into three categories: projects that were picked for girls, projects where outside resources were utilized fully, and those that were home based.” In each category Natasha found outstanding projects. One student who performed a project on photosynthesis “understood the value of learning how to do the scientific process.” Although the topic of the study wasn’t directly related to her interests, involvement into the project made the student “very determined to go into sustainability and engineering or bioengineering to improve the quality of life and greenness of Chicago”. Natasha could relate to this student’s experience as her own research career, which started with projects Natasha was not very interested in, led her to earning a PhD degree and pursuing postgraduate studies of Parkinson’s disease. Natasha believes that exposure to the research process builds up character and shapes career goals.
Similar character building Karen Chien, a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, saw in an exhibit of “a 7th grader who had very little guidance from her teacher, saying that all she was told was ‘to write something up for Science Fair, following these guidelines from a packet’”. Concerned with lead in common household items and its toxic effect on child development, the student undertook independent research aimed at testing candy along with pet and children’s toys for lead content. While the toys came out negative, one kind of Mexican candy turned out to be lead-positive. Surprised by her finding, the student “looked in the newspapers and found that there had been a recall of all toys with lead and [the student] used that [fact] to explain her results”. The student also found that a candy manufacturer likely introduced lead into the candy “due to processing and manufacturing of the wrapper and food products”. Karen reports further that she “was impressed by [student’s] independent forward thinking and open mindedness to learn and explore before making decisions.”
The title of the 2014 Student Science Fair was “Bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Home”. The overwhelming majority of student exhibits were relevant and beneficial to our society, city, businesses, and community needs. Susan Meschel, a research scientist from the University of Chicago, was impressed with one of the best exhibits in the Mathematics category, she has seen in years. The project undertook market forecast analysis of Apple and Samsung products. The student used statistical methods to analyze the smaller market of expensive (technically advanced) devices versus the larger market of cheaper (less technically advanced) devices. This exhibit was one of many presentations in the Mathematics category from Payton High School, outnumbering all other schools. All the AWIS judges agreed that the author of the exhibit, Margaret Young, holds promise as a talented mathematician and therefore decided to encourage her in pursuing a scientific career by giving the AWIS Chicago Chapter award. Bravo to Payton HS for brining young female scientists into mathematics, one of few STEM sciences where females are still underrepresented.
Social awareness was seen in many projects from other scientific categories such as those exhibits concerned with the quality of food. Students from 6 to 12 grades tried to investigate the link between the food quality and human health. Natasha Wadlington reports that she was impressed by “a middle school girl who noticed a huge problem with diabetes in our country and asked a simple question of whether food we eat at home (versus) in fast food restaurants made an impact on sugar intake”. The student took an effort to develop a procedure to test sugar content in homemade and fast food milkshakes and smoothies. “It was a simple test, Natasha says, but with a broad impact”. The student learned from her project that even a small lifestyle change could improve one’s condition. However, the learning process did not stop here. Hearing that Natasha is a researcher herself, the student asked for feedback on her experimental design. “That signaled to me, Natasha continues, that she understood, at least at some level, that scientists work as a community, asking questions and getting feedback from each other in order to understand and perhaps solve a greater problem”. This student, one of the many our judges met at the 2014 Student Science Fair, embodied characteristics of a true scientist: the inquisitive scientific mind trying to apply scientific approaches in collaboration with other scientists to resolve issues relevant to the society at large.
The AWIS Chicago Chapter judges debated over candidates, pondering many factors and listening each other’s arguments. However, there was one thing they unanimously agreed upon: a wish that there were more awards that AWIS Chicago Chapter could offer because there were so many talented girls deeply involved in science and willing to pursue a research career. Recognizing that the winner list can easily be double in size, the judges finalized the following five awardees:

Isabel Raymundo, Lindblom HS; Computer Science
Connie Martinez, Juarez HS; Microbiology
Maya Gorman, Bell; Biochemistry
Margaret Young, Payton HS; Mathematics
Veronica Garklavs, Newberry; Chemistry

The girls at the 2014 Student Science Fair showed so much potential that it was rewarding to meet and communicate with them. One thought kept coming to mind: these girls are like us many years back. The thought naturally led to another: there was someone back then who has encouraged and supported our scientific aspirations, spurring us on to our scientific careers. Seven AWIS Chicago Chapter judges told girls that they are talented young scientists with great potential in STEM sciences. Seven ladies, whose careers once have started with a science class or school science fair, continued the legacy of female scientists by awarding the AWIS Chicago Chapter awards.
The local AWIS chapter participates in the Student Science Fair judging process for many years. A call for volunteers is placed through the chapter’s newsletter and other media outlets. Consider giving your time and expertise at the 2015 Student Science Fair by being the AWIS Chicago Chapter Special Award judge. The more judges perform the review process, more effective and thorough the process can be. If there are enough judges, for example, the review process can be performed in two-steps: the initial selection of award candidates by individual judges followed by the second-round review by a panel of judges. AWIS Chicago Chapter continues the important tradition of encouraging girls to enter STEM fields. The 2015 Student Science Fair will take place at the end of March next year. Look out for further AWIS Chicago Chapter communications and mark your calendars!