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| Illinois Junior Science
and Humanities Symposium
2007 in Review
The 29th Annual Illinois Junior Science & Humanities Symposium was held on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale March 25-27, 2007. The program is made possible through the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, The Academy of Applied Science, and the College of Science at SIUC.
SIUC faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students, Air Force and Army ROTC officers and cadets, as well as student organizations, Illinois JSHS alumni, and external agencies volunteered their time and resources in assistance of the program.
Participating campus programs and units included: Aerospace Studies (AFROTC); Alpha Chi Sigma; Army Military Science (ROTC); Center for Archaeological Investigations; Coal Research Center; College of Agricultural Sciences; College of Business and Administration; College of Engineering; College of Liberal Arts; Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory; Fisheries & Illinois Aquaculture Center; Intercollegiate Athletics; Library Affairs; Microbiology Student Organization; Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Epsilon Kappa Chapter; Recreational Sports & Services; Rehabilitation Institute; SIU Alumni Association; SIU School of Medicine; Undergraduate Admissions; University Bookstore; University Housing; Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research; and Zoology Graduate Student Association.
Outside program support was provided by Pepsi MidAmerica, 710 Bookstore, and Southern Illinois Healthcare - Carbondale.
Eighteen teachers, 4 guests, and 73 students (95 total) attended the 2007 Illinois JSHS program, representing 18 schools (5 Northern, 6 Central, 7 Southern) from 15 counties across the state. This year's participating schools included:
- Aledo High School, Aledo, IL
- Carbondale Community High School, Carbondale, IL
- Carstens School, Marion, IL
- Carterville High School, Carterville, IL
- DuQuoin High School, DuQuoin, IL
- Elverado High School, Elkville, IL
- Freeburg Community High School, Freeburg, IL
- Grant Park High School, Grant Park, IL
- Hamilton High School, Hamilton, IL
- Herrin High School, Herrin, IL
- Libertyville High School, Libertyville, IL
- Naperville Central High School, Naperville, IL
- Okaw Valley High School, Bethany, IL
- Rochester High School, Rochester, IL
- St. Bede Academy, Peru, IL
- St. Teresa High School, Decatur, IL
- University High School, Normal, IL
- Villa Grove High School, Villa Grove, IL
The keynote presentation, "Global Change: Climate, Sea Level, and the Antarctic," was delivered by Dr. Scott E. Ishman, Associate Professor of Geology, College of Science.
The banquet presentation, "Raptor Awareness ," was delivered by World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, Missouri .
All presenters received Illinois JSHS medals at the banquet at Giant City State Lodge.
Young scientists and their teachers visited the laboratories of SIUC researchers to participate in hands-on activities and learn about ongoing research efforts.
The event is one of 48 such symposia conducted nationwide. Five finalists and alternates from the IJSHS research paper presentations were extended the opportunity of expense-paid trips to participate in the 45th National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, May 2-6, 2007, in Huntsville, AL, in cooperation with the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) on Redstone Arsenal and the Greater Huntsville area scientific community. Those who attended the national symposium included Linda Martin, director of the statewide IJSHS event and assistant dean of the SIUC College of Science, teacher Mrs. Judy Martinko of Carbondale, and high students Vivek Raman of Libertyville, Aparna Ramakrishnan of Naperville, and Xinxin Zhang, Jason Bartholomew, Khrysta Dunkel of Carbondale.
Here are those who competed in the paper session at the regional competition, listed alphabetically. Entries also include information about their high schools, teacher, regional finish, and science research topics.
Jason Bartholomew: Carbondale Community High School, Mrs. Judy Martinko, 4th place paper, "Use of Genetic Modification for Analyzing Shoaling Behavior in Zebrafish."
Khrysta Dunkel: Carbondale Community High School, Mrs. Judy Martinko, alternate 5th place attendee at National, "The Effects of Acid Rain and Soil Liming on Corn Plant Growth."
Michael Gnidovec: St. Bede Academy, Br. Luke McLachlan, "Aminophthalyhydrazid: What the Naked Eye Cannot See."
Aparna Ramakrishnan: Naperville Central High School, Ms. Katherine Seguino, 2nd place paper, "The Effects of Configural and Elemental Properties on Odor Mixture Perception."
Vivek Raman: Libertyville High School, Mr. Kurt Anderson, 1st place paper, "Biotinylation Turnover Assay of the A33 Antigen."
Elizabeth Spector: Carbondale Community High School, Mrs. Judy Martinko, 5th place paper, "A New Way to Count ."
Xinxin Zhang: Carbondale Community High School, 3rd place paper, "The Effects of Time of Day and Gender on Students’ Response to a Modified Stroop Task."
A closer look at those who presented posters at the regional, listed alphabetically, along with their high schools, teacher, and science research topics:
Katie Brower and Brett Graham, Hamilton High School, Mr. Darwin Smith, "The Relationship of Barometric Pressure and Energy of Muon Decay."
Melissa Cornwell, Villa Grove High School, Ms. Alissa Cohorst & Mrs. Aubrey Wachtel, "The Evaluation of the Effects of Rainfall on Nitrate Content in Private Well Water."
McKenzie Falker, Herrin High School, Mr. Peter Rose, "Identifying and Sequencing New Genes in the Butterfly Species."
Matthew Gordon, Freeburg Community High School, Mr. Thomas Range, "Impact of pH Levels on Grass Growth."
Alexandra Lakshmanan, St. Teresa High School, Mrs. Barbara Gottemoller, "Connections between Aspects of Visual Perception, Personality, and Other Characteristics."
Abigail Lutz, St. Teresa High School, "The Effects of Handwashing on Health."
Jacob Martin, Herrin High School, Mr. Peter Rose, "The Effects of Water Quality on the Longevity of Captive Medusa Craspedacusta sowerbii."
Hyun Yoon, St. Teresa High School, Mrs. Barbara Gottemoller, "Alternation of Nitrate Concentration in Relation with Common Plant Species."
Khrysta Dunkel, Elizabeth Spector, and Xinxin Zhang also presented their research at the poster session. Khrysta won best poster-biological, and Elizabeth won best poster-non biological.
Vivek Raman of Libertyville High School won the regional competition and received a $2,000 undergraduate tuition scholarship, Aparna Ramakrishnan of Naperville Central High School placed 2nd and received a $1,500 undergraduate tuition scholarship, Xinxin Zhang of Carbondale Community High School placed 3rd. The scholarships are provided through funding from the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Vivek and Aparna presented their papers and competed at the National JSHS.
Mr. Kurt Anderson , Vivek's sponsoring teacher, received a $500 Faculty Award, honoring his contributions to advancing student participation in research.
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