A total of 22 students from the Midland Independent School District (MISD) have secured spots in the upcoming State Science Fair following their performances at the regional event held at the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) earlier this month. Among the qualifiers, 16 students are from Carver Center while six are from the Young Women's Leadership Academy (YWLA).
To qualify for the State Science Fair, these students — spanning sixth to eighth grades — earned first- or second-place recognitions in their respective categories at the regional competition. The Carver students, all in sixth grade, and YWLA students in seventh and eighth grade, showcased their scientific experiments.
"The State Science Fair is something we prepare for year-round," said Carver Center science teacher Leesha Seidel in a MISD release. "Our sixth graders know that this is their chance to compete in the Science Fair, and they want to get started on their projects on the very first day!"
According to a release from MISD, Carver Center students have established a track record of success at the State Science Fair, having earned nearly $1 million in scholarships over the past decade.
Eva Estrada, one of the students advancing to the State Science Fair, investigated a rare but increasingly common allergic syndrome known as Alpha Gal. Alpha Gal can trigger severe allergic reactions to mammal meat. Estrada's research led her to believe that certain forms of acupuncture could be effective in treating this syndrome. Estrada's project also played a role in diagnosing her uncle with the syndrome after he experienced symptoms.
Briley Michew chose sports science for her project, specifically softball pitching accuracy. Michew is a softball player and she tested the precision of practice and game-used softballs, revealing a discrepancy in accuracy. Investigating potential causes, including differences in the makeup of the softballs, Michew plans to share her findings with softball coaches at Midland High School, where she aspires to compete in the future.
Kecia Bajaj's project involved the incident involving the Titan submarine, offering insights into its collapse and potential preventive measures. Through experimentation with varying models as well as water temperatures and depths, Bajaj identified the construction materials of the submarine's hull as a critical factor contributing to its implosion.
The State Competition is scheduled for March 23 in College Station.