Katahdin students present research findings at science symposium

By Rowena Harvey
Special to the Pioneer Times
     The Chemistry II students of Katahdin Middle and High School presented an overview of their year-long research project at a science symposium called Thinking Matters. This conference, held at the University of Southern Maine, on April 30, gave these high school students an opportunity to display their project alongside projects of other high school students, college graduate students, and post-graduate students.
Contributed Photo
YOUNG SCIENTISTS — Chemistry students from Katahdin Middle and High School presented their findings at a University of Southern Maine symposium. From left, they are: Damien Smith, Melissa Duffy, Kali Rush, Georgia Qualey, Levi Robinson, Melinda Irish, Hana Charette, Shelbe Lane and Kaleb Moore.
     Dawn Pray, science teacher at Katahdin Middle and High School, who was in attendance for the students’ presentation, said, “It is exciting to see our students collaborate and excel at the college level.  They did a wonderful job and I am very proud of their accomplishments.”
     The students, all high school seniors, have been working on a year-long research project, in collaboration with graduate students and professors from the University of Southern Maine (USM). This collaboration was made possible through a program called Science Corps which is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
    The Thinking Matters symposium consisted of a poster session in the morning, where student work is displayed for viewing by the public. Students are present to answer questions about their project as people move throughout the USM field house. The afternoon portion of the symposium is scheduled for oral presentations. The high school students present an overview of their research to other high school students in attendance. Each student group has a PowerPoint presentation to accompany their oral presentation.
    “I learned much from the research aspect but I found the presentation was the biggest learning experience for me,” explained student Kali Rush.
    Student Hana Charette said: “It was great to have the opportunity to interact with our peers and to carry out such a project. This project taught us to go beyond the classroom setting and to learn and to think in new ways. How many 17-year and 18-year-olds have the opportunity to be recognized and to be published as researchers? It is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
    Student Melinda Irish said: “Science Corps gave us the opportunity to think above and beyond the regular high school curriculum, to broaden our horizons and to explore the world of science at different levels.”
    Katahdin’s students, following up on last year’s research project, were researching the possibility of extremeophile microbial life forms that may be able to survive on Mount Chase, located in northern Penobscot County. During the 1970s studies were done on the geology and mineral availability of this area. It was determined at that time that the soil contained unusually large amounts of sulfur, as well as other minerals such as gold, silver, copper and zinc. No mining has ever taken place on this mountain but it still holds interest to scientists as they research forms of life that are able to exist in extreme environmental conditions.
    “I thought our project was very interesting because we were studying a place that is in our own backyard,” explained student Melissa Duffy. “Although we didn’t discover a new type of life form, we started research that could be carried on in future studies.” Shelbe Lane, also a student on the project added:  “We were able to conduct research that most high school students are never able to experience.”
    The students were able to identify one species of bacteria from their research on Mount Chase. This acidophilic bacterium is tolerant of high levels of acidity in the soil but can also survive in soils with a normal pH. The same acidophilic bacterium was also identified from the control site located behind the high school in Stacyville.
    The students that participated in this project were: Hana Charette, Melissa Duffy, Melinda Irish, Shelbe Lane, Kaleb Moore, Georgia Qualey, Levi Robinson, Kali Rush and Damien Smith.
    All of these students plan on attending college in the fall, with most going on in some science-related field. This year-long research project has given the students the opportunity to work as scientists. The students, through this project, have had the opportunity to network with college professors and graduate students. And, they have gained exposure to new technologies and equipment. It was an exciting opportunity for all involved.