Jacob Trappett, left, and Elijah Griego, juniors at Cleveland High School, tested a recirculating shower system in an effort to minimize water waste in their project for the New Mexico State Science Fair. Courtesy photo.

Rio Rancho scholars had a strong showing when students from across the state of New Mexico – 73 senior high schoolers and 77 from middle schools – gathered for the 70th annual New Mexico State Science Fair on April 1 and 2 at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.

During the two-day competition, students presented papers and displayed information gleaned from their experiments on a wide variety of topics, covering animal and plant sciences; behavioral and social sciences; biology, biomedical and health science; chemistry; mathematics; engineering and transportation; environmental sciences; physics and astronomy; and computer science.

Their entries reflected current issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and mask wearing, to practical topics, such as the effectiveness of cleaning products and eliminating bacteria from toothbrushes. Project topics reflected students’ varied interests, from aviation and rocketry to music, cooking and pets.

Many students said they expected their participation in the science and engineering fair will help them discern their vocation.

Charlie Strauss, who works in bioscience at Los Alamos National Labs, has judged entries for the science and engineering competition for the past six years and said that the competition helps students develop the vitally important career skill of presenting their own work confidently. Every year, Strauss said, students’ ingenuity and talent never fail to impress him.

“Some (of the entries) are real simple, but potentially very important,” he said. “For a lot of the kids, they get so excited.”

Rio Rancho students who received awards are:

Senior Division

International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalists

  • 6th: Eliana Juarez, Cleveland High School

Title: Urban Ozone Forecasting and Policy Recommendations Through Photochemical Modeling and Machine Learning

 

Senior Category Awards

Senior Animal Science and Plant Science Awards

  • Honorable Mention: Samantha Shaver, Rio Rancho High School

Title: Removing Simulated Petrochemicals from Bird Feathers Using Natural Dish Soaps

 

Senior Environmental Sciences Awards

  • 1st Place: Eliana Juarez, Cleveland High School

Title: Urban Ozone Forecasting and Policy Recommendations Through Photochemical Modeling and Machine Learning

Special Awards:

American Chemical Society, Central New Mexico Section

  • Honorable Mention: $50: Itxel Barrera-Moncayo and Natasia Parris, Rio Rancho High School

Title: Using Acid to Speed Up Milk Curdling

 

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and The New Mexico Geological Society Excellence in Geosciences Award

  • Brooke Baeza, Rio Rancho High School

Title: Effect of Temperature on Soils’ Respiration

 

American Meteorological Society Award

  • Eliana Juarez, Cleveland High School

Title: Urban Ozone Forecasting and Policy Recommendations Through Photochemical Modeling and Machine Learning

 

New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering

  • Kailey McCann, The ASK Academy

Title: Comparing Lip Product Compositions Via Thin-Layer Chromatography

 

Climate Change New Mexico Award

  • Elijah Griego and Jacob Trappett, Cleveland High School

Title: Testing a Recirculating Shower System to Minimize Water Waste

 

NASA EARTH System Science Award

  • Eliana Juarez, Cleveland High School

Title: Urban Ozone Forecasting and Policy Recommendations Through Photochemical Modeling and Machine Learning

 

Office of Naval Research Awards

  • Samantha Shaver, Rio Rancho High School

Title: Removing Simulated Petrochemicals from Bird Feathers Using Natural Dish Soaps

 

Stockholm Jr Water Prize

  • Elijah Griego and Jacob Trappett, Cleveland High School

Title: Testing a Recirculating Shower System to Minimize Water Waste

 

United States Metric Association Award

  • Elijah Griego and Jacob Trappett, Cleveland High School

Title: Testing a Recirculating Shower System to Minimize Water Waste

 

Rex Robinson Award

  • Samantha Shaver, Rio Rancho High School

Title: Removing Simulated Petrochemicals from Bird Feathers Using Natural Dish Soaps

 

Vanetta Perry Award

  • Patience Martinez, The ASK Academy
    Title: Parasaurolophus’ Hooting Ontogeny

 

Junior Division Awards

Junior Grand Awards: Physical Sciences

  • 3rd place: Seviana Monforte, The ASK Academy

Title: Ultrasonic Code for the Blind

 

Junior Computer Science and Math Awards

  • 1st place: Seviana Monforte, The ASK Academy
    Title: Ultrasonic Code for the Blind

 

BROADCOM MASTERS Awards

All category first place winners:

  • Seviana Monforte, The ASK Academy

 

Junior Special Awards:

New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering Award

  • Seviana Monforte, The ASK Academy
    Title: Ultrasonic Code for the Blind

 

New Mexico AVS Science and Technology Society Award

  • 3rd Place, $100: Elias Copeland, The ASK Academy
    Title: The Effect of pH on the Corrosion of Industrial Metals

 

American Chemical Society Award, Central New Mexico Local Section

  • Honorable Mention, $50: Elias Copeland, The ASK Academy
    Title: The Effect of pH on the Corrosion of Industrial Metals