Four Canyons District students claimed first-place prizes at the University of Utah Science & Engineering Fair, including Grand Champion Winner Alexander Cheng of Hillcrest High who now advances to the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pennsylvania.
The Utah fair, sponsored by the U.’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education, draws hundreds of students from throughout Utah, most of whom had to win a District-level competition in order to qualify. Contestants competed for tens-of-thousands of dollars in college scholarships at the University of Utah’s Rice Eccles Stadium. This year’s awards ceremony was held at Alta High.
A total of 30 CSD students placed at the state fair, including the four first-place winners. An additional 10 students won special sponsored awards. The winners are:
FIRST PLACE:
Energy: Chemical & Physical – Andrew Carlton, Alta High, “What is the Ideal Ratio of Magnetism and Weight on a Simple Electric Train?”
Earth & Environmental Sciences – Wensen Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Prediction of Hurricanes Using Neural Networks”
Intel ISEF Grand Champion Winners – Alexander Cheng, Hillcrest High, “Automatic Detection of Intravitreal Neovascularization in Retinal Flat Mount Images Using Deep Learning Methods”
Physics, Astronomy & Math – Catherine Ma, Peruvian Park Elementary, “On Which Surface Does Ice Melt the Fastest?”
SECOND PLACE:
Engineering: Materials & Biomedical – Alexander Cheng, Hillcrest High, “Automatic Detection of Intravitreal Neovascularization in Retinal Flat Mount Images Using Deep Learning Methods.”
Energy: Chemical & Physical – Sarah Hunter, Albion Middle, “School Efficiency is Key.”
Chemistry – Isolde Flynn, Granite Elementary, “To Egg or not to Egg.”
Engineering: Mechanical – Eric Snaufer, Midvale Middle, “A New Guard: Evaluating Drone Propeller Guards”
THIRD PLACE:
Chemistry – Parker McKay Alta High, “The Correlation Between Brand of Painkillers and Speed of Capsule Breakage”
Medicine & Health Sciences – Sai Parsawar, Hillcrest High, “MS of MS: An Innovative Investigation of the Quantitative and Qualitative CSF Proteome of Multiple Sclerosis Patients using Bruker maXis II ETD Mass Spectrometry”
FOURTH PLACE:
Physics, Astronomy & Math – Emma Howard, Alta High, “Diamagnetism in Salt Water”
Engineering: Electrical & Computer Science – Wentao Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Evaluation of Encryption Algorithms”
Engineering: Materials & Biomedical – Matthew Simmons, Midvale Middle, “Design of Quick Sweat Test for Cystic Fibrosis”
Engineering: Mechanical – Marianne Liu, Midvale Middle, “Bad Hair Day”
HONORABLE MENTION:
Behavioral & Social Sciences – Teagan Kay, Albion Middle, “Swim Caps – Do They Work?”
Biology & Biochemistry – Hayden Carter East Midvale Elementary, “Oh no! My Jello won’t jiggle! Using science to fight pineapple power!”
Chemistry – Analena Jacob, Butler Middle, “Effects of Different Amounts of Lotion on Slime”
Chemistry – Nathan Liew, Sunrise Elementary, “Sun Prints”
Energy: Chemical & Physical – Kira Pittman & Lincoln Zacharias, Granite Elementary, “Friction (and how weight effects it)”
Engineering: Civil & Environmental – Johnathan Rowley, Canyon View Elementary, “Which Playground Surface Breaks the Most Bones”
Medicine & Health Sciences – William Rogers & Tobin Hansen, Brookwood Elementary, “Swimming vs. Soccer”
SPECIAL AWARDS:
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – Eric Snaufer, Midvale Middle, “A New Guard : Evaluating Drone Propeller Guards”
American Meteorological Society – Wensen Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Prediction of Hurricanes Using Neural Networks”
American Society of Civil Engineers – Honorable Mention, Eric Chen, Midvale Middle, “A Comparison of Material Effectiveness in Preventing Ice Formation on Roads”
ASU Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives – Wensen Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Prediction of Hurricanes Using Neural Networks”
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Wensen Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Prediction of Hurricanes Using Neural Networks”
RecursionPharma Discovery Award – Sai Parsawar, Hillcrest High, “MS of MS: An Innovative Investigation of the Quantitative and Qualitative CSF Proteome of Multiple Sclerosis Patients using Bruker maXis II ETD Mass Spectrometry”
Society of Women Engineers – Marianne Liu, Midvale Middle, “Bad Hair Day”
U.S. Navy – Wensen Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Prediction of Hurricanes Using Neural Networks”
Director’s Award – Sai Parsawar, Hillcrest High, “MS of MS: An Innovative Investigation of the Quantitative and Qualitative CSF Proteome of Multiple Sclerosis Patients using Bruker maXis II ETD Mass Spectrometry”
Genius Olympiad – Wensen Zhang, Hillcrest High, “Prediction of Hurricanes Using Neural Networks”
