Students from Los Alamos Public Schools showcased their talent and dedication to scientific inquiry at the 2024 New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro. A total of 19 students from Los Alamos Public Schools attended the fair and represented their school district with pride.
Among the participants, Helena Welch and Tate Plohr qualified to represent their school at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, CA in May. Several students from Los Alamos Public Schools received awards across various categories in the Junior and Senior Divisions.
In the Junior Division, students from Los Alamos Public Schools received awards in categories such as Animal Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics & Astronomy, and Systems & Software. Special awards were also given to students for their outstanding achievements.
In the Senior Division, students from Los Alamos High School received awards in Mathematics and Physics & Astronomy categories. Special awards were also given to students for their contributions in areas such as Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction.
Eva Abeyta, the County Science Fair Director, expressed her pride in the students’ hard work and dedication. She stated that it is a testament to their passion for science and engineering that they have achieved such remarkable results.
Overall, students from Los Alamos Public Schools performed exceptionally well at the 2024 New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair. Congratulations to all the students who participated and received recognition for their hard work.
Helena Welch’s project focused on analyzing soil samples to determine nutrient content while Tate Plohr worked on developing an app that could detect signs of depression using machine learning algorithms.
The Junior Division saw several standout projects including one by Sofia Hernandez who won first place in Animal Science for her study on how different diets affect rat behavior.
In Maths division student Jacob Smith got special award for his innovative approach towards solving complex problems using mathematical algorithms.
Climate Change was another area where several projects were presented by seniors including one by Sarah Lee which explored how solar energy can be harnessed effectively during cloudy days.