{"id":158992,"date":"2020-03-10T11:35:16","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T15:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?post_type=school-college-post&p=158992"},"modified":"2020-03-12T11:53:34","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T15:53:34","slug":"high-school-science-standouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2020\/03\/high-school-science-standouts\/","title":{"rendered":"High School Science Standouts"},"content":{"rendered":"

UConn Health recently hosted more than 160 high school science standouts from 37 schools across the state for the 57th annual Connecticut Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium<\/a> (JSHS). The symposium was organized by the Connecticut Area Health Education Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A select group of the participants presented their own original research at the symposium and competed for prizes including scholarships and cash awards. This year\u2019s hot topic was machine learning \u2013 it was used in a variety of settings from tracking Parkinson\u2019s disease to personal privacy.<\/p>\n

Five of the top finishers earned a paid trip to the national JSHS in Virginia Beach\/Norfolk, Virginia, in April to present their research.<\/p>\n

The first place CT\u2010JSHS finisher is Rachel Brooks, from Christian Heritage School, for her research \u201cIncreased Prevalence of Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, and Immunologic Conditions in Hospitalized Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.\u201d She has been offered UConn\u2019s Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Scholarship, which provides recipients one half of the in\u2010state tuition for each of four years, or a total of over $30,000.<\/p>\n

The organizers of CT\u2010JSHS are grateful to UConn\u2019s Office of Undergraduate Admissions for their support of the symposium.<\/p>\n

\u201cJSHS is a great venue for high-achieving high school students to share their own original research in a wide assortment of STEM fields,\u201d says Joy Erickson, director of Connecticut JSHS.<\/p>\n

All the young people who participated, either as competitors or observers, toured UConn Health\u2019s research labs, participated in hands\u2010on science and humanities activities and learned about careers in health and research.<\/p>\n

Participants also heard a research presentation by keynote speaker Kimberly Dodge-Kafka<\/a>, professor in UConn Health\u2019s Department of Cell Biology, Calhoun Center for Cardiology, and director of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program, on \u201cTargeting protein-protein interactions for therapeutic treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing the leadership at the University of Connecticut, CT AHEC is delighted to continue our support of research activities, including the training of young scientists through sponsorship of the annual Junior Science and Humanities Symposium,” says Petra Clark-Dufner, CT AHEC associate director and Connecticut JSHS co-director.<\/p>\n

JSHS is organized by the National Science Teaching Association with the sponsorship of the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and to provide recognition for their achievements. About 10,000 secondary students nationwide participate through 46 university\u2010based regional symposia.<\/p>\n

Students from the following high schools and programs participated in this year’s CT\u2010JSHS:<\/p>\n