Budding Local Scientists Showcase Projects Ahead Of International Competition
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - High school science superstars are preparing to bring their winning projects to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix next month.
Some local students will be among about 1,500 from all over the world competing for over $4-million in scholarships and prizes.
Just over a dozen area students showcased their projects at the University of the Sciences on Friday, just ahead of the international finals of the Delaware Valley Science Fair.
"Our goal is to get kids interested in STEM -- Science, technology, engineering and math -- and the best way to do that is to get hands on," says Science Fair executive director Henry Disston.
Swathie Pavalouri is a junior at Technology High School in Lindcroft, New Jersey. She made a device that eliminates airborne pathogens from the air.
"It's basically trying to eliminate hospital infections," she explains.
She says being a science fair finalist is very exciting:
"I think it's just meeting all these new people and they're all the best of the best in terms of their research projects."
17-year-old finalist Ralph Lauten presented his project on how e-cigarettes affect your body:
"I have friends that use them and I was debating with them and they're like, 'It's totally safe' and I'm like 'it's not safe.' So I looked at the research and turns out, we honestly don't know."
Disston says an excellent science project is a lesson in learning:
"So these kids now are doing research and trying to solve problems. So they're learning how to think, as opposed to, unfortunately, what's happening in a lot of schools where they're memorizing content for the test."
He calls this a life-changing experience for the students:
"I tell the students doors will open they never even knew existed."