On April 4, Boston Latin School students showed off their projects at the annual Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Students from Class VI to I presented their independent research projects to judges, parents and peers. Throughout the day, keynote speakers presented their experiences to students, and previous International Science and Engineering Fair candidates hosted a Q&A session. Many students also won awards for their accomplishments.
After choosing a topic, researching it, creating a draft and polishing their project, participants competed for top places in the regional fair. All students who placed at the regional fair were invited to attend the MSEF. Additionally, the Middle School State Science Fair will be held on May 10 at Clark University in Worcester.
According to BLS science teacher Ms. Raquel Jacobson-Peregrino, the purpose of the science fair is to “encourage and reward students who are passionate about science in Boston Public Schools.” She explains that students can find their passions in science, experiment with their interests and learn more about their curiosities: “Kids get to pursue an experiment that they want to do and learn how science happens.”
This year marked the 76th anniversary of the MSEF, which was founded in 1949 by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and a group of educators. The fair is separated into junior and senior categories. Middle school students are eligible for the junior category, while students from ninth grade and above compete in the senior category.
Evan Ding (II) was a participant in the senior portion of the science fair, with his project focused on developing a safe gene therapy for treating the genetic disease Rett syndrome.
Some challenges Ding faced while completing this project were learning to manage equipment and time-consuming steps. He shares, “I learned how to be patient with myself and to expect failures that could set you back days of hard work.”
The Boston Latin School Association provided funding for many students’ research, and the Friends of Mathematics and Science provided virtual mentoring through volunteer mentors. Several science teachers, including Ms. Jacobson-Peregrino, also helped mentor students’ projects.
Ada Zhao (III) comments, “The science fair is a big commitment, but if you find something you like and are passionate about, you feel satisfied with what you did.”