2022 Freedom Area High School Science Conference - Friday, May 13, 2022
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Latest Book - Idealized Science
Keynote Speaker for the 2022 Conference - Dr. Katlyn Meier
Katlyn Meier is a 2005 graduate of Freedom Area High School. During her time at Freedom, she enrolled in as many science courses as she could. Her coursework, combined with her participation in the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Health Care fueled her interest in science and her passion to pursue STEM. After graduating, Katlyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Allegheny College.
During her time at Allegheny she conducted research in several labs, but it was her experience with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy that captivated her and motivated her to pursue a Ph.D. She went on to Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA) where she earned her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2015. During her time at CMU, Katlyn used a range of techniques to characterize the structures and mechanisms of enzymes and biomimetic complexes. After completing her Ph.D., Katlyn made the move to Stanford University (Stanford, CA) where she worked as a NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2015-2019. During this time she continued to develop expertise in spectroscopic techniques while also learning enzyme purification and sample preparation methods.
In her current role as an Assistant Professor of Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL), she teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in Chemistry and Spectroscopy, and also runs an active research lab. The focus of her research is to understand how bio-relevant transition metals (i.e. iron and copper), are involved in promoting neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Huntington’s Disease), chemoresistance, and multi-drug resistance. Her group expresses specific proteins and enzymes and utilizes a combination of Molecular Biology, Physics, and Chemistry to define each system’s structure and function. Her ultimate goal is to utilize the insight gained from her group’s work to design new ways to enhance or inhibit key functions and interactions of proteins of interest.
Student Presentations
Sports Betting Statistics - Luke Snavely - Physics II
Mathematical properties and statistics rule the world, whether that may be in our daily lives or something much larger. Using betting odds and their outcomes, this statistical investigation aims to show variance between better professional baseball teams’ winning percentages and “underdog” teams’ winning percentages. The study also seeks a potential explanation for variance of winning percentages between seasons.
How Water Affects Acrylic Paint's Lightness and Consistency - Megan Evans - Physics 1
Painters add water to paint to create various effects, but what does the water really do to the paint's consistency and color? This investigation aims to discern how the amount of water affects the paint's consistency by measuring the breaks and if more water distorts the original paint color by measuring Hue Saturation Lightness (HSL).
Measuring the Expansion in Metal Through Extreme Amplification - Brandi Bonzo- Physics II
It is commonly known that as metal is heated, it expands. Last year I was able to find the optimal strength in steel through a heating process, and this year I am using a more precise heating process to find the molecular expansion of aluminum. Rods were broken in half, expensive machines were broken, but the outcome stands. Using various amplification techniques, the measurement of the rod expansion allowed me to find the individual atoms' expansion.
How Different Variables Affect Golf Ball Spin - Logan Bickerstaff - Physics 1 Professional golfers obsess over golf ball spin, but how is spin truly affected by the actual hit of the club. In this presentation, I will show visually and mathematically, how opening and closing the face can affect the spin. The results may enlighten the understanding of this sport.
Finding Patterns in Footsteps - A New CSI Technique - Carter Huggins - Physics III
In the FBI, fingerprinting, DNA samples, and facial recognition are all factors that lead to solving a case. Using simple sound graphing tools and a unique charting technique, I have tracked many different peoples walking patterns in an attempt to be able to add walking patterns to the list of identification techniques to a person’s kinesthetic movement pattern. Can someone be tracked and found just by the the sound patterns their steps produce? Come see the results!
How the Radius of Tops Effect Their Spin - Ian Evans - Physics II
Tops have been around for thousands of years. These simple physics-based toys are produced in different sizes. Which begs the question, "How does the size of the top affect the spin?" This experiment's design is meant to test this question using homemade tops. The results and further questions will be presented at this year's Science Conference.
The Effects of Wing Width and Wing Angle on Paper Airplane Performance - Logan Larrick - Physics I
Everyone likes to throw paper airplanes, but do they understand how the variables of wing width and wing angle affect performance? Here, performance can be defined as the distance traveled and the deviation from a straight line. In this experiment, I use a airplane launcher to minimize human error.
How the Width of a Truss Effects Bridge Strength - Trent McCray - Physics II
Bridges are a vital source of cross water transportation. Although relatively simple in design the way that trusses are placed as well as the thickness play an extremely crucial role in a particular bridges structural soundness. My experiment is designed to determine the most ideal design as well as the effects of using cheaper materials.
The Probability of a Bottle Landing - Colin Fricke - Physics 1
Water Bottle flipping started as “cool” trend in 2016, gifting the youth endless entertainment and driving adults over the edge. How hard can flipping a water bottle be? While probability plays a large role, what if you didn't have to get lucky? By building this apparatus, I developed a probability model to increase my chances of landing.
Coffee Bean Grinding and Its Effect on Teeth Stain - Kaylee Ostrowski - Physics 1
Coffee drinkers are concerned with the staining of their teeth. I experiment with different grinding times of coffee beans to see how it discolors a model tooth. I developed a unique analysis technique to determine the brightness or darkness of a tooth. Coffee drinkers should be very interested in these results.
Synesthesia Spectrum Related to Color and Numbers- Leannah Messenger- Physics II
Synesthesia is a unique neurological condition, which can manifest in blending colors and numbers. Not everyone experiences the same response to particular stimuli; ie. the color red. In this long term, I tested the similarity of response and the time of response to determine if synesthesia is on a spectrum or simply is a condition you have or do not have. Analyzing these responses required unique graphing techniques.
How the Size of a Bubble Affects the Rate at Which it Rises - Dakota Reinhart - Physics 1
I'm sure everyone has flipped their shampoo bottle upside down and watched the bubble rise to the top at one point in their life. Have you ever wondered how fast different sized bubbles can travel? What about how different temperatures can affect the speed? In my long term presentation I will show the affects that size, temperature, and volume have on the speed at which the bubbles rise.
Weld Temperatures and the Height and Width of the Weld Bead - Jeremy Powell- Physical Science
Welding can be fun but it's difficult to learn. It's a very good skill to have, however it may also be important to learn how the temperature affects the height and width of the bead. I welded for five seconds and I laid a decent bread and i measured the beads.
How Does Temperature Affect the Grease on a Potato Chip - Colin Walton - Physics I
Like most people, I enjoy a nice bag of potato chips, but what I don't like is the grease I get on my hands after eating them. This intrigued me and I wondered why, as the longer I held the potato chip the more grease was left behind. This gave me an idea to find if temperature had an effect on the grease left behind by the chip.
How Does the Number of Blades on a Wind Turbine Affect its Speed - Taylor Kriger - Physics II
Turbines are a way energy can be harvested from the environment. The energy produced can be used for anything that uses electricity, without increasing our carbon footprint as much as fossil fuels today. In this project I tested how the different number of blades on a turbine affects the spin velocity and voltage potential.
How Changing the Bicep Attachment Point Will Better Help Athletes in their Relative Field - Jessica Majors - Physics ll
Strengthening the bicep is a vital part of athletics because its main functions are flexion and supination (outward rotation) of the forearm. My experiment varies the attachment point of the bicep and calculates how both the force and the angle of the bicep are affected.
The Way the Pressure of the Ball Affects the Distance it Will Travel With Temperature - Jordan Mengel - Physical Science
All soccer players know the temperature of the ball affects the game. For my project I changed the temperature of the ball to determine the distance it will travel. I also repeated these trials with different ball pressures. The results may interest you.
Potato Chip Grease - Colin Walton - Physics I
Like most people, I enjoy a nice bag of potato chips, but what I don't like is the grease I get on my hands after eating them. This intrigued me and I wondered why, as the longer I held the potato chip the more grease was left behind. This gave me an idea to find if temperature had an effect on the grease left behind by the chip.
How Arm Length Affects A Volleyball's Traveling Distance- Janey Parks- Physics 1
Many people of all shapes and sizes play volleyball, including those with different arm lengths. But do we know how arm length affects how far they can make a volleyball travel? I build my own "arm" contraptions to test how different arm lengths affect how far the volleyball will travel.
Brute-Force Password Cracking - Jacob DiCenzo - Physics II
Computers are an essential part of our lives, and cybersecurity is crucial at protecting us. But how secure are we? This project uses a brute-force approach to determine the security of our current passwords.
How Jaggedness Affects Airflow - Ana Shipman - Physics 1
Use of fans increases as summer weather arrives. And all fans have a safety guard, which may inhibit the airflow coming from the fan. My testing shows how airflow is affected by the amount of obstacles, as well as the pattern of the obstacles.
How Does The Distance Between Screws Affect The Strength Of A Cardboard Joint? - Luke Anderson - Physical Science
Do you like building things? But have found yourself in need of overlapping wood pieces? I will be testing the best distance for putting two screws to maximize the joint strength. Wait till you see the results.
How Does The (GPU) and (CPU) Settings Increase The Speed Of The Computer? - Robert Lammie - Physical Science
Faster computation speed is better for running software! You can force your computer to go faster, but it can be dangerous. This is because the temperature can increase to the point to were it can lower the life span and lower the computational speed we are trying to increase. In this project I will show how overclocking correlates to speed.
Patterns Between Voltage & Current With Different Electrical Motors - Joshua Pail - Physics III
Electrical motors are everywhere in this modern world, but have you ever wondered what controls the RPM? This experiment dives into different types of electrical motors and the affect voltage and current have on them.
How Different Factors of I-Beams Affect the Strength - Joe Hartle - Physics III
I-beams are used in many construction projects, such as bridges and buildings. Engineers also need to know what types of I-Beams to use to provide the correct amount of strength. In this Longterm I investigate the strength of I-beams by testing the flange width, the height of the I-Beam, and the flange thickness, and measuring the strength.
How Different Densities of Wood Affect the Rate of Burning? - Carly Schoedel - Physics II
I have always wondered what wood would be the best for a fire, and which wood would have the best burn rate. In this experiment I tested how different densities of wood affect the rate of burning. I slowly changed the density of the wood by changing the moisture level in the wood. This aided me into thinking of the specific types of wood that would be best for fires.
Alumni Presenters and Attendees
Jenna Engel
Newtonian Cooling - Industrial Engineering Undergrad Student at Penn State University
Almost everything can be "boiled down" to derivatives. Typically, we calculate an instantaneous rate of change in variables such as speed or temperature with respect to time. Newton's Law of Cooling, an empirical law within Newton's Theory of Thermodynamics, lets us specifically examine the relationship between changes of temperature over time. This presentation will explore the applications of Newton’s Law of Cooling in everyday life.
Andrew Baker
University of Pitt - PhD Candidate - Physics
A critical aspect of metal nanoparticle technologies is how strongly the nanoparticles adhere to their substrates. This adhesion is directly related to the efficiency and lifetime of many nanoparticle applications. In the present work, we performed in situ adhesion tests inside of a transmission electron microscope (TEM) on nanoparticles of gold and platinum. This approach combines Angstrom-scale characterization of particle size, shape, and structure together with nanonewton-scale measurements of adhesive forces. Together, these capabilities allow the determination of adhesion energy on a particle-by-particle basis. First, the accuracy of the technique was assessed based on comparison to prior approaches; then the adhesion energy was measured for new material combinations that had not previously been investigated. Finally, this flexible test platform was applied to study structure-properties relationships, including the effect of particle shape and size on adhesion.
Ava Colorito
How Biology Intertwines with other Careers and Focuses
What comes to mind when one utters the word biology? Perhaps a plant or a doctor? Biology is one of the most popular majors across the nation, yet many students pursuing them are unaware of the range of careers that could be available to them. From writing and teaching to interactions with law and government, a biology degree or biological interests can be a valuable tool to explore possible careers and focuses.
Dr. Rosemary Mihalko
Compounding Medications - Owner of Hieber's Pharmacy
The oldest way to receive medications was by a compounding pharmacist otherwise known as a druggist, chemist, or apothecary. Big pharma has mostly streamlined the methods we use now to produce medicine but for those humans and animals that do not fit into the box, there are still compounding pharmacies. Through this presentation, you will find how chemistry and creativity lead to advanced careers in pharmaceutical sciences.
Jarrett Boyd
DNA Sequencing - Carnegie Mellon University
DNA is the backbone of all life, however, not much is known about the sequences that encode every one of us. I apply complex molecular simulations in hopes of determining properties of individual DNA bases. These properties will be used in combination with machine learning to hopefully allow for autonomous sequencing of DNA.
Haley Velemirovich
Incoming Associate Scientist for Research & Development at Mondelēz International - An Introduction to the Multidisciplinary Field of Food Science
If one thing is certain, it's that everyone needs to eat. As food scientists, our goal is to develop new food products that are enjoyable, but also ones that are safe, wholesome, and nutritious. With a growing population, the need for affordable and sustainable alternatives is increasing, and applying the skills gained from a food science degree can put us one step closer to reaching that goal. My presentation will provide an overview of how chemistry, microbiology, physics, and nutrition come together to improve food production as a whole.
Jacob L. Beckey
Physics Doctoral Candidate at the University of Colorado at Boulder
A Theoretical Physicist's Toolkit
What is theoretical physics and what do theoretical physicists do? More importantly, how do they do it? In this talk, I will guide a whirlwind tour of some of the most useful tools theoretical physicists utilize on a daily basis. Along the way, we will solve seemingly-impossible integrals without calculus and will estimate the angle of deflection of light passing by the sun without Einstein's general relativity!
Max Ujhazy
Hydrodynamic Particle Trapping - Duquesne University - Biomedical Engineering
Hydrodynamic trapping is a method of trapping particles via the flow of water. This method of trapping differs from other common methods because it is not dependent on acoustic, electrokinetic, magnetic, or optical fields. This method proves to be exceptionally superior at isolating individual particles and avoiding the denaturing of the particle by way of aforementioned independencies. This project encapsulates methods of theory, fabrication, coding, simulation, experimenting, etc. that have progressed over many years with many different researchers to reveal great promise for future advancements by including devices with multiple traps as well as promising applications, such as DNA examination at universities like Carnegie Mellon.
Josiah Dubovi
Scanning Electron Microscopy - Josiah Dubovi - Clarion University of Pennsylvania
This presentation will explain how and why we use Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM). I will also explain my research on analyzing the crystalline structure of an Al-Cu-Fe alloy using SEM.
Ella Walden
Botany Basics: Growing Plants at Home - AgSci Undergrad at Penn State Beaver
The most captivating class I've taken this semester has been my Plant 220 class, Gardening for Fun & Profit. I learned how to create and maintain small scale agricultural systems in the comfort of my home. From classic outdoor gardening to house plants and microgreen production, you too can have your own garden and house plants while saving money, possibly making money, eating better, and having fun!
Robin Kaufman
Robin Kaufman -- Sustainability -- Undergraduate Student at the University of Pittsburgh
The field of sustainability is growing rapidly as more people and companies recognize the need to preserve our environment. This talk will discuss opportunities in the field of sustainability and what I've learned throughout my schooling and internships.
Cole Skuse
Neutrino Interaction Detection - Physics Student at Carnegie Mellon University
Neutrinos are an almost massless particle that have zero charge and come in three separate "flavors." Long thought to be massless, neutrinos only interact with other elementary particles via the weak force. While they don't interact with matter regularly, about 65 billion neutrinos pass through a square centimeter of the Earth's surface every second. Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) was first predicted in 1974 and observed in 2017. A precise measurement of the CEvNS cross section can be used to search for new physics beyond the standard model. A heavy water detector that utilizes Cherenkov radiation will reduce systematic uncertainty for neutrino cross-section measurements and help increase the sensitivity of searches for new physics.
Courtney Susan
Engineer - Atwell Group, Tampa FL Office
This presentation will discuss my overall responsibilities as an Engineer in Training (EI) in the Land Development specialty area of Civil Engineering. My main scope of work consists of engineering design for large residential communities in southwest Florida. This includes site layout plans, storm water management, utility design, grading, and road design, as well as county and client coordination.
Chance Jerry
Spent Fuel Safety Engineering
Nuclear safety is often a misrepresented and poorly portrayed subject matter. Ensuring that spent nuclear fuel does not go critical during defueling, transportation, inspection, and long-term storage is a key aspect of the multifaceted approach to safely and responsibly harnessing the power of nuclear energy. I aim to give a high-level overview of the methodologies involved in analyzing spent nuclear fuel. This includes examples of the tests performed and the code used to determine safety bases.
Peyton Zankel
B.S. Physics Undergraduate Degree
Experimental Archeology is the field of study in which scientific reasoning and tests are used to aid in understanding the past. This presentation will focus largely on fiber, but will also touch on how the same processes used in the experiments found at the conference are used in the field. This presentation is largely to serve as a gateway into understanding this unique field rather than be one cohesive overview.
Derek Mengel
Electrical Engineer
Derek will be chatting with students about his experiences in school and work.