Rye High School Students Present Science Research at WESEF
Two Rye High School students, Isabella Tello and Kate Schatz, participated in the annual Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF), held at Somers High School on March 14. They were among more than 800 students from more than 40 high schools to showcase their research and have their work judged by local experts in the field.
Tello’s research focused on improving early detection of glaucoma. Having used pattern electroretinography as a method to identify the disease earlier than the current standard tools, she has further researched a new device that measures mitochondrial flavoprotein levels as a potential biomarker for glaucoma. She plans to continue her research next year to expand and refine these new diagnostic methods and explore their clinical applications.
Schatz presented her research, “Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing Reveals Influence of Cultivation Source on the Microbial Communities of Fresh Produce,” which focuses on promoting the importance of considering the food source when purchasing fruits and vegetables. Her research focused on understanding the extent to which cultivation methods and preservation practices affect a plant’s microbiome and consequently, our own human gut microbiome. To develop this research, she compared the microbiomes of plants purchased at local supermarkets to the microbiomes of plants grown in an outside soil-based garden and in an indoor tower garden setting. The goal of the research was to determine if the cultivation method caused differences in the microbiomes within the same plant species.
For her work, Schatz won the Ricoh Sustainable Development Award, which supports high school students who demonstrate environmental initiative. The regional award is given to student research that demonstrates the principles and technical innovations with the greatest potential for sustainable development.