Middle school “scientists” from Bi-Cultural Day School in Stamford had an impressive showing at the 70th Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF), winning a slew of medals and honors from the prestigious statewide event.

Held in March at Quinnipiac University, the fair showcased the research projects produced by 647 middle and high school students from 120 schools across Connecticut and parts of New York.

Six Bi-Cultural students were among the finalists taking home awards.

“I’m very proud of all the hard work that these young scientists put into their research,” said Bi-Cultural middle school science teacher Christopher Graseck. Their use of experimental method was truly outstanding.”

In addition to their prizes, two Bi-Cultural award winners – Zachary Isaacs and David Klein – also earned an invitation to compete in Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering Rising Stars), the nation’s premier science and engineering competition for middle school students. Just 10 percent of the top science projects presented at state science fairs are selected for entry into the competition.

Isaacs and Klein won third place in the Pfizer Life Sciences MS Team Award for their project “Studying the Impact of Acid Rain and Gutter Water on the Growth of Three Plants.” The project also earned the two seventh-graders a Life Sciences MS Team trophy, a place as Alexion Biotechnology Awards finalists and a Biotechnology 7th Grade CSF Medallion.

Eighth-grader Anna Lichtenberg took home a Petit Family Foundation Women in Science & Engineering Award Middle School Finalist Medallion and a Future Sustainability Awards-Eversource/Energize CT Midde School Finalist Medallion for her project “The Impact of Antibacterial Soap on Daphnia Magna: Implications for the Environment.” The project also earned her Life Sciences Second Honors.

Other seventh-graders who took home awards were Daniel Goldberg who earned Life Sciences Second Honors for his project “The Effect of Salt Water on Radish Growth; and Naomi Hanna who was awarded Life Sciences Third Honors for her project “Comparing Organic and Non-Organic Seeds in Filtered and Non-Filtered Water.”

Supported by the state’s academic and industrial organizations, the purpose of the fair “is to teach young people how science works and how it can be used to discover and predict,” says Graseck.

Bi-Cultural Head of School Jackie Herman lauded students for their hard work.

”We are so proud of the time and energy our students put into this experience,” she said, “and we look forward to your continued contributions to the scientific community.”

CAP: Bi-Cultural Day School middle school scientists who won awards at the 2018 Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair (l to r): Anna Lichtenberg, Zachary Isaacs, Daniel Goldberg, David Klein, and Naomi Hannah.