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Two Henrico County students were named winners of the MEDARVA Healthcare virtual science fair, the company announced this week.
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools in March, MEDARVA – a local nonprofit – came up with a way to support middle and high school students’ engagement in science by sponsoring the region-wide virtual science fair. Fifty-seven students submitted entries and MEDARVA’s team of five judges chosen the two winners:
• Senior Division Champion – Ankita Adhvaryu, of Mills E. Godwin High School;
• Junior Division Champion – Camellia Sharma, George H. Moody Middle School.
Students were asked to investigate an interesting topic and submit a summary, an experiment design diagram, and a short video highlighting the project. They worked for the chance to win several monetary awards including: $1,500 for first place – in both the middle school and high school categories.
“No one wakes up and says ‘I want to be a scientist [or researcher],’ something happens in early years that triggers this passion and inspiration to want to learn more and do more,” said Bruce P. Kupper, president of MEDARVA Healthcare. “The MEDARVA Foundation supports new and novel research projects and encourages research efforts to expand our knowledge in basic science or in finding solutions to health care problems. Over the past 15 years, we have provided more than $5 million in funding for research projects.”
Adhvaryu chose to take on the problem of marine plastic pollution. Adhvaryu’s inspiration came from an article pointing out that seabirds are attracted to the not only to the sight of plastic in the ocean but also the odor. Marine phytoplankton algae (the natural food for seabirds) tends to grow on that same plastic floating in the ocean. By finding a short-term, inexpensive solution, her experiment can be used to help decrease negative consequences of plastic pollution on the marine ecosystem.
Sharma focused her experiment on two of her passions: watercrafts and engineering. She studied and presented on the effect of hull profiles on the efficiency of a watercraft. Presently, oceangoing ships directly contribute to about 2.8% of greenhouse gases due to heavy fuel oil. Through 3D printed hull designs, Sharma tested which design reduced drag and thereby fuel consumption and pollution.
“These two women won because they have amazing projects to offer that blew me completely away,” said Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier, a current doctor of pharmacy student at VCU and one of the science fair’s judges. “The level of execution these women brought to their projects is going to set them up for such a successful career in science. They absolutely inspire me, and I look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.”
