early discoveries

By Swara Kalva

Early Discoveries

Pipets move up and down in rapid succession. Lists of data sets unravel right before your eyes. Algorithms spit out calculations within seconds. This is just a glimpse of what the different types of research that students at Bronx Science are partaking in may look like.

Every year, over a hundred research projects are completed by students and entered into several competitions. Summers filled with intensive activities that ranged from pipetting, to coding, to surveying, have culminated in pages of research, and glossy poster boards filled with valuable contributions to the world of science.These students have been mentored by great researchers who work in some of the best research facilities such as Weill Cornell, Mount Sinai, and Columbia, just to name a few. Often times the dedication and time commitment of these students are overlooked. Spending time over the summer and afterschool is not something that all high school students can commit to, but research students at Bronx Science openly accept this endeavor in order to make some sort of advance in any field that they choose to study. The Bronx Science Genetics class has some of its own students who have participated in research. Many cited a passion for the sciences as a reason for wanting to join research in the first place. Caroline Zeng, a senior performing research on cancer genetics, mentioned that her “dad is a scientist, which is what inspired [her] to pursue research in high school.” Another senior, Raichel Philip, performed gastroesophogeal research (having to do with the stomach), and she stated: “I took biology freshman year, and that’s what got me interested in biology research.”

Not all students perform biology research, however. Many pursue physical science or social science research, showing how the field of research is truly unlimited, especially at Bronx Science. More than anything, however, simply having the opportunity to try out research is invaluable, as it teaches many skills that you may not get through other means. As senior research student Gaurav Sharma puts it, “I knew that finding a mentor would help me grow as a person, because I would be forced to reach out to people, and in turn, learn more about myself.”

The students of Bronx Science are proud of their research and are excited to continue making new discoveries. Genes in Space contest finalist Max Allison puts it best: “Maybe not this time, but one day, I will get my research to space!”