Two sophomore students from the Nassau BOCES Doshi STEM Institute were among the top contenders in a recent, regional science competition. Matt Fusco from Oyster Bay-East Norwich schools and Jorge Gomez from Hicksville presented their winning research at the STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College, earning third place from among more than 80 competitors.
The teen scientists’ project, Biodiversity Analysis of Weeds in Nassau County, required hours of field research along sidewalks and roads collecting samples. The students then took those samples to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for DNA coding. Their goal was to find specific species and define where they are localized, laying the groundwork for future research into specific methods to remove them.
“We’re helping the community by stopping the ruination of the roads,” Gomez said of their research. “We’re making sidewalks and roads safer for everyone.”
Fusco pointed out that “it was difficult to collect some of the samples.”
“The work was challenging,” Fusco said, “but overall it was a good experience.”
The STEM Diversity Summit drew nearly a thousand attendees from local industry, education and communities. Students from eighth through 12th grades shared their research and demonstrated best practices in STEM, and heard from national and regional specialists on important STEM industry topics, such as sustainable energy technology and biotechnology.
“Experiences like this are prime examples of the reason the Doshi STEM Institute was established,” Principal Dr. AJ Hepworth said of the research project and the students’ presentation of their findings at the summit. “Jorge and Matt are committed students who apply themselves to furthering their studies. Their research could lead to improvements in the management of Long Island’s ecosystem. I am proud of their accomplishments.”
