UAlbany Symposium Showcases High School Science Student Research Statewide

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Eric Block to address students at the 29th Annual Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

Scotia-Glenville High School seniors Corey McKenna and Sarah Dean flank instructor Randy Jenkins as they display "highest honor" awards won at the 2012 Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 27, 2014) -- More than 500 science research students and teachers from 36 schools across New York State will meet at the 29th Annual Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (Upstate NY JSHS), Monday and Tuesday, March 10 and 11, 2014, at the University at Albany. The event is among the most prestigious fora in Upstate New York for students presenting original research in a symposium-style format.

UAlbany Carla Rizzo Delray Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Eric Block, author of Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science (Royal Society of Chemistry, publisher), will deliver a keynote address, entitled “Fifty years of smelling sulfur,” at the Symposium’s awards dinner, March 10 at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom of the University’s Campus Center.

The Upstate NY JSHS is co-directed by Daniel Wulff, UAlbany professor of biology, Donald Orokos, UAlbany professor of biology and associate director of the University’s Forensic Biology Program, and Tim Lance, a UAlbany Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus and president of the New York State Education and Research Network.

The students presenting at the symposium are finalists from two regional symposia: one in the Capital District at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and one in Westchester County at John Jay High School. The program has inspired hundreds of students to present their papers at the regional symposia. “These students have amazing stories to tell of their research findings,” said Wulff.

The awards dinner follows a full day’s schedule of presentations by students as speakers and poster presenters. The students’ research projects are judged by scientists and industry experts, including representatives from UAlbany, GE Global Research, and Albany Molecular Research. Student finalists from five categories of science are announced during the awards dinner and compete for top honors before another panel of judges on the second day of the symposium.

UAlbany chemistry professor Igor Lednev, an internationally renowned forensic scientist and member of the Interagency Working Group of the White House Subcommittee on Forensic Science and the National Science and Technology Council, will present a workshop entitled “Lasers Revolutionize Forensic and Medical Diagnostics,” during the second day of the symposium on March 11 at 10:45 a.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Campus Center.

The symposium is sponsored by the University at Albany, the Academy of Applied Science, the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, the American Chemical Society, and corporate sponsors, including GE Global Research, Albany Molecular Research, Inc., Capital District Physicians Health Plan, NYS United Teachers, and Surpass Chemical.

The top students will move on to present their research at the 52nd National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, scheduled April 23-27, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Those delegated to attend the 52nd National JSHS are invited to present their research in competition for scholarships in seven categories of competition. The top two regional delegates for military-sponsored scholarships are invited to present their research in oral sessions held at the Renaissance Capital View Arlington in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, April 24.

All remaining student delegates are invited to present their research in poster sessions held at the USA Science & Engineering Festival, on Friday, April 25, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

For more information on the Upstate NY JSHS, visit www.albany.edu/jshs/

Symposium Overview:

Monday, March 10, 2014:

12:45 p.m. – Ballroom: Opening remarks by University at Albany Distinguished Teaching Professor and Associate Dean John Delano, and JSHS Director and UAlbany Professor of Biology Daniel Wulff

1:30-4:30 p.m. – Concurrent sessions of students’ research projects are presented to teams of judges

4:35-6 p.m. – Posters on display for judging

6 p.m. – Awards dinner with keynote address by Dr. Eric Block

Tuesday, March 11, 2014:

9:00 a.m. – Ballroom: Presentations by the five finalists

10:45 a.m-12 p.m. – Workshop for participants

Noon – Awards luncheon and announcement of five final winners and scholarship awards

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