Walt Whitman Science Research students from our 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade research classes presented their projects at the Long Island Science Congress (LISC) at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on April 20th and 21st. LISC is an adjudicated exhibit of science projects presented by students from Nassau and Suffolk. Sponsored by the Long Island sections of the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS), this prestigious competition, which has been held since 1950, celebrates scholastic achievement in science and pushes the boundaries of student research. Our students were among more than 1,000 participants from across Long Island sharing their scientific investigations.

Walt Whitman Science Research teacher Fred Feraco said this event gives students the opportunity to receive valuable input on their projects. “It gives them a chance to communicate their research to authentic audiences and receive meaningful feedback from judges and peers. These experiences help students strengthen their confidence, presentation skills, and ability to think critically about their own work. They also expose students to a wide range of scientific ideas and inspire them by seeing the creativity and dedication of other young researchers. Most importantly, events like LISC make science feel real by showing students that their work has value beyond the classroom,” said Feraco.

Projects span an impressive range of topics: everything from agricultural biology and marine ecology to advanced physics and engineering. Some examples of Whitman entrees include: “The Effect of Ethylene Forming Enzyme on the Growth of Tomatoes,” “The Effects of Common Scent on Memory Recall,” “Can Ultrasonic Levitation Technology Remove Microplastics From Water?” and “The Effects of Preservatives on Bacteria.” Winners will be announced in May and June. Some winners will move on to compete at the New York State Science Congress in Syracuse on June 7th. Best of luck to our student scientists!