IUSD Students Shine at CA Science & Engineering Fair

IUSD students had an impressive showing during the 67^th annual California State Science &Engineering Fair with 14 projects placing from Beacon Park School, Lakeside Middle School, Northwood High School, Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, Sierra Vista Middle School and University High School.  Equally impressive, Northwood High School senior Nitya Parthasarathy was also named the “California Science & Engineering Fair Student of the Year” and was presented with a $1,000 cash prize. 

This year, more than 900 students, in grades six-12, from 397 schools throughout the state presented more than 800 projects, while competing for awards totaling $60,000. IUSD’s budding scientists placed in the categories of Physics and Astronomy, Applied Mechanics and Structures, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Microbiology, Cognitive Science, Electronics and Electromagnetics, Biological Science, Aerodynamics/Hydrodynamics, Alternative Energy, Computational Systems and Analysis, and Chemistry. 

Parthasarathy was named student of the year for her project, "BiasCheck: An Artificial Intelligence Based Tool to Evaluate Bias in Social Media." This award is presented annually to a high school senior who best exemplifies the qualities necessary for success in science.  To read more about Parthasarathy’s project and/or to listen to a podcast in which she explains how she developed her project and her motivation, visit https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/high-school-science-projects-go-high-tech/  

Below are the results from this year’s fair.