Newman Students Impress at the New Orleans Science Fair

Equipped with programs, prototypes, and poster boards, eleven Newman students presented brilliant new concepts and research at the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair (GNOSEF) in late February. The results were astounding, with the group garnering numerous awards and several invitations to the upcoming International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

The group, advised by Science Chair Matt Jones and Upper School Science Teacher David Kern, consisted of eleven sophomores, juniors, and seniors: Heidi Smith ’27, Jai Bansal ’26, Anjali Dasa ’26, Jackson Dirks ’26, Jackson Fitzpatrick ’26, Thomas Gershanik ’26, Julia Rai ’26, Aditi Shridhar ’26, Navis Allen ’25, Maya Harris ’25, and Aadhya Krishnan ’25.

The projects covered a wide range of topics and technologies, including medicine, genetics, AI, waste management, and mental health, often combining several categories. For example, machine learning (AI) was employed to automatically sort trash into recyclable and non-recyclable categories as it is deposited in a trash bin. Two other projects used AI to diagnose diseases and improve patient care. One project has a real-world benefit with local impact, as it focuses on filtering out and disposing of solid waste, such as litter, in New Orleans’ canal system. Other projects explored topics such as the effect of incarceration on mental health and how social media use affects working memory. All submissions were meticulously researched and showcased our students’ innovation and creativity.

The science fair judges seemed to agree. The group won dozens of awards, with three students receiving Grand Prize awards in their categories, which secured them an entry in the upcoming International Science and Engineering Fair. Below is a list of the students, their projects, and the awards they won. Please join us in congratulating these bright students for their hard work and accomplishments!

 

Thomas Gershanik
A Novel Convolutional Neural Network to Detect and Diagnose Brain Tumors
ISEF Grand Prize Winner, 1st Place Biomedical Health & Translational Medicine, 1st Place In Vitro Biology, Regeneron Award, Bruce J. Helm Award, 1st Place Albert F.W. Habeeb Award

Jai Bansal and Jackson Dirks
A Novel Robotic Approach to the Application of Machine Learning in the Mitigation of Waste Pollution
ISEF Grand Prize Winner, 1st Place Embedded Systems, 1st Place Ricoh USA

Jackson Fitzpatrick
C.A.T.C.H. (Canal Accumulated Trash Capture and Handling)
1st Place American Society of Engineers, 1st Place Office of Naval Research, 1st Place Structural Institute of NOLA, 1st Place Water Environment Federation Stockholm Water Prize, 1st Place American Society of Civil Engineers, 1st Place American Military Engineers, 2nd Place Engineering Technology

Navis Allen and Maya Harris
How the ABO Gene Affects Introversion
1st Place in Behavioral & Social Sciences, 1st Place Women for a Better Louisiana

Anjali Dasa
Does Incarceration Impact Drug and Alcohol Use in Louisiana? If So, What Contributes to This Impact?
1st Place American Psychological Association

Aadhya Krishnan
Do Children Who Experience Neglect Differ Significantly from Children Who Experience Other Traumas Relative to Developmental Delays?
2nd Place in Behavioral & Social Sciences

Julia Rai
Ozonated Water and Its Effect on Bacteria
4th Place Biomedical, Health and Translational Medical Sciences

Aditi Shridhar
Application of AI to Improve Patient Care

Heidi Smith
Social Media and Working Memory