MNPS students in STEM programs provided by the district in partnership with Vanderbilt University won numerous awards at the recent Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair.
The Vanderbilt Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach partners with Metro Nashville Public Schools to provide several programs for middle and high school students to explore science, technology, engineering and math. The Day of Discovery-Zoo program, for example, works with 7th and 8th grade students from three MNPS middle schools – Croft Design Center, William Henry Oliver and McMurray – at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere one school day per week.
This year, DoD-Zoo students completed observational animal behavior research projects in collaboration with Nashville Zoo animal care staff in support of the Zoo’s mission of species conservation.
Middle School Winners
The DoD-Zoo students placed in their respective divisions at the science and engineering fair, which was held at Belmont University:
- Lidya Abenezer, Amira Ahmed and Kimberly Velasquez from Croft Design Center Middle School placed 1st in the 8th grade division with their project titled “Multi-Species Habitat Use and Social Behavior in Captive Zebras (Equus quagga) at the Nashville Zoo.”
- Brendan Cox, Clayton (Asher) Garner and Matthew (Braeden) Willis from William Henry Oliver Middle School placed 2nd in the 8th grade division with their project, “Study of Breeding Behavior through Zone Study and Activity Budget in a Group of Southern White Rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.”
- Kaitlyn Saffell, Ja’Liyah Schields and Colton Winningham from William Henry Oliver Middle School placed 2nd in the 7th grade division with their project, “Comparing Male and Female Captive Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) Behavioral Patterns at the Nashville Zoo.”
- Mumtozabanu Abdusattorova, Zenah Avery and Parker Orser from William Henry Oliver Middle School placed 3rd in the 8th grade division with their project titled “Testing the Effects of Continuous Sampling: The Difference Between Two Sampling Types for an Activity Budget of Cotton Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).”
- Lidya Abenezer, Amira Ahmed and Kimberly Velasquez from Croft and Brendan Cox, Clayton (Asher) Garner, Matthew (Braeden) Willis, Kaitlyn Saffell, Ja’Liyah Schields and Colton Winningham from Oliver were nominated for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC). The Thermo Fisher JIC is the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students. Nominees are chosen among the top 10 percent of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade competitors at a Society-Affiliated science and engineering fair in the United States.
High School Winners
MTSEF winners from MNPS high schools include three participants in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research program:
- Nicholas Bourque from John Overton High School earned 1st Place in Animal Science/Zoology with his project, “Effects of Caffeine from Different Sources on C. elegans Developmental Processes.” Additionally, he earned the Best Biological Sciences Award.
- Bryson Smith-Dills from John Overton High School earned 1st Place in Environmental Sciences for his project, “Degradation of Biodegradable Products and their Effects on Soil Composition.” His project also earned 2nd Place for the David J. Wilson Environmental Award, recognizing projects that have an environmental theme as well as an engineering theme towards improving the lives of people in lesser developed countries.
- Benjamin Watts from John Overton High School earned 1st place in Microbiology for his project, “Comparing the Prevalence of Wolbachia in Two Distinct Ecosystems.”
The
Interdisciplinary Science & Research (ISR) Program strives to enhance students’ understandings of STEM concepts and research principles and empowers students through scientific research. ISR course offerings are available to students at Stratford STEM Magnet High School, Hillsboro High School and John Overton High School. All courses are co-taught by a scientist-teacher team focused on individualized instruction to meet student needs. The program transitions students from understanding the basics of scientific disciplines in the first year to performing independent research in their junior and senior years.
MNPS and Vanderbilt also collaborate on the
School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt, a co-curricular program that offers high school students a four-year, interdisciplinary, research-centered learning experience. Students spend one day per week at the university to engage in a curriculum that connects sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. The students earn seven high school elective credits.
