Four students from Chappaqua, Ossining and Byram Hills were named finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search contest. The competition is a research-based science competition for high school seniors. The Westchester students will join forty other students from all over the U.S. in presentations in Washington, D.C. in March to compete for more than $1.8 million in prize money.
Each semifinalist will receive $2,000 and an additional $2,000 will go to their high school. Finalists, including the four from the Westchester area, will receive $25,000 and will compete for the top 10 awards in D.C., with prizes ranging from $40,000-$250,000.
Brent Perlman of Byram Hills High School developed a process to produce oxygen in human cells by using human stem cells and spinach chloroplasts.
Chirag Kumar from Horace Greeley High School used machine learning to measure seawater temperatures, thus giving scientists a way to accurately predict climate change.
Aditi Singh, who also attends Horace Greeley High School, developed a model involving short-term memory and the brain.
Emma Montgomery of Ossining High School's project involved re-engineering enzymes for genetics.
The trip to D.C. will include a black-tie awards ceremony and an opportunity for the finalists to network with scientists and members of Congress. Their research will also be on public display at the National Geographic Society.
