Hewlett students shine as Junior Science semifnalists

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Hewlett High School students continue to be recognized for their skills in science research, as six have been named 2023 Junior Science and Humanities Symposium semifinalists.

“Our community values research, and our specific programs are designed to support our students in their research investigations,” Principal Alexandra Greenberg stated in a news release. “We are so proud of our six students and their contributions to the field of academia.”

All of the students are enrolled in the Hewlett Science Research program, which encompasses a social science program as well. Junior Alexandre Tourneux and seniors

Ethan Abelev and Mikayla

Joseph are involved in the science program, while seniors

Abigail Khaytman, Michael Pignatelli and Olivia Ginzburg take part in the social science program.

Students conduct independent research that lends itself to competitions such as the JSHS, which recognizes excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as the humanities. The students com- pete at the regional level, and semifinalists are chosen for the national symposium.

Tourneux’s project, in the field of genetics, is titled “The Annotation of Novel Datasets for the Training of Cellori (Cell Origin) Spots, A Deep Learning Algorithm for RNA FISH Detection.”

Abelev’s project, “Monocarbony curcumin analogs C66 and B2BrBC down regulate selected genes involved in the epithelialto-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in breast cancer,” investigated treatments for breast cancer.

“Orthologue of Root Hair

Defective 3 (RHD3) in Ceratopteris richardii is Affected by DNA Methylation and Regulates Rhizoid Development in Gametophytes,” Joseph’s project, studied a gene that helps increase absorption of nutrients in plants.

The students in the science program were under the guidance of science research coordi- nator Terrence Bissoondial, who also advised them on how to develop their research papers.

“It is wonderful to see that students from Hewlett H.S. can develop scientific research in a range of topics” like plant biology, oncology, computer science, social science, Bissoondial wrote in an email. “These projContinued on page 14