OCSEF Students are Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge Finalists

Society for Science announced that Jocelyn Mathew and Rhea Sreedhar are among the 30 finalists in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge – the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students.

Jocelyn, an 8^th grader at Fairmont Private School (Anaheim Hills campus), entered her OCSEF project titled “Optimizing Microbiologically Contaminated Wastewater Treatment Using Microbial Fuel Cells”. The project received a 1^st place award in category 800 Environmental Science & Environmental Engineering at the 2023 OCSEF.

Rhea, an 8^th grader at Fairmont Private School (Anaheim Hills campus), entered her OCSEF project titled “Enhancing CO2 Capture and Alternative Bioelectricity Generation using Algal Fuel Cells”. The project received a 2^nd place award in category 2000 Energy Conversion & Alternative Energy at the 2023 OCSEF.

The finalists will participate in Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week (Oct 25-30) in Washington, D.C. Each student will be judged on both their science research projects as well as their demonstration of communication, creativity, and collaboration skills during team challenges.

Earlier this month, Society for Science announced the Top 300 Junior Innovators that were chosen from the over 1800 students that applied for the national contest. Among the 300, nine OCSEF students were selected. Below is the list of students who made it to the Top 300 list:

Boatswain, Arden, Grade 8th
School: Serrano Intermediate
Project Title: Automatic, Replenishing, Nourishing, Aquaponic System
(Team project with Eesha Neeladaran & Gwyneth Bauer)

Mathew, Jocelyn, Grade: 8th
School: Fairmont Private School – Anaheim Hills Campus
Project Title: Optimizing Microbiologically Contaminated Wastewater Treatment Using Microbial Fuel Cells

Ponnachana, Atharv, Grade: 8th
School: Fairmont Private School
Project Title: Creating a Versatile Mobile Device To Assist the Visually Impaired Using Object Detection

Smirnov, Matthew, Grade: 7th
School: Leport School
Project Title: HelioHeater: A Sun-Tracking, Compact, Highly Efficient Concentrated Solar Power System for Residential Water Heating

Sreedhar, Rhea, Grade: 8th
School: Fairmont Private School – Anaheim Hills Campus
Project Title: Closed Loop CO₂ Capture and Electricity Generation Using Algal Fuel Cells: A Comparative Study on Spirulina and Chlorella