A record number of SEVEN Middle-School students who submitted projects for the 2021 OCSEF were selected among the nation’s Top 300 MASTERS in the 10th annual Broadcom MASTERS® — the nation’s premier Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition for middle school students. The Broadcom MASTERS, a program of the Society for Science, seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators to solve the grand challenges of the 21st century.
The Top 300 MASTERS were selected from 1,841 students from 48 states, Washington, DC and three US territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and Virgin Islands) applying to be a Broadcom MASTER. Only students who are named in the top 10% of their science fair are eligible to enter the Broadcom MASTERS, which is the only middle school STEM competition that leverages Society-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the STEM talent pipeline.
“Those of you in the Top 300 are exemplars of all young people who aspire to become scientists, engineers and innovators in Society-affiliated science fairs,” said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. “The Broadcom MASTERS serves as an important milestone in your STEM journey. Middle school is a time when many students gain confidence needed to follow their passions; and the accomplishment of being selected as one of the Top 300 is something for which each and every one of you should be enormously proud.”
The OCSEF Students among the winners are:
Clara Choi, Grade: 8th
School: Orange County School of the Arts
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: EEG Study of Virtual Learning Demonstrates Worsened Learning Outcomes and Higher Mirror Neuron Activation
Chloe Dorman, Grade: 8th
School: Stratford School – Mission Viejo
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: Improving Vaccines with Tardigrade Biomimicry
Hussein Hirani, Grade: 7th
School: Serrano Intermediate
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: The Effect of Different Types of Blades on the Efficiency of a Wind Turbine
Alexandra Imeshev, Grade: 6th
School: Turtle Rock Elementary School
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: Disposable Facemasks Filter Micron-Sized Particles Better than Reusable Facemasks
Phoebe Morris, Grade: 7th
School: Orange County School of the Arts
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: Personality and Perceptions: How Being Extroverted/Introverted Affects the Accuracy of One’s Self-Evaluation on One’s Performance
Tarini Neeladaran, Grade: 8th
School: Serrano Intermediate
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: The Design and Creation of a Solar Powered Trail Safety Device That Uses RF Signals
Lara Tseng, Grade: 8th
School: Serrano Intermediate
Affiliate Fair ID: USCA01
Project Title: Eggshell Consumption in Different Reproductive Stages and Broods of the Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana
Each of the Top 300 MASTERS will receive a $125 award from DoD STEM. With this prize, now in its second year, the Department of Defense continues its support of youth in STEM, working towards a more diverse pipeline of highly qualified STEM professionals in the future. Winners also receive a giant swag package from Broadcom MASTERS, including their award ribbon, bag pack and a magazine subscription.