Scientists from Wantagh honored with awards and publications
WANTAGH, NY. — Wantagh High School juniors Lauren Furer and Charlotte Heron have made significant strides in their early careers, with Furer being published in the Royal Society of Chemistry Journal and Heron receiving a $300 grant from the New York Institute of Technology.
Both students are in their third year of the science research program at Wantagh. Furer is focusing on how antibodies interact with radioactive metals, with the potential to use them for diagnosing and treating diseases. Meanwhile, Heron has been exploring hydroponic systems that could enable the growth of vegetables without soil.
Furer spent last summer in Hunter College’s Zeigler Lab, working under the guidance of Ph.D. candidate Zachary Samuels. She spent three days a week in the lab conducting measurements and preparing samples, which earned her an author credit on the study. She was the only high school student listed as a co-author in the published paper.
“It was really exciting and really cool to be exposed to a professional research environment,” Furer said. “I’m really grateful I got the opportunity to do something like that and I hope to go back this summer to work on another project.”
Although Furer was published for her research on antibodies, that isn’t her main science project. In class at Wantagh, she is studying the connections between depression, autism, and the brain’s salience network. She plans to submit this research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
Meanwhile, Heron received a $300 grant from the New York Tech Mini-Research Grant Award Program, administered by the New York Institute of Technology. This grant will support her research into hydroponic lettuce growing techniques, titled “Lettuce Settle This Debate: A Comparative Study of DIY Hydroponic Systems.”
Her research compares two DIY hydroponic systems, a sustainable farming technique that involves suspending plants within pieces of foam and feeding them nutrient solutions. One of the systems will use air stones in the water, while the other won’t. Air stones pump air into the plant feeding system. Heron’s goal is to determine the most economic way to grow these plants.
“It’s nice to know that I can continue to carry out my research with this extra support,” Heron said.
Heron became interested in hydroponics during eighth grade in a Sustainable Agriculture elective at Wantagh. As for the grant, she plans to use it to purchase materials for further study. Her ultimate goal is to enter her research in the Regeneron talent search next year.
“It’s exciting, but it was really unexpected,” Heron said.
For the science research instructor and officials at Wantagh, the recognition of Furer and Heron is a source of pride for a science research program that is only in its third year.
“We are incredibly proud as a district to see our Science Research students recognized beyond the walls of our school for their efforts and intellect,” said Christine Gill, Grades 6-12 Director of STEM. “They are innovative, intelligent and determined students who will undoubtedly make a positive impact on the world. Congratulations to Charlotte on receiving the NY Tech Mini-Research Grant to support her work in hydroponics, and to Lauren for being a co-author on published research with the Royal Society of Chemistry. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments.”
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