On Saturday, June 16, 2012, the Bergen County Academies (BCA) held its first annual BCA SciChallenge, a science fair for middle school students residing in Bergen County, NJ. This fair is a new affiliate of the Braoadcom Masters National Science Fair run by the Society for Science and the Public. In an effort to promote an appreciation for scientific discovery, Cell Biology research students at the Bergen County Academies decided they wanted to offer an opportunity to their younger counterparts in order to instill a passion for the scientific endeavor.
The science fair oversaw 50 entries from all over Bergen County and projects ranged from Shock Absorption Based Upon Geometric Shapes of Differing Viscosities to Minimizing Water Loss in Plants. Judges included alumni and professionals in the various fields of science, technology, engineering and math. During the morning the students presented their projects to the judges and then were subsequently engaged in team engineering design challenges.
The top 10% of the winners from the BCA SciChallenge are now eligible to apply to the National Middle School Science Fair, the Broadcom Masters, where they compete for a grand prize of $25,000.00.
Pictured above from left to right are the top 10% of the winners eligible to apply to Broadcom Masters: Russell Davis, Principal of the Bergen County Academies, Alon Millet (Franklin Lakes), Sangwoo Hahn (Demarest), John Glidden (Closter), Lev Krasnovsky (River Edge), Alex Choi (Rivervale), and Donna Leonardi, Fair Director.
Faculty advisor: Donna Leonardi