Zara Khemlani

Over spring break, a team of students from Rye Country Day School’s science research program presented their projects at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair, or WESEF, one of the largest science research fairs in our area. RCDS’ entries comprised thirteen of the 900 projects entered, and the team certainly left their mark on the research competition. Eleven students received awards for their entries, and juniors Chase Talpins and Illaria Liedtke earned a spot in Regeneron’s International Science and Engineering Fair, or ISEF, on May 10th. Only twenty out of the 900 entries in WESEF were selected to advance to this incredible competition, which 9th Grade Dean and Upper School Science Teacher Ms. Doran described as the “Olympics of science fairs.” 

Talpins and Liedtke are representing the United States in this international competition and will compete against projects from numerous countries, including China, Egypt, France, Spain and more. Rye Country Day School is extremely proud to have these two students represent Rye, New York on the global scale. 

The topics covered in the WESEF entries were wide ranging, and students truly had an opportunity to explore scientific questions that were interesting to them. Talpins’ project focuses on a specific strain of fungi that can potentially decompose byproducts of food waste. Talpins was also able to incorporate his passion for sustainability within his project. Liedtke chose to focus on engineering a nanomaterial to magnetically control calcium signaling of astrocytes, to aid in non-invasive treatment of brain disease, which could potentially impact individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and ALS. Liedtke shared that she is “excited to engage with a different group of individuals at ISEF and continue developing her international scientific network.”

Ms. Doran shared that her favorite part of mentoring these students is watching them use the scientific method in a hands-on way to explore relevant solutions. To summarize her experience with the Science Research team here at RCDS, Ms. Doran stated, “the best part is seeing kids take their passion projects and turn them into something real.” 

Congratulations to all of the RCDS students who participated in WESEF, and we wish Liedtke and Talpins good luck as they continue sharing their projects in the ISEF competition.