Two Wantagh High School juniors are making their mark in the scientific community at a young age. Lauren Furer and Charlotte Heron, both third-year students in the Science Research Academy, were recently recognized by scientific organizations for their achievements and ambitions. 

 

Lauren Furer, who spent last summer working at the Zeigler Lab at Hunter College, was part of a team that authored a paper published in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal. The research was led by Zachary Samuels, a Ph.D. candidate, who studied the attachment of antibodies to radioactive metals to diagnose and treat diseases, primarily cancer. Lauren assisted three days per week over the summer, taking measurements and preparing samples. Among the author credits on the paper, she is the only high school student. 

 

“It was really exciting and really cool to be exposed to a professional research environment,” Lauren 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.”

 

In science research, Lauren’s individual project focuses on neuroscience and is exploring connections to depression and autism to the salience network in the brain. She plans to enter her research into next year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search competition.

 

Charlotte recently received a $300 grant in the ninth annual New York Tech Mini- Research Grant Award program from the New York Institute of Technology. The money will be used for her research project, “Lettuce Settle This Debate: A Comparative Study of DIY Hydroponic Systems.”

 

For her project, Charlotte is comparing two do-it-yourself hydroponic systems, one with and one without the use of air stones in the water. Hydroponics is a sustainable method of growing plants without soil. Her lettuce plants will be suspended from pieces of foam and into water mixed with a nutrient solution in large black tubs. One of those tubs will have five stones on the bottom to pump air into the system. Her hope is that the system without the air stones will better support the lettuce growth as her thesis is based on finding the most cost-effective solution.

 

Charlotte’s interest in hydroponics began in eighth grade when she enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture elective class. The grant will help her purchase materials for her latest endeavor, which she hopes to enter into the Regeneron competition next year. 

 

“It’s exciting, but it was really unexpected,” she said of the grant. “It’s nice to know that I can continue to carry out my research with this extra support.”

 

The budding scientists are supported by teacher Casey Clark in a state-of-the-art laboratory. Lauren and Charlotte are part of the initial group of students in the Science Research Academy, which is now 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, director of STEM 6-12. “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