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Winners of the 36th annual American Samoa Science Symposium announced

Source: ASDOE facebook

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Department of Education (ASDOE) has announced the winners of the 36th annual American Samoa Science Symposium, a STEAM-related competition for high school students, held on November 30th at the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs Conference Room in Tafuna.

The symposium aims to inspire young scientists, engineers, and innovators who will solve the challenges of the future.

The top six winners are now eligible to represent American Samoa at the 2024 Hawaii and Pacific Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This annual event is administered by the Hawaii Academy of Science.

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) Program is a Tri-Service (U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force and Space Force) sponsored STEM competition that promotes original research and experimentation in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the high school level and publicly recognizes students for outstanding achievement.

A total of 24 student research papers were reviewed by off-island and resident readers (scientists and university faculties), selecting the top 10 student finalists to present on symposium day and judged by local judges.

The winners of the science symposium are as follows:

1. First Place: Amelie Chen (Pacific Horizons School) "Antipodal Algae: Energy Solutions for a Tropical Island."

Amelia Chen — First Place: “Antipodal Algae: Energy Solutions for a Tropical Island.” (Pacific Horizons School) [photo: ASDOE]

2. Second Place: Princess Jazzelle Viesca (Fa’asao Marist High School) "Determining which banana (Musa acuminata) variety (Fa’i Palagi, Fa’i Samoa, Fa’i Pata, Misiluki, Pulukamu) in American Samoa contains the highest amylase activity."

Princess Jazzelle Viesca — Second Place:  “Determining which banana (Musa acuminata) variety (Fa’i Palagi, Fa’i Samoa, Fa’i Pata, Misiluki, Pulukamu) in American Samoa contains the highest amylase activity.” (Fa’asao Marist High School) [photo: ASDOE]

3. Third Place: Falagai Fuiava (Manumalo Academy) "Efficiency of a Lightweight Concrete Made of Polystyrene Foam and Cement."

Falagai Fuiava — Third Place: “Efficiency of a Lightweight Concrete Made of Polystyrene Foam and Cement.” (Manumalo Academy) [photo: ASDOE]

4. Fourth Place: Daniel Lee (Pacific Horizons School) "Predicting Coral Bleaching: Deep Learning Model for Detecting Zooxanthellae Expulsion and Maximizing Conservation."

5. Fifth Place: Kim Gerald Garcia (Fa’asao Marist High School) "Growth Effects of Indigenous Microorganisms on Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) in American Samoa."

6. Sixth Place: Renee Dunson (Leone High School) "Testing the Effectiveness of various household solutions in dissolving Polystyrene (Styrofoam)."

7. Seventh Place: Charles Tauiliili (Tafuna High School) "A Short-Term Study on Macroalgae Abundance in Proximity to Freshwater Input as an Indicator of Excess Land-Based Source of Nutrients (Total N, Total P, DIN), in Three Coral Reef Flat Habitats in American Samoa."

8. Eighth Place (tie):

• John Marcial Toa Mirasol (Manumalo Academy) "Natural Organic Sorbents (Coco Coir and Human Hair) in Absorbing Oil Spills."

• Emirina Ioane (Leone High School) "Barriers and Facilitators of Recruitment and Retention for Health Research Involving Adolescents in American Samoa."

9. Ninth Place: Alice Lee (South Pacific Academy) "Antimicrobial Properties of Dichloromethane and Ethanol Extract of Phymatosorus scolopendria Against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus."

ASDOE also acknowledged the 24 semi-finalists who submitted research papers for this year’s competition.

In recognition of their achievements, all finalists received a prize package containing a Certificate of Merit, Trophy, and a bag with school supplies and goodies.

The top six finalists are now eligible to participate in the 2024 Hawaii and Pacific JSHS in Honolulu, Hawaii, from January 20- 21, 2024, to showcase their science research projects. They will present to a panel of break-out room judges on the first day, and selected finalists will present on the second day, followed by an awards ceremony.

The following were the symposium’s off-island and resident judges:

•         Lawrence Agodoa, Ph.D., Former Director of NIDDK’s Office of Minority Health Research Coordination, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

•         Rafael Aniu Peres-David, MS; Ph.D., University of Hawai'i, Manoa

•         Krit Phankitnirundorn, Ph.D., University of Hawai'i, Manoa

•         Valerie Brown, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

•         Aifili Dr. John Tufa Ph.D., Agriculture, Community and Natural Resources Division, American Samoa Community College

•         Matamua Katrina Mariner, American Samoa Power Authority

•         Susan A. Save, Department of Veterans Affair

•         Alexsandra Sesepasara, American Samoa Power Authority

ASDOE notes that “this special project is coordinated by the Science/Health Division, Division of Curriculum, and Instruction (DCI), Department of Education, and funded by USDOE Consolidated Grant of Insular Affairs.”