Bay Shore students showcase science research projects, claim regional awards

At a June board meeting, middle-school students in Bay Shore's science research elective presented independent projects developed under teacher Isabel Ida Chico. Chico told the board the gradual-release course lets students ‘‘design and carry out their own investigations, collect data, analyze that data, and learn how to communicate it.’’

Eighth-grader Dennis Umanzor described building an AI model trained on real patient data. According to Dennis, his model ran about 400 trials and reached 95% accuracy in predicting Alzheimer's disease outcomes; his project earned second place at the SAWA fair and an achievement award at the Long Island Science Congress. Marin Orrick reported a 50-day microplastics exposure trial showing higher microplastic levels correlated with reduced basil growth; Marin said collaboration and feedback from peers were central to the class. Another student, identified in the record as Zana Tul., tested hydrogels to explore flood-mitigation approaches for Southeast Asia and reported measurable differences in runoff during four weeks of simulated rainfall. Liam Jackson presented a psychology experiment testing essential oils as a memory aid; he used blindfolded volunteers and a card-recognition task and noted the project placed at regional competitions. Iman Chaudhry described developing an AI that maps symptom sets to mitochondrial mutations and suggests clinics; Iman said the model translates more than 50 symptoms across 20 mutations and has been part of public presentations at regional fairs.

The teacher, Isabel Ida Chico, credited collaboration with Bay Shore colleagues and Suffolk County science research teachers, and she highlighted the program's competitive track record at SAWA and the Long Island Science Congress. Board members applauded the students and said the presentations demonstrated the district's investment in hands-on STEM learning.

Board materials show the science research class began formal discussion three years ago and has been running for two school years. Chico and students framed the course as both a feeder into high-school research pathways and a vehicle for developing coding, laboratory, and presentation skills. Several students noted monetary specialty awards at fairs; the board later invited the students and families to be photographed and publicly recognized.

The district did not provide independent verification of the technical claims made about students' models (for example, Dennis's 95% accuracy). Those project outcomes were presented as students described them and as judged by local fair panels. The board meeting closed its presentation segment by thanking the students, their families, and Chico for the program's development and success.