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<div align="center"><font color="#000099"><b>Student Science in
Falmouth Highlight of Sea Grant’s “Oceans Alive” Presentation</b></font><br>
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<br>
Woods Hole Sea Grant’s “Oceans Alive” lecture series concludes on
Tuesday, May 1, with a special afternoon presentation by local science
fair winners. The students will describe the projects that garnered
them prizes and recognition locally and regionally as they prepare for
the state science fair, to be held at MIT from May 3–5.<br>
<br>
The student presentations will begin at 4:00 p.m. and will feature
Falmouth Academy students Max Mann and Matthew Pickart, and Falmouth
High School students Neil Forrester and Kevin Lin. “Oceans Alive”
presentations take place in Redfield Auditorium, located on Water
Street, Woods Hole. The lecture is free; on-street meter parking is
available adjacent to the auditorium.<br>
<br>
Max, a junior, won a first place prize at the Falmouth Academy science
fair and a second place award at the South Shore Regional science fair
for his project titled “Search for Marine Microbes that Metabolize
Dissolved Organic Carbon.” During his research, Max added samples from
the environment and isolates of certain organisms to media with
dissolved organic carbon. To determine if any metabolism occurred, Max
analyzed the levels of total organic carbon at one-week intervals. WHOI
senior scientist John Waterbury served as Max’s mentor for the project.
Max enjoys working on engineering projects and learning Japanese. He is
the son of Douglas Mann and Jane Schweitzer of Falmouth.<br>
<br>
Falmouth Academy junior Matthew Pickart won first place prizes at both
the school and regional fairs. Matthew will describe his winning
effort, titled “Effects of Petroleum Hydrocarbons on Salt Marsh
Sediments.” For his project, Matthew investigated how petroleum
hydrocarbons from a 1969 oil spill influence salt marsh topography in
Wild Harbor, located in Falmouth, Massachusetts, 35 years after
contamination. He is the son of Robert and Anne Pickart of Falmouth.
Matthew is a member of the National Honor Society and the Falmouth
Academy soccer team.<br>
<br>
Neil Forrester, a junior at Falmouth High School, captured top honors
at the high school fair and a first place award at the South Shore
Regional fair. For his project titled “Differentiating Random Sequences
with a Genetic Algorithm,” Neil used a technique called genetic
programming to find flaws in the various ways that computers create
random numbers. Results from research such as Neil’s have the potential
to be used to protect data and secure codes. WHOI associate scientist
Hanumant Singh provided guidance on this project. The son of Ned and
Janice Forrester of Falmouth, Neil’s interests include sailing,
computer programming, and participating in mock trials. He is also a
member of the math team.<br>
<br>
Also a junior at Falmouth High School, Kevin Lin won a first place
award at the high school fair and a second place at the South Shore
Regional fair for his project titled “Evolution of Marine Cyanobacteria
in the Red Sea.” For his winning effort, Kevin sequenced and analyzed
DNA of cyanobacteria in the Red Sea to see how these organisms have
evolved to environmental stress conditions and therefore differ from
other strains of cyanobacteria found worldwide. Kevin is the son of
Jian Lin and Kelan Huang of Falmouth. He enjoys running, swimming,
reading, participating in science fairs, and conducting scientific
research. A member of the math team, ecology club, student government,
and student council, Kevin also participates in Model United Nations,
an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and other
multilateral bodies.<br>
<br>
For more information, contact Sheri DeRosa at (508) 289-2398, or send
e-mail to <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:sderosa@whoi.edu">sderosa@whoi.edu</a>.<br>
<br>
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