Science in Shoreham-Wading River doesn’t take a break for the summer!

The next round of Shoreham-Wading River High School’s SPARK science scholars were hard at work last week at Brookhaven National Laboratory, learning about infrared spectroscopy and developing projects to look for microplastics present in oyster shells, root vegetables and prepackaged seaweed snacks. Lab time on July 5 taught the rising sophomores (from left in photo) – Hayden Shea, Timmie Nigrel, Spencer Lee and Conner McVeigh – the techniques for extracting those microplastics and staining them to make them visible. This week they will take those microplastics to the NSLS-II facility where they will utilize the infrared microscope to identify which types of plastics those particles are made of.

The students are working at the NSLS-II for two weeks in July, introducing them to the SPARK program, spectroscopy and the process of developing a project, from designing a question and procedure, to collecting and analyzing data collected and then communicating it through oral presentation, as well as preparing it for manuscript. They will continue with the SPARK program in their second year of Science Research with teacher Dana Schaefer in the 2024-25 school year.

Date Added: 7/8/2024