Ana Lanier and Elizabeth Mappus (Academic Magnet High School) took top honors at the College of Charleston’s 31st Annual Lowcountry Regional Science and Engineering Fair (LSF), and advanced to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, California, held May 9-13, 2011. There, Lanier won the Third Award of $500 for excellence in the Behavioral and Social Sciences, as well as the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Psychology Renewable Scholarship Award of $15,000 per year for up to four years.

At ISEF, Lanier presented her Behavioral and Social Sciences project titled “Damaging Effects to Cognitive Ability”, which determined the effects of a high fat, high cholesterol diet on cognitive abilities of young and aged rats. Mappus presented her Biological Sciences project titled “The Difference in Bacterial Growth on Gold Plated, Silver Plated and Copper Earring Hooks after Eight Hours of Wear and Twenty-Four Hours of Incubation at Body Temperature.” Both students are from Academic Magnet High School (AMHS).

“Both students are wonderful representatives of their school and the Lowcountry Science Fair,” says Starr Jordan, director of Lowcountry Hall of Science and Math. “We are excited to see what their futures hold.

Ana’s travel to the ISEF was paid by the Lowcountry Science Fair, Patriots Point Foundation Cold War Submarine Memorial Fund, and a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Elizabeth’s travel was paid by the CCSD Laura Brown Fund and the AMHS Partners in Education.

As part of the College of Charleston’s LSF, the top students in grades 6 – 8 were nominated to enter the Broadcom MASTERS Competition. From national entrants, 300 semifinalists will be selected, and 30 finalists will win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. where they will compete for awards and prizes, including the top education award of $25,000 presented by the Samueli Foundation. The LSF nominees are Zack Allen and Maxim Fisher of Addlestone Hebrew Academy, Matthew Key of Porter-Gaud, and Vaibhav Mohanty, Keaton Smith, Anthony Spyropoulos, Nancy Sterrett, and Mary Frances Thackeray of Fort Johnson Middle School.

A complete list of LSF awards and winners can be found at http://www.cofc.edu/lowcountryhall/lsf.htm.

The Lowcountry Regional Science and Engineering Fair is sponsored by the College of Charleston’s School of Sciences and Mathematics and Lowcountry Hall of Science and Math, Patriots Point Foundation Cold War Submarine Memorial Fund, and a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

For more information, contact Starr Jordan at 843.953.7847 or jordans@cofc.edu.