Huntington Junior Participates in Breast Cancer Research
As the school year was winding down last June Aliyah Cohen received a surprising invitation to apply for a unique summer experience. The call eventually led to a three-week July internship at the renowned Silent Spring Institute outside of Boston where the Huntington High School junior researched suspected environmental causes of breast cancer.
Ms. Cohen was one of five Long Island high school students chosen to participate in the prestigious Students and Scientists program. She lived with a host family during the internship, was assigned a cubicle alongside professional researchers and gained rare insight into the fight against a dreaded disease.
“I’m really happy I did it because it was a great experience,” Ms. Cohen said. “Everyone was really nice and very welcoming.” The last minute opportunity came out of the blue. After interviewing and learning more about the internship program, Ms. Cohen was soon on the way to the Silent Spring Institute, which conducts research on the links between breast cancer and the environment, environmental health issues and “green chemistry.”
As a Huntington student, Ms. Cohen has completed courses in Regents Earth Science, an advanced class at J. Taylor Finley Middle School, Honors Chemistry and AP Biology. She is currently enrolled in Honors Physics.
Along with her research partner, a high school student from Great Neck, Ms. Cohen will travel to California in November for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Centers conference to present their findings. Ms. Cohen will present details of her research in the coming months at Huntington High School.
“We are very proud of the work that Aliyah has done in with the coordination of the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition,” said David M. Casamento, director of science for the Huntington School District. “The skills that she learned this summer can be transferred to everything she will do while at Huntington High School and beyond. This is an area of great importance to many, many people and we should all be proud of the work Aliyah participated in this summer.”
During an interview on a recent afternoon, Ms. Cohen discussed her summer experiences. She explained that the Silent Spring Institute focuses on the prevention of cancer instead of finding a cure. Her own research was geared toward contributing to an intervention study involving the testing of home products containing a variety of chemicals and other substances and replacing the items with “safer” products. Other parts of the study will involve testing things like dust in the home, etc.
“We examined items found in conventional stores and alternative stores,” Ms. Cohen explained. “We examined the ‘eco’ claims of products that might confuse consumers.” The early days of the internship involved intensive research to get the high school duo up to speed. They then went to work compiling reams of data, essentially filling the role of research assistants.
Ms. Cohen attended board meetings at the Institute, met leading scientists in the field, went on side trips, such a journey to Harvard, and was immersed in real world science.
A Huntington School District parent recommended Ms. Cohen for the internship. “I hope that more students will consider applying this coming summer,” Mr. Casamento said. “Yet again we have an example of Huntington becoming and maintaining its stature as a true science community.”
Students interested in applying for the internship should contact Mr. Casamento (dcasamento@hufsd.edu) next April.
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