Coraor and Flores Advance
in Science Competition
Cutting edge stem cell research has landed Huntington High School juniors Juliana Coraor and Holly Flores in the finals of the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair competition.
The research duo has broken historic ground and put Huntington on the map in the field of science research by advancing in the prestigious LISEF, which drew entries from many of the top scholars from Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The pair is pursuing separate projects with partners from other Long Island districts. Ms. Flores is looking at mediums for which stem cells will regenerate best. Ms. Coraor's research is focused on whether stem cells can learn from pre-existing cells when they are placed in new environments.
"The techniques and content involved in these projects are not encountered by most students until their master's or doctoral programs," said Lori Kenny, Huntington's science research teacher. "Both of the girls have mastered and developed skills that will follow them throughout their lives during their explorations in the sciences."
The Huntington duo will compete in the finals on March 22. Numerous scholarships will be on the line. The top project will move on to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
"The girls are so excited and I am proud of how they envelope the world of science around them," Mrs. Kenny said. "It makes me very excited to know that these girls love science. I'm hopeful the breakthroughs they might encounter will impact the world around us."
According to the LISEF website, more than 50 schools and nearly 500 students typically participate annually in the grueling competition.
"It is amazing to see such young minds attack real world science without hesitation and with excitement," Mrs. Kenny said. "It makes me hopeful that our future is bright and exciting, not only for science, but for those of us who will depend on such people to lead us to new frontiers."