Broadcom MASTERS 2013 Finalists

The Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) announced on August 27 the selection of 30 middle school students as finalists in the 2013 Broadcom MASTERS® competition.
 
This year’s Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) finalists come from 17 states and represent 30 schools. 
 
Acks, Eitan Grade: 8
San Diego, CA
San Diego Jewish Academy
Project Title: Tongue Untwister
 
Agarwal, Aakshi Grade: 8
Hamden, CT
Hamden Middle School
Project Title: TACE Inhibitors as Non-Biological Drugs for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
 
Balachandar, Sidhika Grade: 7
Gainesville, FL
Abraham Lincoln Middle School
Project Title: Can You Keep It Down?
 
Becker, Drew Grade: 7
Heber City, UT
Rocky Mountain Middle School
Project Title: Fingerprinting Oil Wells
 
Becker, Michael Grade: 8
Flower Mound, TX
Liberty Christian School
Project Title: Different Temperatures, Different Pitch
 
Bloomfield, Rebecca Grade: 8
Colorado Springs, CO
North Middle School
Project Title: A Slippery Slope: The Effects of Slope and Remediation Treatments on Post-Fire Sedimentation
 
Burnett, Oliver Grade: 7
Pittsburgh, PA
The Ellis School
Project Title: Elements of Fluorescence
 
Corn, Elizabeth Grade: 8
Tampa, FL
Davidsen Middle School
Project Title: The Effects of Nanoparticle Size on the Antibacterial Effects of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) on E. coli Bacteria
 
Gandall, Keoni Grade: 8
Huntington Beach, CA
Samuel E. Talbert Middle School
Project Title: Engineering Pink Salt!
 
Garimella, Mihir Grade: 8
Pittsburgh, PA
Dorseyville Middle School
Project Title: ScentIt: Digitally Recreating Smells
 
Gonser, Caleb Grade: 6
Terre Haute, IN
Honey Creek Middle School
Project Title: Space vs. No Space:  Competition for Oviposition Sites in Bean Beetles
 
Grace, River Grade: 8
West Melbourne, FL
West Shore Junior/Senior High School
Project Title: Rain Dance of the Radiata: Behavior of the Endangered Radiated Tortoise and Related Species
 
Hoolahan, Seamus Grade: 6
Anaconda, MT
Fred Moodry Middle School
Project Title: Feel the Power
 
Horton, Krystal Grade: 6
Menifee, CA
Menifee Valley Middle School
Project Title: Agrilus Coxalis: The Gold Spotted Oak Borer
 
Iyer, Dhruv Grade: 8
Chandler, AZ
BASIS Chandler
Project Title: From the Playground to the Boardroom: Modified R-P-S Game as a Model for Negotiations with Constraints
 
Jones, Cameron Grade: 6
Portola Valley, CA
Corte Madera School
Project Title: We’re Jammin’: Using the Jamming Principle to Construct a Universal Gripper
 
Kailey-Steiner, Johann Grade: 8
Denver, CO
Grant Beacon Middle School
Project Title: Rocket Design, Part  3: Exploring How Vortex Generators Affect Boundary Layer Airflow
 
Kamat, Rhea Grade: 8
San Antonio, TX
Jose M. Lopez Middle School
Project Title: Broccoli Power: Effect of Sulforaphane on Tadpole Development
 
McCoy, Austin Grade: 7
Rochester, MN
Friedell Middle School
Project Title: Designing and Validating Affordable, High Quality Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory Equipment for Developing Nations
 
Mohindra, Smita Grade: 7
Yorktown Heights, NY
Home School
Project Title: Novel Strategies in the Treatment of Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency Using Sensors
 
Nolan, Caroline Grade: 7
Stuart, FL
Stuart Middle School
Project Title: Bee Happy, Bee Healthy: Improving the Health of Bee Hives
 
Sauer, Julienne Grade: 8
San Ramon, CA
Windemere Ranch Middle School
Project Title: Quantum Locking: The Future of Frictionless Motion
 
Sperry, Nathaniel Grade: 7
Falls Church, VA
Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
Project Title: When Carrots Turn Green… Literally!
 
Steele, Hannah Grade: 7
Bedford, VA
Bedford Middle School
Project Title: What’s the Interplanetary Forecast: Can a Homemade Magnetometer Accurately Measure How the Interplanetary Magnetic Field Is Affected by Solar Storms?
 
Swintosky, Megan Grade: 8
Hatfield, PA
Penn View Christian School
Project Title: Novel Mutations in the FLCN Gene in Cases of Familial Spontaneous Pneumothoraces
 
Wallin, Brenna Grade: 6
Lexington, KY
Lexington Traditional Magnet School
Project Title: Nuclear Nerka: Detection of Ionic Radiation in Pacific Sockeye Salmon
 
Weber, Sean Grade: 6
Sequim, WA
Sequim Middle School
Project Title: Strength of Mussel Byssal Threads vs. Wave Action
 
Wentzel, Joshua Grade: 8
Portland, OR
Winterhaven Middle School
Project Title: GOING BALLISTIC! The Surprising Relationship of Reservoir Volume to Barrel Length and Reservoir Pressure in a Homemade Air Cannon
 
Womble, Grant Grade: 7
Tallahassee, FL
Deerlake Middle School
Project Title: Blown Away by Biomimicry: Increasing the Efficiency of Wind Turbines through Biomimicry Enhanced Blade Design
 
Wu, Katherine Grade: 7
North Potomac, MD
Takoma Park Middle School
Project Title: The Association of Selling Sweets/Snacks at School and the Obese Rate at School