Awards & Honors

2024 Award Recipients

High School Winners

Grand Champion

Winston Fan – Iowa City West

Detecting and Quantifying Emotional Loneliness Risk in the Digital Age: An Innovative Lexicon-based Text Analysis Method Combining Deep Learning and Rule-Based Classification

My research introduces innovative methods for loneliness detection and quantification using deep learning and interpretable machine learning, validated against real-world social media data.

Champion

Shanza Sami – Iowa City West

Pura Aerem: Computational Analysis and Prototype Optimization of a Novel Multi-stage Extension Designed to Reduce PM10, CO2, CO Exiting TWC-OC Catalytic Converters

My research focuses on enhancing the filtration efficiency of TWC-OC catalytic converters, crucial components in gas-powered vehicles, to mitigate the devastating impacts of ambient air pollution.

Reserve Champion

Benjamin Lothamer – Mid-Prairie Homeschool Assistance Program

Research and Development of an Open-source Myo-electric Robotic Upper Limb Prosthesis Using Additive Manufacturing

The research focuses on addressing accessibility and cost-effectiveness issues in upper limb prosthetics, crucial for individuals facing amputation due to various causes. Through an iterative engineering design process encompassing anatomy, physiology, biomechanical engineering, and psychosocial factors, the project aims to develop a functional and reliable prosthetic device.

Honorable Mention

Ananya Balaji & Avyay Balaji – Ames High School

A mechanistic analysis of intraneuronal amyloid beta aggregation caused by cellular dysfunction and oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s

Our research investigates the cellular mechanisms underlying amyloid beta aggregation in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a prevalent form of dementia. Using neuroblastoma cell lines treated with stress-inducing chemicals, the study identifies the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway as the dominant factor in promoting intracellular amyloid beta aggregation.

Honorable Mention

Ritvik Gupta – Johnston High School

ViGAR – Viral Genome Annotation with Recurrent Neural Networks

My research search addresses the crucial need for genome annotation in understanding viral biology and potential drug therapies. Despite the vast number of viral genomes in NCBI GenBank, a significant portion remains unannotated, limiting our comprehension of various viruses. ViGAR, a tool utilizing a stacked Bidirectional LSTM network, demonstrates high performance in annotating coding sequences on viral genomes, achieving impressive recall, F-1 score, and precision metrics.

Honorable Mention

Amal Eltayib – Iowa City High School

DVL Inhibits YAP1 Bypass Mechanism of KRAS Inactivation

My research explores the role of DVL in regulating YAP1 activity and its implications for cancer therapy. By analyzing mRNASeq data from breast cancer samples, the study demonstrates that DVL-mediated cytoplasmic translocation of YAP1 indirectly inhibits a bypass mechanism to KRAS inactivation, suggesting DVL as a potential target molecule for therapy.

2024 Award Recipients

Junior High Winners

Grand Champion

Gabriel Thompson – Ames Middle School

Pultrusion Conclusion

My research evaluates the properties of 3D printer filament derived from recycled PET bottles and compares them to conventional filament materials. By assessing dimensional accuracy, filament reliability, and printed part strength, the study aims to determine the feasibility and practicality of using recycled PET filament, potentially encouraging broader adoption of recycling practices.

Champion

Caedon Newton – Central Lee Middle School

Pitch Prediction in MLB Baseball: An Analysis Using Python and Machine Learning

My research investigates the use of machine learning to predict the type of pitch in Major League Baseball using historical data. Through analysis of eight independent variables and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification, the combination of release spin rate and release speed yields the highest confidence rate for pitch type prediction, with a training score of 94%. Despite most combinations resulting in confidence rates between 50-60%, further data incorporation and weighting could enhance the model’s accuracy, benefiting MLB players by optimizing their at-bat performance.

Reserve Champion

Brynn Burlage & Brock Burlage – Beckman Catholic

Misclassification Rates for Human Perception of AI Generated Images

Our research investigates human misclassification rates in distinguishing between AI-generated and real images, highlighting the challenges and implications of automated image generation. Conducting an online survey, the study finds support for a hypothesis of misclassification rates greater than 25% in the general population, with variations across age groups.

Honorable Mention

Arabella McDowell – Central Lee Middle School

Does Exercise Affect Lamb Growth? Phase 2

My research investigates the effects of exercise on lamb growth, muscle development, and carcass quality. Utilizing a comparison between exercised and non-exercised lambs, my study evaluates factors such as fat deposition, muscle size, and overall growth. Results suggest that while non-exercised lambs exhibit slightly faster growth rates, exercised lambs demonstrate larger muscle development and better carcass quality, highlighting the benefits of exercise in lamb preparation for show and market.

Honorable Mention

Jack Brink & Caleb Schwartz – Sheldon Middle School

Jack & Caleb and the Beanstalk

Our research aimed to investigate the impact of different pesticides on soybean growth. Conducting experiments over three months, the study measured the height of soybean plants treated with various pesticides compared to a control group. Results indicated that soybeans treated with pesticides exhibited less growth compared to non-chemically treated soybeans, suggesting that in a controlled environment, non-chemically treated soybeans grow better.

Honorable Mention

Asher Reuel – Ames Middle School

How Nozzle Geometry Affects the Thrust of Electric Ducted Fans (EDFs)

My research aims to enhance the thrust of Electric Ducted Fans (EDFs) for use in large-scale commercial flight by designing and testing various nozzles. Different nozzle designs, including converging, diverging, and converging-diverging (CD) designs, will be fabricated and attached to the EDF for testing.

Special Award Winners

Junior High Winners

Junior High Category Winners

Senior High Winners

2024 Awards Ceremony

April 4, 2024 Special Awards Ceremony | april 5, 2024 Grand Award ceremony

The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa Grand Awards Ceremony is the celebration of a year’s worth of science research, learning and discovery for over 450 students exhibiting over 350 projects from more than 50 junior and senior high schools that span the state of Iowa.

This program honors the top science fair projects by awarding certificates, medallions, prizes, scholarships, and all expense paid trips to the top projects to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Watch the Ceremonies Live!

We will be live streaming the awards ceremonies from our YouTube Channel. After, we will post the videos on this page, so you can relive the ceremonies.

Recent Hall of Fame Inductee

Stith Wiggs

2024 Honoree

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Stith, an Agricultural Specialist at Iowa State University, is a dedicated volunteer judge at the State Science Technology Fair of Iowa since his freshman year at Iowa State University in 2005. He remains passionate about judging Junior High projects, which he believes lay the foundation for students’ science education. Stith finds fulfillment in encouraging students’ development of foundational science and technology skills through judging. His commitment to fostering young scientists’ growth and learning is recognized as he joins the SSTFI class of 2024 Hall of Fame.

Jody Larson

2024 Honoree

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Jody has been a cornerstone in planning and executing SSTFI events, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the program’s success for more than 2 decades. Her extensive background in event management, including involvement in hosting national games and managing displays at large-scale exhibitions, has been pivotal in orchestrating the various aspects of SSTFI. Jody’s unwavering commitment to excellence, honed through diverse experiences culminate in her well-deserved induction into the State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa Hall of Fame.

Mike Hovey

2024 Honoree

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Mike has been an integral part of SSTFI events for over 20 years, ensuring their smooth execution behind the scenes. As the ISU Production Coordinator, his meticulous attention to detail and dedication make him indispensable to the success of SSTFI and other events at Iowa State University. From overseeing technical aspects to providing support whenever needed, Mike’s contributions embody the spirit of excellence and professionalism, deserving recognition in the SSTFI Hall of Fame.