2025 ECEF Science Fair

Congratulations to our ECEF Upper School Science Fair 2024 winner, Olivia Huang (currently 8th grade), who won the Team Award at the National Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on Oct. 29th, 2024!

Among the 6 teams consist of the top 30 finalists in the Finals Week in D.C., Olivia’s team won the Team Award based on their ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration throughout two full challenge days where they learned to do a bunch of new skills like coding, building solar-powered mini houses, analyzed a fictional family with sickle cell disease, made a battery, learned how to micropipette and do gel electrophoresis and code with raspberry pi. Olivia enjoyed the challenges and also felt great to make good friends and connections with people from across the country. She rates this experience 10 out of 10 and highly recommends that other kids strive to get there to experience it as well. We’re really proud of her and grateful to be in this inspiring journey with her.

Congratulations to our ECEF Upper School Science Fair 2024 winner, Olivia Huang (currently 8th grade), who was announced as the Top 30 Finalists in Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on Sep. 18th, 2024! 

 Science Fair Winners:

1st place:
Vivienne Huang - “The Case for Casein: Is Casein a Better Biodegradable Material Than Plastic, PLA, or Paper?”

2nd place:
Olivia Huang -“Can Medications for Lactose Intolerance and Gastroesophageal Reflux Work Together to Increase Efficacy of Lactase?”

3rd place:
Benjamin Lau  - “Designing a Plant-Based Biodegradable Absorbent for Cleaning Oil Spills.”

Honorable mentions:
Kayla Pietrocola - “Can AI Platforms and Original Writing be Distinguished?”
Eric Cui -“Are Solar Powered Desalinators Effective?”
Joelle Shyr - “ How Does the Amount of Coffee Grounds in Concrete Affect the Strength?”
Bradley Koo - “Do Different Types of Music Affect the Growth of a Plant?”

**Did you know?

- All participants of this science fair are eligible to compete in the Bergen SciChallenge, the science fair hosted by the Bergen County Academies. 

- Projects awarded “Top 10% of the Fair” at the Bergen SciChallenge are invited to compete in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, (formerly called Broadcom MASTERS), the National Middle School Science Fair. From there, top finishers are awarded scholarships and travel to Washington, DC.

- The Bergen SciChallenge is one of only four fairs in NJ affiliated with The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, which is by invitation only.

- Upper School Previous Bergen SciChallenge Winners include:

1. Benjamin Lau: 1st Place, Engineering, 2024 & top 10% of fair

2. Kayla Pietrocola: 1st Place, Computer Science, 2024, & top 10% of fair

3. Olivia Huang: 1st Place, Chemistry, 2024, & top 10% of fair

4. Jayoon Lee: 2nd Place, Chemistry, 2024, & top 10% 

5. Annabel Yoo: 2nd Place, Chemistry, 2024, & top 10% 

6. Vivienne Huang: 1st Place, Environmental Science, 2024, Lemelson Early Innovator Award

7. Charles Kakkanatt - 1st Place, Biology, 2022- “Can meditation improve athletic performance?” [Invited to Broadcom MASTERS, top 10% of Fair]

8. Christopher Lau - 1st Place, Biology, 2022 –“ How does pH level in hydroponic systems affect mung bean growth?” [ Invited to Broadcom MASTERS, top 10% of Fair]

9. Claire Shi - 2nd Place, Environmental Science, 2022 – “Building with Mushroom Roots: Three-Point Flexural Test”

10. Lauren Kim - 3rd Place, Biology, 2022 – “What is the best technique for seed germination?”

11. Charles Kakkanatt - 2nd Place , Biology, 2021 – “Does meditation help decrease stress?”

12. Joanne Shyr - 2nd Place, Environmental Science, 2021 –“Sustainable Future: Bioplastic Durability Test”