On Wednesday evening, June 6, TABC hosted a first of its kind “academic doubleheader” event featuring the innovations and research of several students in the sciences along with the independent research projects of this year’s cohort of tenth grade students completing the Distinguished Scholars program. The first half of the evening showcased science innovation projects, ranging from biology and chemistry to physics and engineering, and included presentations on smart thermostat design, cooking with kanthal, the oligodynamic effect and many others. Presenters were each given a chance to present their research to small groups in a series of short talks, followed by a few minutes for questions and answers.
For the second half of the evening, students in the Distinguished Scholars program gave presentations showcasing their research projects, the culmination of a year of study and analysis. The students’ presentations covered a large swath of genres, as topics included a comparison of the philosophies of Rambam and Ramban; a close look at the evolution of musical films over the past century; a historiographical analysis of the reasons behind the fall of the Roman Empire and much more. These topics were chosen, researched and developed by the scholars in conjunction with a personal mentor assigned to them early in the year who had expertise in their student’s chosen topic. The program was an incredible opportunity for students to share the depth of their knowledge with friends, family and teachers.
Regarding the science innovation competition, Rabbi Daniel Fridman, TABC s’gan rosh yeshiva and rabbi of the Teaneck Jewish Center, commented, “It was with profound nachat and considerable pride in all of our talmidim that I watched their original presentations in all areas of science, ranging from developing new devices for temperature regulation in homes to innovating new methods for carbon monoxide detection. It was not merely the fact that the students had to master different aspects of biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics and engineering to develop their proposals but, even more to the point, the fact that original and creative application of these disciplines was required. I sensed a profound degree of convergence between the goals of this program and the method in which we seek to teach our students Torah, with an emphasis on creativity, originality and the pursuit of chiddush.”
Deniera Goldenberg, director of the Distinguished Scholars program and chair of sciences at TABC, remarked, “It was truly inspiring to witness the dedication and commitment of these students to the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual curiosity. These students took time out of their daily schedules to think beyond the confines of the classroom and delve into a topic they are passionate about. We are so proud of their accomplishments and know they will continue to grow in their thirst for knowledge.”
Rabbi Shaya First, assistant director of the Scholars program, also expressed just how impressed he was by the presentations: “It was truly incredible watching all these research projects come together over the course of the year. I was amazed at the growth of so many of our students, and the depth and complexity of thought evident in their final projects. Truly a night of nachas for all!”
Esther Ruskin, co-coordinator of the Science Innovation Competition said, “All of the parents, faculty and students who attended the event learned so much about a diverse array of topics. Many of the students were so excited about their work that they plan to continue developing their projects into next year. We are extremely proud of all of our students’ hard work and perseverance, and their dedication to their academic pursuits resulted in impressive results!”
The evening culminated in an awards ceremony acknowledging the work of the students in the Scholars program, along with the selection of the winners for the Science Innovation competition. Special congratulations go to the first place winners Ned Krasnopolsky, Alex Ostrin and Akiva Sturm, for their research on using heme as a means to filter carbon monoxide from the air. The other winners were Rami Levin and David Reese, for their work on neuro-controlled robotic cars; and Dylan Breen and Boaz Simantov, for their research on catalyzing hydrolysis.
