High school seniors in Questar III’s New Visions: Scientific Research & World Health program held a Public Health Poster Session at University of Albany’s School of Public Health located at its East Campus in Rensselaer.
The Annual Student Poster Day is not only the culmination of a comprehensive 30 page research paper using at least 12 peer reviewed journal articles, but also an opportunity for the students to share their work with others.
Each of the 16 students created a poster on a specific topic of their choice, such as “Infertility in Relation to Long Term Consumption of Genetically Modified Foods,” “A Call for the Development of a Nationwide Organ Manufacturing and Presentation System,” “Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Long Term Health Effects Based on Artificial Turf Exposure,” and many other science related topics.
Lansingburgh High School senior Molly Bergin presents her research on the topic, “Exposure to Outdoor Recreational Bodies of Water and Increased Risk of Coxsackievirus Infection.”
Lansingburgh senior, Molly Bergin chose to research the topic, “Exposure to Outdoor Recreational Bodies of Water and Increased Risk of Coxsackievirus Infection.” As a child, Bergin became very sick from the Coxsackievirus infection while swimming in a lake.
Bergin said growing up, she always wanted to be a scientist working in a lab, and how participating in the New Visions program helped her to focus on what she wanted to do. Now she has a life plan.
“I have so many credits from the program that I will be starting St. John’s University as a second semester freshman on a full scholarship, to study health and human services, said Bergin. “I want to get my Master of Science in public health and a Ph.D. in epidemiology.”
Averill Park High School senior Caroline Silver presents her research on the topic, “The Ameliorative Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on the Incidence and Morbidity of Prostate Cancer.”
Averill Park senior, Caroline Silver chose to research “The Ameliorative Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on the Incidence and Morbidity of Prostate Cancer,” Silver picked this topic because she has a family member who was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Silver said spending her senior year participating in the New Visions program was truly a great decision that gave her the opportunity to work with various professionals, and put her a step ahead of incoming freshman at SUNY Binghamton.
“I believe I will be well-prepared entering college as a biology major. Writing the epidemiology paper on a personal topic of interest was the perfect combination of school and fun, as well as excellent preparation for what I imagine my Binghamton experience will be like,” said Silver.
New Visions teacher Ruth Russell said her students’ posters represent many months of research examining health problems affecting people individually and on a global scale.
The accelerated half-day program is held at the University at Albany’s East Campus from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. daily. Students spend the rest of the school day in their home districts. See more photos from poster session.
