2024 Science Fair Awardees
Since 1991 Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) has judged local High School Science Fairs. Separate from the Science Fair itself, NRPA judges students who use the scientific process to examine environmental conditions relevant to current issues.
Nina Vinhateiro, a sophomore at South Kingstown High School presented her prize-winning exhibit “Sea of Change” to the NRPA Board of Directors meeting on April 2. She examined salinity, temperature, and current speed at three different locations along the Narrow River over a five-week period. Vinhateiro’s instruments included a refractometer, a thermometer, and a device like the “knots on a rope” system of old to collect data. Results showed how normal environmental changes, including weather and tide phase (spring/neap cycles) affect the water chemistry and physics of an estuary. Her findings suggest the salinity and water temperature in Narrow River vary greatly depending on magnitude of the tides, the volume of freshwater runoff, and proximity to the ocean.
South Kingston Sophomores Caleb Colvin and Sam Cadman also demonstrated their project at the April 2nd meeting. They won for “Analysis of Anti-Corrosive Agents” an experiment testing how various preservatives inhibit corrosion on iron. They coated two pieces of iron with acrylic paint, two with polyurethane, two with WD-40, and left two as controls. Four of the pieces were then submerged in fresh water and the other four in salt water. Six times over a two-week period, they made detailed observations and recorded results. They concluded that anti-corrosives greatly decreased the rate of corrosion, with polyurethane being most effective in fresh water and WD-40 most effective in salt water.
Emily Forman, a Junior at North Kingston High School researched the effect of lawn fertilizer on species diversity. She first identified three lawns, one with regularly scheduled fertilizer use, one with sporadic fertilizers used, and one unfertilized lawn. Emily counted the number of specifications in a section of each lawn and found the lawn with the highest amount of fertilizer averaged just 4 different species while the lawn, containing little or no fertilizer averaged nine species. She concluded that the level of fertilizer adversely affects the level of species diversity in lawns.
NRPA Board of Directors members Jim Vogel and Nate Vinhateiro judged Science Fair projects at North Kingstown High School. Jim Vogel and Sally Sutherland were the judges at South Kingstown High. Projects were judged on their methodology, creativity and relevance to environmental concerns.
About NRPA’s Science Fair Award
The NRPA Science Fair Awards recognize local high school students who show an interest to study natural environments and to learn and apply the scientific method on subjects relevant to current environmental concerns and issues.
In order to encourage the curiosity of young scientists & artists, the Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) judges art fairs at high school and middle school science within each of the three towns in the watershed, to select and recognize NRPA Science Fair and Art Fair awardees. The Narrow River flows through North Kingstown, South Kingstown, and Narragansett, RI.
One Award is given to one student in each school and Honorable Mentions are given to other qualified students in recognition of the quality of the student’s research and its relevance to NRPA’s mission of protecting the Narrow River, its watershed, and its communities as a unique, dynamic, and fragile ecosystem.
The project does not have to be about the Narrow River specifically, but can be on any relevant environmental topic. The project should be experimental, not just a literature report. The project should follow the scientific method which includes a hypothesis, a method for testing the hypothesis, collection of data, and conclusions reached from the data. It should also show some originality and creativity. The judges also take into consideration each school’s criteria for judging the projects.
Students receiving the NRPA High School Science Fair Award will receive a certificate, a $50 check, a membership in NRPA, take part in a reception and presentation of their project at an NRPA Board of Directors’ meeting, and will be recognized in the NRPA newsletter and at the NRPA Annual Meeting. Students receiving “Honorable Mentions” will be recognized in the NRPA newsletter and at the NRPA Annual Meeting.
Does your school hold a science fair? Let us know, we would love to include it in our judging next year! All schools in Narragansett, North Kingstown and South Kingstown are eligible. Email nrpa@narrowriver.org with interest.
About NRPA’s Art Fair Awards
When Art Fairs happen at the three high schools located within the Pettaquamscutt Watershed, NRPA aims to attend and identify awardee(s). Award is given to one student in each school and Honorable Mentions are given to other qualified students in recognition of the quality of the student’s art project and its relevance to NRPA’s mission of protecting the Narrow River, its watershed, and its communities as a unique, dynamic, and fragile ecosystem.
The project does not have to be about the Narrow River specifically, but can be on similarly-related subject of consideration of watershed landscapes, coastal geology, wildlife, and many benefits of time spent on, in, and near the River. The art project should originality and creativity and be a beneficial influence in stimulating conversation about watershed landscapes, their beauty, and our human relationships with them. The judges will also take into consideration each school’s criteria for judging the projects.
Students receiving the NRPA High School Art Fair Award will receive a certificate, a $50 check, a membership in NRPA, take part in a reception and presentation of their project at an NRPA Board of Directors’ meeting, and will be recognized in the NRPA newsletter and at the NRPA Annual Meeting. Students receiving “Honorable Mentions” will be recognized in the NRPA newsletter and at the NRPA Annual Meeting.
Does your school hold an art fair? Let us know, we would love to include it in our judging next year! All schools in Narragansett, North Kingstown and South Kingstown are eligible. Email nrpa@narrowriver.org with interest.
Previous Year NRPA Science Fair Awards
2023: Anna Kelly from South Kingstown High School
Anna reviewed her project, Clever Clover, during the NRPA Board of Directors May 2, 2023 meeting. As a result of her experiment, it was concluded that the addition of clover to grass lawns is a low-maintenance and more environmentally sustainable alternative to lawns made up exclusively of grass.
Congratulations Anna and thank you for your insightful presentation and hard work!
2022: Aria Carnevale
In order to encourage curiosity in, and respect for, the environment and the Narrow River watershed, each year Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) attends local high school science fairs, and judges projects separately from the high school faculty to award the NRPA High School Science Fair Award.
Every year we are amazed by the caliber and quality of the projects that students generate, and 2022 was no different. This past winter, two NRPA Board Directors Chris Hubbard and Nate Vinhateiro judged projects at North Kingstown High School and Aria Carnevale was chosen for NRPA’s 2022 Science Fair Award for her project titled “Simulating Acid Rain’s Effect on Plants”.
On June 7, 2022, Aria and her father Mark, were guests at the Board meeting where Aria provided an excellent presentation of her science fair project to the Board and there was a lively Q&A session that followed. We were so impressed and feel happy to recognize Aria for her use of the scientific method and the relevance of her project to current environmental concerns.
The purpose of Aria’s project was to test the effects of acid rain, as simulated by seltzer water on herbaceous plants in comparison to rainfall, which was simulated by distilled water. Overall, this experiment showed that exposing plants to acidic solutions like acid rain would first weaken and eventually kill the plants, whereas plants watered with distilled “rain” water would continue to grow.
Aria credits her experiences growing up in Rhode Island and exploring its natural landscapes to influencing her affinity for environmental science studies. She describes, “Beginning in my middle school years with Lawn Avenue School in Jamestown, we frequently studied the habitat of Narragansett Bay…From these experiences I learned a lot about the relationships between the Bay, the river, and the estuaries which make up Rhode Island.”
All of us at NRPA wish Aria all the best in her final year of high school in 2023!
2020: Janesa Henriquez and Francesca Fontaine, Ella Junge
Janessa Henriquez and Francesca Fontaine were the South Kingstown High School winners for their project ‘How Does Salinity Affect Living Organisms’, in which they demonstrated the adverse effects of increased salinity on our ocean’s fish species.
Ella Junge won the 2020 Narrow River Preservation Association Science Fair Award for North Kingstown High School with her project ‘The Effect of Oxybenzone on Brine Shrimp Hatching Rates’. Ella’s project clearly demonstrated that Oxybenzone, a chemical commonly found in sunscreen and cosmetics, is devastating to aquatic life.
An Honorable Mention was awarded to Isabella DeGregory of NKHS.
Both of our winning projects further illustrated the fragile condition of the world’s waterbodies. More importantly, these projects and science fairs demonstrated the commitment of our kids and their educators to improving and restoring our environment.
The NRPA Science Fair Awards recognize local students for their rigorous use of the scientific method and the relevance of their project to current environmental concerns.
2019: Connor Daly-LaBelle, Christopher DalyLaBelle, and Renee Fontaine
Students from North Kingstown and South Kingstown High Schools were honored by the Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) on Tuesday evening, March 5 for their winning science fair projects. Students presented their winning projects to the NRPA Board of Directors.
Renee Fontaine of North Kingstown High School presented her project “pH Effects on Hatching Rates of Brine Shrimp” in which she found that in more acidic water, fewer brine shrimp hatch.
South Kingstown High School Juniors Christopher Daly-LaBelle and Connor Daly-LaBelle tested water in the Saugatucket River for dissolved oxygen, pH levels and temperature for their project “Water Quality”.
The NRPA Science Fair Awards recognize local students for their rigorous use of the scientific method and the relevance of their project to current environmental concerns.
NRPA also awarded the following Honorable Mentions:
South Kingstown High School:
Matt Burns and James Reid – Indian Lake Dissolved Oxygen
North Kingstown High School:
Alana Rutherford – Measurement of Salinity in Narragansett Bay
Andrew Oldmeadow – Effect of Ocean Acidification on Local Shells
2018: Olivia Kelly and Grace Rumowicz
Two local high school students presented their winning science fair projects to the NRPA Board of Directors at their meeting on March 6th.
In her project, “How Seawater Acidification Affects Oyster Shells”, Olivia Kelly from South Kingstown High School (SKHS) submerged oyster shells in salt water with varying pH levels, finding that as pH level decreased, the calcium contained in the shells dissolved at a higher rate.
Grace Rumowicz of North Kingstown High School (NKHS) presented her project “Invasive Species Reacting with Rhode Island Natives.” Grace planted some Garlic Mustard (an invasive species) alone and some with Rhode Island native plant Purple Milkweed. Over 6 weeks, she found that the Garlic Mustard living with the Milkweed thrived while the Garlic Mustard planted alone withered and died.
Grace and Olivia were recognized by NRPA for their rigorous use of the scientific method and the relevance of their project to current environmental concerns.
NRPA also awarded the following Honorable Mentions:
South Kingstown High School:
Miles Corayer – Effect of Chemical Fertilizers on Water
Elwood Roberts – The Effect Sea Level Rise Will Have on Different Shorelines
Kacie Curran and Abigail Marcotte – Oil Remediation Using Microorganisms
North Kingstown High School:
Katrina Kulesh – Bioluminescence and Water Disturbance
Mateo Garcia – Effects of Aquatic Plants on the pH of Water
2017: Emily Kaczynski
Emily Kaczynski, South Kingstown High School ninth grader, received the Narrow River Preservation Association Science Fair. She presented her project, “Investigating Invasives: Asian Shore Crab Population” to the NRPA Board of Directors at their meeting on March 7th.
At the meeting, Emily described her methodology for calculating the population of Asian Shore crabs and green crabs at one Rhode Island beach for six weeks this winter. Her results showed a large population of Asian Shore Crabs and no green crabs at all. Emily speculated that her results may be attributable partly to the winter weather conditions and partly due to the Asian Shore crabs outcompeting the green crab population.
NRPA Board member Chris Hubbard presented Emily with an Award certificate and $50 prize.
NRPA also awarded Honorable Mentions to four of the nearly eighty students who participated in the SKHS fair in January. Honorable Mentions went to:
Caitlin Rodriguez, “The Impact of Sunscreen Use on Our Environment”
Jacob Trovato, “Erosion”
Jack McCarty, “Microbeads and Plastics in the Oceans”
Kelsi Conlon, “The Impact of Plastic Water Bottles”
2016: Abby Cobb
Education Chair Veronica Berounsky presents South Kingstown High School Junior Abby Cobb with the 2016 NRPA Science Fair Award at the March NRPA Board of Directors meeting. Abby was presented with a $50 prize, a certificate and an NRPA membership.
Abby’s project at the SKHS Science Fair in January, A Slick Solution: Best Way to Clean up an Oil Spill, evaluated the ability of three materials to remove oil from water: hair, cotton balls and sawdust. Hair was the most efficient, that is, absorbing the most oil and the least water.
NRPA also awarded Honorable Mentions at South Kingstown High School Science Fair to:
Hossam Zaki for a project titled Commercial Water Filters
Matthew Kutcher for Power of Water through Electrolysis (creating energy through the electrolysis of water)
Cristian Rodriguez-Gervais for Natural Remedies against Bacteria
Sierra Rowley for her project Micro Plastics, Macro Problem on the amount of micro-plastics found in Narragansett Bay from personal care products such as liquid soap.
2015: Kate DeBoer
South Kingstown High School student Kate DeBoer, shown on the right with her exhibit at the SKHS Science Fair in January 2015, received a Narrow River Preservation Association Science Fair Award at the NRPA Board of Directors meeting on March 10.
At the meeting Kate described her project, “Who Has the Best Water Quality?” in which she tested water from three different sources for pH, dissolved oxygen and salinity. After a question-and-answer period, Board member Veronica Berounsky presented Kate with a certificate, $50 prize and NRPA student membership.
NRPA gave Honorable Mentions to three of the 76 students who participated in the fair:
Rosalind Lucier for her project, Ticks: Temperature and Humidity
Liam McGill for Effects of Solutions on Melting of Ice
Katie Mello for How Food Preservatives Affect the Growth of Microorganisms.
2014: Andrew Motte
NRPA Board member Lynn Wolslegel presents South Kingstown High School student with a 2014 Science Fair Award certificate and cash prize at the March 2104 NRPA Board of Directors meeting. Andrew was recognized for his exhibit “Behavior of Harlequin Ducks” at the school’s Science Fair in January 2014.
Four projects were awarded Honorable Mention:
Emma Lauzon-Ardito, “Effects of Winds and Currents on Trash in the Bay”
Emily Daly-Labelle, “Study of Narrow River Water Samples”
Rachel Curran and Emma Mather, “Purity of Water”
Linda Foreman, “How Do Fungi Affect the Ecosystem?”
2013: Zach Perry and Patrick Vaughn
South Kingstown High School Juniors Zach Perry (left) and Patrick Vaughan, winners of a 2013 Narrow River Preservation Association Science Fair Award, present their project “Water Pollution” to the NRPA Board of Directors at its regular meeting on March 4, 2013.
The two young scientists each received an award certificate, a $50 check and a student membership in NRPA, in recognition of the quality of their research and its relevance to NRPA’s goal of protecting the Narrow River and its watershed.
NRPA also gave Honorable Mentions to four of the more than 125 exhibits in the SKHS Science Fair on January 8:
William Trager for “The Effects of Fertilizer on Eelgrass”
Logan Leonard for “The Impact of Road Salt on Plant Growth”
Megan Costaregni for “Sewers, The Impact of Geography on Rainwater?”
Chris Gu for “Using Sorbents to Clean Oil Spills.”
