Pittsburgh AIHA Secretary Frank Pokrywka, Director Laura Hallett, and Past-President Tak Pajak volunteered to be judges on behalf of the Pittsburgh AIHA for the annual Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair held as a virtual event on March 24, 2021.
Our judges reviewed hundreds of science abstracts to find those relevant to Industrial Hygiene. They each chose 5 or 6 favorites and proceeded to narrow their choices down to six projects for further review during the Fair on March 24. The choices were submitted to Nicole Wood, Science Fair Director, who scheduled each student for a 20 minute virtual interview. Project write-ups for Pgh. AIHA selected students were available for review online prior to the virtual interview. In addition, a rubric was included for each project category to enable the judges to rate various characteristics of the project and develop a score for the students experimental design, work product, and presentation skills. The student projects selected included one from the junior division (grade 6), three from the intermediate division (grades 7 and 8), and two from the senior division (grades 9-12). (Continue reading below)
Our judges reviewed hundreds of science abstracts to find those relevant to Industrial Hygiene. They each chose 5 or 6 favorites and proceeded to narrow their choices down to six projects for further review during the Fair on March 24. The choices were submitted to Nicole Wood, Science Fair Director, who scheduled each student for a 20 minute virtual interview. Project write-ups for Pgh. AIHA selected students were available for review online prior to the virtual interview. In addition, a rubric was included for each project category to enable the judges to rate various characteristics of the project and develop a score for the students experimental design, work product, and presentation skills. The student projects selected included one from the junior division (grade 6), three from the intermediate division (grades 7 and 8), and two from the senior division (grades 9-12). (Continue reading below)
As expected many of this year's projects had a theme related to COVID-19 and included topics on facemask effectiveness, reuse, fogging of vision lenses and air pollution effects during the pandemic. One project selected for further review involved 3-D printing and hazardous materials. As mentioned, the Pittsburgh AIHA judges interviewed each of the selected students virtually on March 24, collaborated on the presentations and were able to select two winners for the Pittsburgh AIHA sponsored awards.
The following two students / projects were selected for the Pittsburgh AIHA Awards ($500 each):
The prizes were presented to the students during the awards ceremony on March 25th. Each student received a certificate, medal, and Pgh. AIHA monetary award from the Carnegie Science Center. Frank Pokrywka also sent these students a congratulatory letter, IH comic books and AIHA promotional materials on behalf of the Pittsburgh AIHA.
A BIG THANK YOU to Frank, Laura and Tad who represented the Pittsburgh AIHA / volunteered for the annual event!
The following two students / projects were selected for the Pittsburgh AIHA Awards ($500 each):
- Michael Nazelrod (Grade 9) of Southern Garrett High School (Teacher Erin Coffman) - Oakland, Maryland. Project: Avoiding fogging of Eye-glasses When Wearing a Mask
- Evie Passero (Grade 8) of Campus School of Carlow University (Teacher Andrea Shannon) - Pittsburgh, Penn. Project titled: Testing the Effectiveness and Reuse of Masks
The prizes were presented to the students during the awards ceremony on March 25th. Each student received a certificate, medal, and Pgh. AIHA monetary award from the Carnegie Science Center. Frank Pokrywka also sent these students a congratulatory letter, IH comic books and AIHA promotional materials on behalf of the Pittsburgh AIHA.
A BIG THANK YOU to Frank, Laura and Tad who represented the Pittsburgh AIHA / volunteered for the annual event!
