Student-scientists at William S. Hackett Middle School are out of this world!
For the fifth year in a row, an experiment proposed by a team of Hackett eighth graders will travel 250 miles above Earth and will be investigated by researchers aboard the International Space Station.
Later this spring, ISS astronauts will conduct research on the Effects of Microgravity on Red Maple Tree Seed Germination. The proposal was designed by Juliana DiVirgilio, Camilla Diefendorf and Ruby Mercier (pictured L-R), all students of Craig Ascher. The trio was recognized Wednesday during class, when Middle School Science Supervisor Amanda Powers congratulated them and presented them with certificates.
Their efforts were part of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP), an experiment-design competition involving high school and college students from the U.S. and Canada.
SSEP is part of the grade 8 science curriculum, and students from the district’s three middle schools take part each year. They work in teams to design an experiment that tests the effects of microgravity – or weightlessness – on a particular scientific variable.
Two groups from Katie Kaufman's class at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School were the district’s semifinalists in this year’s contest and also were recognized Wednesday. One team consisted of - submitted The Impact of Microgravity on Molding a McDonald's French Fry.
A group of teachers and administrators from throughout the district judged all the experiments and forwarded the top three to SSEP, which selected the final project.
Congratulations to the students and their guiding teachers - we can't wait to see what Mission 21 accomplishes thanks to City School District of Albany students!