Students from around the KC metro were presented awards on their innovative solutions to problems large and small during KC STEM Alliance’s annual Project Lead The Way Capstone Project Showcase on Friday, May 1, 2020.
STA students swept the top three spots in this competition. See the winners below:
1st Place Biomedical Competition Winners:
Brecklynn Martin (LSW) & Addie Mathis (LSW) won 1st place and a $2500 scholarship
The Effect of Artificial Food Dyes on the Lifespan of Drosophila
Project Description: Artificial foods dyes are becoming increasingly present in the foods we eat. This study looks into the effects of artificial food dyes in the colors of red, blue, and yellow in the food of Drosophila melongaster on their lifespan.
Pictured: Brecklynn Martin (left) and Addie Mathis (right)
2nd Place Biomedical Competition Winner:
Raven Steele (LSN) Won 2nd Place Overall and a $1500 scholarship
The Effect of Lactobacillus Plantarum on Glucose Levels and Weight in Drosophila Melanogaster
Project Description: Obesity has become a global pandemic affecting a large amount of the population today and is typically the root of several metabolic disorders including lifestyle diabetes and cardiovascular pathologies. Given the prevalence, the discovery of therapeutic preventative agents to treat and sustain life with diet-induced obesity is critical to the health of current and future populations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a probiotic, Lactobacillus Plantarum, which has proposed a series of health benefits to the host which could provide a potential mechanism in the regulation of glucose levels in diet-induced obesity of drosophila melanogaster.
Pictured: Raven Steele
3rd Place Biomedical Competition Winners:
Cassidy Gann and Madison Hulsey won Third Place and a $1000 scholarship for their project on The Effect of the Concentration of Microplastics on the Development of Danio rerio
Pictured: Cassidy Gann (left) and Madison Hulsey (right)
Congratulations to our STA winners for their hard work in this competition!