On January 6, 2022, the North Shore Schools proudly announced that Evelyn McCreery was among the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The 300 scholars and their schools will be awarded $2,000 each.
Principal Eric Contreras said, “We are proud and overjoyed of Evelyn’s accomplishments. She is a talented scholar athlete and researcher. Our immediate global challenges remind us that our local initiatives to develop the scientists and innovators of tomorrow are more important than ever. The entire North Shore community celebrates her on this high honor.”
The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides students with a national stage to present original research and celebrates the hard work and discoveries of young scientists who are bringing a fresh perspective to significant global challenges. This year, research projects cover topics from tracking countries’ progress on Sustainable Development Goals to the impact of states’ individual COVID-19 responses, and improving the tools used to diagnose Alzheimer’s to analyzing the effects of virtual learning on education.
Evelyn’s science research entitled, Physiological Effects of PET Plastic Leaching and Polystyrene Microsphere Ingestion in Wild Type Drosophila Melanogaster. Evie used the fruit fly as a model organism to determine the health effects of chemicals leached from plastic into food. She found that when the fruit flies consumed food with those leached chemicals, they had decreased agility. To help with her research, she worked with Dr. Theodore Brummel at Long Island University (LIU).
The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,804 applications received from 603 high schools across 46 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and eight other countries. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists as demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendation. The 300 scholars hail from 185 American and international high schools in 37 states, China, Switzerland, and Singapore, including three homeschools.
“Amid an unprecedented and ongoing global health crisis, we are incredibly inspired to see such an extraordinary group of young leaders who are using the power of STEM to solve the world’s most intractable challenges,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science, Publisher of Science News and 1985 Science Talent Search alum. “The ingenuity and creativity that each one of these scholars possesses has shown just how much intellectual curiosity and passion can thrive, even in difficult times.”
“Congratulations to this year’s 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars for their remarkable contributions and discoveries in the STEM field,” said Christina Chan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Citizenship at Regeneron. “We are honored to celebrate this new generation of problem solvers who have demonstrated the depth of their innovative thinking, commitment to continuous learning, and ability to tackle global challenges in creative ways.”
On January 20, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition taking place March 10-16.
Congratulations to Evelyn McCreery on this remarkable accomplishment. In addition, many thanks to her science research teacher, Dr. Molly Mordechai, and the North Shore Science department, led by Mr. Steven Menchel. Best of luck to Evelyn moving forward in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition!