By Donald Gilpin

A national finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, Princeton High School’s (PHS) research team of about 15 students under the direction of science teacher Mark Eastburn is heading to Washington, D.C., on April 29 to present their project to a panel of judges. Three schools will be chosen, each of which will receive a $100,000 prize package.

As one of the 10 finalists announced by Samsung on March 26 from among this year’s 50 state winners, the PHS team has already won a $50,000 prize package, including Samsung technology and classroom supplies.

In addition, the PHS research team is in competition for Samsung’s Community Choice Award of $10,000. PHS team supporters are asked to click on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow website at samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow, watch the PHS team’s video, and cast their vote. Anyone is allowed one vote per day through April 23.

This is the PHS research team’s third year of competing in the Samsung

competition and their second trip to the national finals. They won the national grand prize in 2022 and made it to the state finals in 2023.

Using STEM to address an important community issue, the PHS research team’s 2024 project aims to help preserve Indigenous languages, including Mam, a Mayan language spoken by a small population of PHS students. The team has created a robotic platform powered by artificial intelligence in the form of a stuffed animal that speaks Mam and other Indigenous languages.

“This novel approach to language education leverages tech to bridge linguistic gaps and empower indigenous communities,” the PHS research team explains in its presentation.

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow opens students’ eyes to real and relatable local issues, challenging them to use STEM in innovative ways to address those problems and catalyze positive change,” said Samsung Head of Corporate Citizenship Ann Woo in a press release. “These Gen Zers tell us that participating in the competition has empowered them to understand STEM’s potential, find their voice, connect with like-minded peers nationwide, and set themselves on the path to rewarding future careers.”

Science and Engineering Fair Winners

Other young scientists in the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) recently won acclaim and awards from the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair (MCSEF) for a variety of research projects.

Eight PHS students and three Princeton Middle School (PMS) students have been recognized for their research.

PHS student Shioka Shriram won first place in the Chemistry and Materials division for her project “Novel Quantum Materials for Low Power Electronics.” She also qualified to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition, in Los Angeles in May.

Also winning a first place award was PHS junior Benjamin Gitai, who competed in the Biochemistry, Biology, and Medical division with his project “Analysis of E. Coli Growth Dynamics During Lambda (vir) Phage Infection Reveals Phage Decay.”

Other PHS award winners were Akshaj Sama, Amy Lin, Shaochi Chuang, and Katie Qin.

In the Junior/Middle School division, PMS student Samhita Shriram won the top prize with her project on “Understanding Plant Intelligence Using the Mimosa Pudica,“ and she will compete in a national competition next fall.

Other PMS honorees included Elena Shen and Fei-Fei Wang, who have both been enrolled this year in the PPS Saturday eSTEAM program piloted to increase the level of engagement in science research at the middle school.

All of the students’ projects entered into the Science and Engineering Fair competition were judged by industry professionals, who review the students’ project notebooks and papers, oral presentations, and posters or exhibits.

PPS Science Supervisor Joy Barnes-Johnson reflected on the accomplishments of the young PPS scientists. “I would like to celebrate all of these brilliant students,” she said.