PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (March 24, 2015) -- Picatinny engineers attended the 53rd Annual Monmouth Junior Science Symposium poster session and banquet at the Eatontown Sheraton, March 19 to judge presentations and to present awards to high school students for their scientific papers about nanotechnology, material science and robotics.
38 Picatinny scientists and engineers also reviewed 96 papers in the weeks leading up to the banquet.
Doug Wong, chief systems engineer for Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems, Program Executive Office Ammunition, served on the symposium's executive committee and was one of the event's moderators.
Michael Harrigan, chief systems engineer for PEO Ammunition served as a judge for the poster presentations.
Chris Haines, nanotechnology team lead for ARDEC presented nanotechnology awards which include a certificate and an invitation to Picatinny to tour its nanotechnology facilities.
John Christian Fantell from Colonia High School received the Best Nanotechnology Paper award for, "Spectrophotometric Analysis of a Silicate-Polyvinyl Alcohol Antiglare Photovoltaic Device."
Anisha Mahat from High Tech High the Best Nanotechnology Paper runner up award for, "Effect of Human Prostate Cancer Cell on Mouse Osteocyte Sclerostin Expression in vitro."
Steve Liss, deputy director of ARDEC's Weapons Systems and Technology Directorate served as a judge and presented the awards for material science and robotics.
David Lin from Holmdel High School received a Best Advanced Material Science Paper award for "Investigating the Application of Cellulose in Biodegradable Flame Retardant Polymer Blends."
Kylie Long from High Tech High School received a runner-up award for Best Advanced Materials Science Paper award for "Microfluidic Devices: Novel Fabrication Technique and Microchannel Design for Micromixing."
Precious Martinez from AEA Union City High School received a Best Robotics Paper award for "Innovative Wheelchair Design to Make a Handicap Independent."
"By holding these events we hope to increase the population of scientists and engineers," said Vice Provost and Dean of the Monmouth University Graduate School Datta V. Naik.
Naik, who has been involved with the symposium for 22 years and now serves as its director, said the point of the symposium has always been to encourage young people to enter research and math, even though it is now referred to as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Giving students mentors, providing them the opportunity to present and providing awards and scholarships as a reward for excellence helps propel students, he explained.
"These people are the top of their class," said Naik. "They are committed, hard working and intelligent."
Over his 22 years working with the Monmouth Symposium, Naik said has had the opportunity to observe students as they transitioned to adulthood and careers. Naik knows of former student presenters who are now doctors, professors and engineers. "Most of the students go on to professional careers."
Liss, who had been a student presenter at a student symposium a Rutgers, told the audience as he presented the awards, "33 years ago I sat where you sat."
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The Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
Related Links:
U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) homepage
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) homepage
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