Two students who competed in the 2019 University of Southern Indiana Tri-State Science and Engineering Fair (TSEF) received awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. The Intel ISEF, a program of the Society for Science and the Public, features approximately 1,800 high school students from more than 80 countries, regions and territories showcasing their independent research and competing for more than $5 million in prizes.
Ankush Dhawan, a junior at Signature School, received a Second Place Award in Chemistry for his project, Synthesis and Use of Robust Cobalt (II) Catalysts for the Reduction of CO2 to CO. The project, which examined an alternative method to reduce carbon dioxide, was done under the mentorship of Dr. Jeff Seyler, USI professor of chemistry and chair of the Chemistry Department. Dhawan was named winner of the Overall Senior Division Grand Award at the 2019 TSEF and the 11th grade Second Place award winner at the 2019 Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair.
MacKenzie Hunt, a junior at the EVSC New Tech Institute, received a 4th Place Award in Engineering Mechanics and an Honorable Mention in the International Council on System Engineering Best Use of Systems Engineering award for her project, Welcome to “Sistanceâ€: A New Form of Base Community for Deaf-Blind Children. Hunt’s project, which included interviewing educators and designing a system based on the needs of sensory-impaired students, was recognized for using a technologically-appropriate solution to meet a societal need. Hunt received the Senior Division Grand Award – 2nd Place at the 2019 TSEF and the 11th grade Third Place award at the 2019 Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair.
The TSEF is sponsored by Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center (SwISTEM), an initiative of the USI Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. Now in its 12th year, the fair is open to students in grades K-12 from schools within a 75-mile radius of Evansville and offers awards in Senior, Junior and Elementary divisions. For more information about the TSEF, contact Allison Grabert, director of SwISTEM, at 812-228-5019Â or at afgrabert@usi.edu.
