Getting back to the geniuses, part of our look at science research courses in the Lower Hudson Valley, Adam Lanman of White Plains High School explains a little bit about how groups of students form in the hallways. It’s interesting, if not a tad hard to follow, to hear the math that could explain how those cliques are formed between classes. Read our science research story here and scroll down for videos of other students.

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Eason Hahm of Spring Valley High School was named an Intel Science Talent Search semi-finalist this year for her research aimed at developing new ways to grow cells for bone replacement therapies. She is one of several students we spoke to for our look at science research programs at schools in the Lower Hudson Valley. Read the story here and scroll down for videos of other students explaining their projects.

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As part of our ongoing look at science research courses and students in the region, today we feature a video of Niki Tsamis, a Dobbs Ferry High School student who spent years studying RHOBTB, a gene that is a known tumor suppressor in breast cancer. She began the research to determine if the gene could be used to prevent cancer. Read our earlier story about science research courses here. Scroll down for videos of other students.

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Greg Brown, a senior at Pleasantville High School, is hoping to combat identity theft. The research he conducted in his science research class focused on improving the accuracy of “cancellable” fingerprint verification systems. These systems do not permanently store your fingerprint information, but aren’t in widespread use because they aren’t as accurate as systems that retain complete information on fingerprints. We took a look at science research courses in a story yesterday.

As Brown said, a database containing fingerprint information could be the next frontier for identity thieves if and when the use of fingerprints as a means of identification at airports, retail stores and other locations is increased. Take a look at his video (apologies for my shoddy camera work) and keep a look out for other student videos during the week.

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In today’s paper, we take a look at science research courses in the Lower Hudson Valley. (See it here). The intensive programs allow students to choose topics that interest them and study them independently for three to four years.

These are not like the science projects you remember from school, such as connecting wires to turn on a light bulb or pouring baking soda, vinegar and dish detergent down a mound of dirt to make a “volcano.” In most cases, projects in science research courses are very high-brow.

Take a look for yourself. To go along with today’s story, we conducted interviews with students in science research classes throughout Westchester and Rockland. Beginning with Jeremy Blum, a senior at Byram Hills High School and the area’s only finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search this year, they talk about their projects in their own words. We’ll post others over the next few days.

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