They came from 14 countries plus one territory, an impressive contingent of bright, curious middle school students, all rising stars in math, applied science, technology and engineering. The 20 students, known as delegates were eager to learn, explore and make new friends over the course of the five-day Broadcom MASTERS International program in Atlanta, Georgia, the host city for the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

This year’s program was particularly special since it was the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began that the program was held in person. For many delegates, it was also the first time they had ever traveled outside of their home country or region.

“I’ve met people from all around the world and I learned from every single one,” said Josue Valencia from the United States, who particularly enjoyed hearing from other delegates about the traditional foods of their countries.

Working together

The program began on Sunday, May 8, as delegates were divided into four teams: green, purple, silver and gold and asked to complete a pair of activities designed to help them get acquainted.

The first involved working together to stack six paper cups in a pyramid using only threads and rubber bands. “You couldn’t touch the cups, so you had to do some critical thinking and problem solving, which I think acted as a great icebreaker,” said Anushka Tonapi, from India. “We put our minds together and eventually managed to stack the cups by tying a knot with the rubber bands and the threads and using that to hoist the cups on top of each other.” For the second activity, each team was tasked with drawing a poster to represent its members, providing an opportunity for teammates to learn about each other’s countries and cultures.

“I really love being on a team because it gives us a chance to collaborate and work together,” said silver team member Nyambura Sallinen, from the United States. “We get to explore each other’s ideas and learn new ideas every single day, and also just talk to each other and learn more about each other.”

Finding friendships

For Lucy Chiwaka, from Zimbabwe, Broadcom MASTERS International was the first real opportunity to interact with likeminded peers who share her interests. Back home she says her classmates are more interested in socializing than science. “I’m more of an introvert. I stay at home and research and read books,” Lucy said. “To come here and meet other people who love science, it’s amazing because you now start to fit in more.”

“It’s really nice to be in a place where your peers are also striving to make a difference in 91”Œșœ,” agreed Sebastian Alexis, from the United States. “It’s nice to meet people from other countries and interact with them. It’s like an eye opener to see all the different lenses of the world.”

“These are friends that will last for a lifetime,” shared purple team member Chaylin Myburgh, from South Africa. “It is very exciting to meet friends that have the same interests that I do, that love the same things that I do.” She particularly enjoyed the experience of working in a group and hearing about her teammates’ experiences and attitudes towards science.

Though delegates identified with and grew close to their specific teams, there were also plenty of opportunities to deepen connections with members of other teams, as well as meet past participants. “I have never had international friends before,” said Siona “Dolly” Pramoda, from Puerto Rico. “When I first came here, I was super nervous because I was looking around and I didn’t know anyone, but through the course of four days I’ve gotten to know so many people so much better. I also enjoyed the mixer where we got to meet other Broadcom and ISEF students, and we got to dance a little bit. That was a lot of fun.”

Gold team member Grace Heffernan, from Ireland, agreed. “Over the course of just one week, I’ve made so many new friends from so many different countries in this program,” she said. She also counted the mixer with ISEF students and Broadcom MASTERS alumni as one of the highlights of the week.

Learning from each other

For Talah Bakhsh, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, coming together with international peers held special meaning. Her project, an app to improve teenagers’ mental health, was motivated by the sense of isolation she felt during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She loved making friends with fellow delegates from all over the world and learning about their countries while sharing aspects of her own culture.

Judy Bai, from the United States, was interested in the research her fellow delegates had completed. “I’ve only been exposed to biology because I’ve been a biology person,” she explained. “It was nice getting to know how cultures differ, how school works for them, and what they were exposed to during their research projects. They also come from different parts of the world, so they all have different ideas. It’s just been amazing.”

At the end of the program, Ezzati Hanis Khairuzzaman, a delegate from Malaysia, was elected class speaker. In her speech, she touched on the many wonderful experiences the group had shared during the week, and the enduring friendships they had formed. She also shared her most important takeaway: “I learned that cooperation and teamwork are essential for success.”

It’s a valuable lesson that will serve Ezzati and her fellow delegates well into the future. The experiences shared, the skills learned, and above all the international friendships that developed during this year’s Broadcom MASTERS International, will surely continue to expand delegates’ horizons, enriching their lives for many years to come.

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Longer than a city bus, whale sharks – the world’s largest fish – circled the enormous tank, gobbling up the fish being dropped into the water by a staff member at the Georgia Aquarium, as Manta rays cruised by and 20 middle school students from five different continents watched avidly.

The visit to the largest aquarium in the United States was a highlight of this year’s Broadcom MASTERS International, a program of the 91”Œșœ in association with the Broadcom Foundation, that brings together an international group of rising stars in math, applied science, technology and engineering. Representing 14 countries and one territory, this year’s group traveled to Atlanta to spend five days forming lasting friendships and learning new skills through participation in a variety of 91”Œșœ-related activities. Delegates were divided into four teams of five students, with each team identified by a different color, but had many opportunities during the week to get to know the rest of the group.

Delving into technology

After icebreakers on Sunday, May 8, the delegates spent Monday at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) touring the campus and participating in 91”Œșœ activities under the guidance of Cedric Stallworth, Assistant Dean in the College of Computing, who was frequently accompanied by Georgia Tech’s entertaining yellowjacket mascot, Buzz. “It was my first experience going to a university,” commented Roque LĂłpez FernĂĄndez, 14, from Spain, who was impressed by the number of subjects and classes offered, the number of professors and students, and the amount of green space and housing for students.

During the morning session, the delegates spent about an hour using a 3D printing program to design personalized luggage tags they could take home as souvenirs. The activity was a favorite for many students, including Chananrat “Janja” Tiranumpongvanich, 14, from Thailand, who had been interested in the technology for some time but had never had the opportunity to try it before. After lunch, the focus turned to coding. Delegates worked in pairs to complete a series of tutorials to learn how to program microbits to perform a variety of functions.

The world of plants

During a session on Tuesday called “Innovator Share,” delegates presented individuals from their countries who inspired them and made a difference in 91”Œșœ. Afterward, the group went to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a lush oasis north of the city center. Delegates toured the conservatory, learning about different biomes including tropical rainforests and the South African desert.

Next, the group met with Conservation Display Garden Horticulturalist, Maxwell Kotelnicki, who discussed carnivorous plants found in Georgia’s peat bogs. After spending some time examining different kinds of carnivorous plants and identifying how they eat, each student was given a pitcher plant to dissect. Inside, students found wings, legs or exoskeletons, the indigestible remains of unfortunate insects that were trapped and partially consumed.

The botanical garden was particularly interesting for several delegates whose projects involved plants, including Josue Valencia, 15, from the United States, whose project focused on seed germination and pest control. “I really like learning about plants and their needs,” said Josue, adding that in the future he would like to “help plants, cure or change global warming or find a cure for disease.”

Ezzati Hanis Khairuzzaman, 14, also loved the botanical garden and sees a potential future opportunity for collaboration. Her project involved creating a biofertilizer from the husks of durian, a fruit native to her country — Malaysia. “Durian contains a chemical compound called serpentine that can enhance plant growth and reduce microbial activity,” she explained. “Maybe someday I could offer my biofertilizer to them and see how the plant growth would be.”

Design for the future

After lunch the Broadcom MASTERS group went to the Museum of Design (MODA), where they toured an exhibit about regenerative design. Sebastian Alexis, 13, from the United States, was excited by how design can help both the economy and the environment. “They showed us a waste treatment facility that was also an amusement park. I was blown away because there’s this thing I was looking into called Not in My Backyard, where people don’t want stuff like a waste treatment facility near their house, but this waste treatment facility completely turned that on its head. It was beautiful. I would want that near me,” he said.

Another activity at MODA involved repurposing assorted materials to create something useful. Silver Team members Ava McGurk and Roque LĂłpez FernĂĄndez got particularly creative, using cardboard packaging material, orange tape and pipe cleaners to design a model submarine resembling an anglerfish.

Learning from others

Delegates had the opportunity to meet Broadcom MASTERS alumni, who were participating in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), at a mixer event. Keshve Sekdha, 13, from the United States, was inspired by the alumni she spoke with. “It was really cool because they told me what their projects were when they got to the Broadcom MASTERS compared to what they did for ISEF this year. It’s crazy to see how much of a gap and difference they’ve made over the years,” she said.

Wednesday provided another opportunity to learn from older peers as the group visited ISEF to explore the work of high school science students. “There’s a lot of really cool ISEF projects that I think could have an impact on real world challenges,” mused Sebastian. “As I was walking through the ISEF hall, I was thinking if I was an investor, I would walk through this and see all these things. I was so impressed.”

Talah Bakhsh, 13, from Saudi Arabia, was impressed with ISEF for a different reason. “I went into the hall and the first thing I noticed was how people explained their projects. I was like, wow, they’re so confident and I want to be like that. I want to be very confident when I’m explaining something,” she said.

The delegates received further motivation from Prasanthi Sathyaprakash, a mechanical engineer originally from India but now based in California, who shared her experience as an immigrant woman in 91”Œșœ and encouraged delegates to pursue their dreams of working in scientific fields.

Behind the scenes

A visit to the Georgia Aquarium included a tour of non-public areas where animals are trained, fed and treated for medical issues. The whale shark feeding that fascinated the group took place during a special access look at the aquarium’s huge Ocean Voyager tank from above. Another popular experience was the pool where visitors could touch various types of rays. “The sting ray was really bumpy,” marveled Bakhsh. “I don’t know why, but I expected it to be smoother.”

The last day of Broadcom MASTERS began with a visit to Mercedes Benz Stadium, one of the world’s most sustainable sports venues. On a behind-the-scenes tour, delegates learned about the building’s many eco-friendly design elements, including 4,000 solar panels, LED lights, a rainwater capture system, and an onsite fruit and vegetable garden.

“I enjoyed learning about sustainability,” said Siona “Dolly” Pramoda, 13, from Puerto Rico. “Sustainability is something that I generally don’t think about, but I realized it should be, because we must leave the Earth better than we found it.”

Broadcom MASTERS International concluded with a special circle ceremony celebrating each delegate’s unique strengths and the group’s accomplishments, followed by a dance party. As the action-packed program drew to a close, one thing was evident: friendships made during this life-changing week will endure and these 20 bright, talented delegates are sure to find success in whatever professions they decide to pursue.

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On May 12, at the Omni Hotel at the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, 20 middle school students from around the world presented the projects that qualified them for the 2022 edition of Broadcom MASTERS International, a five-day experiential program for rising stars in math, applied science, technology and engineering.

The delegates came from 14 countries plus one territory, and their projects were equally diverse, ranging from botanical research to mathematics to paleontology to efforts to address specific social or medical problems.

Anushka Tonapi conducted an abstract project on the Heighway Dragon Fractal. “A fractal is an intricate geometric figure in which a similar figure repeats itself on an infinite scale,” explained Anushka, 13, from India. The Heighway Dragon Fractal is created by replicating and rotating line segments and attaching them to one another, forming triangles. Anushka varied the angles of the triangles and studied the impact on the fractal’s shape and patterns.

“Math is hard — you just have to accept it,” she said. “I think it’s beautiful once you get to know it and once you’ve crossed the obstacles that don’t let you see its beauty. And it’s applicable in the world — a lot of people use fractals in microchips and computers.”

Promoting health

Several delegates used technology to address health concerns. Talah Bakhsh, 13, from Saudi Arabia, created an app to help teenagers deal with mental health issues brought about by COVID-19 lockdowns. Keshvee Sekdha and Nyambura Sallinen, both 13 and from the United States, created an app that uses image classification, breath analysis and surveys of symptoms to detect lung cancer with 89.7% accuracy, useful for patients pondering whether to seek medical care and doctors considering whether to order follow-up tests.

Another US delegate, Judy Bai, 14, also focused on lung cancer, using a variety of databases to identify several genes associated with higher rates of COVID-related illness and mortality among lung cancer patients. “Those genes code for surfactant proteins, which bind the cell walls and make breathing easier,” Judy explained. “I found out that when lung cancer patients have a lower expressive number of surfactant genes, COVID can more easily invade the body and to wreak havoc.”

The mysterious brain

His-Hsueh Tsao, 14, from Taiwan, focused on a different part of the body: the brain. “I want to be a neurologist because the brain is still mysterious, and we can explore it and help people,” he said. “My project is about using brainwaves to control a small robotic car and to identify different people. We hope in the future we can use brainwaves to drive wheelchairs.”

A different aspect of the brain was the focus for Ava McGurk, 14, who investigated whether color affects our perception of food taste. The delegate from Northern Ireland used various combinations of colors and flavors to determine whether people were able to correctly identify flavors without visual clues. “My goal was to establish if we can manipulate the brain to feel something that does not actually exist,” she explained. She discovered that when color and flavor were mismatched, people generally struggled with identification, but when external stimuli such as PowerPoint slides or soundtracks were introduced, flavor detection rates went up. “I think this could be beneficial in the treatment of diverse issues such as obesity, and I want to further develop my research for people suffering from Long COVID symptoms who still can’t taste,” Ava stated.

Science at home

Several delegates’ projects addressed specific problems they encounter in their personal lives. Raised around horses in Mexico, AndrĂ© Melgarejo Grave, 14, discovered that 95% of horses have an imbalance in their hooves that predisposes them to injury when they are shod with poorly fitting horseshoes. AndrĂ© developed a technique to improve fit by separating RGB images using an algorithm in the computer program MATLAB. By uploading a photo of the hoof of the horse into the app, the user can find the ideal measurements and shoe size for horses.

Lucy Chiwaka, 14, is from Zimbabwe, where electricity is often unavailable, causing her phone to run out of battery and affecting her ability to access Wi-Fi and complete homework assignments. “We’ll have hours, sometimes days, where electricity won’t come back,” she said. “It becomes a problem, so eventually I just had to think of something that would be self-reliant.” Lucy developed a phone that sends energy to a power bank while in use and can be recharged from the same power bank when needed.

South African delegate, Chaylin Myburgh, 14, is also very familiar with electrical outages. For her project, she sought to identify which material would most effectively conduct heat in a solar water heater. She compared four materials and determined that an aluminum can worked best, followed by a steel can, a glass jar and finally a silicone water bottle. Chaylin’s hope is that using recyclable materials “will assist people from lower incomes to use solar energy as an alternative and affordable way to heat water.”

Meanwhile, Chananrat Tiranumpongvanich, 14, known as Janja, took inspiration from her family’s rubber tree plantation in Thailand. Her family sells latex in solid form, while other farmers sell it in liquid form, which is more versatile and higher-priced. For her project, she tested different methods of preventing latex from solidifying prematurely by stopping the growth of bacteria and the resulting increase in pH that causes solidification.

Plants and perfumes

Quite a few delegates conducted projects related to plants. Marcellus McCalebb, 13, from the United States, infused radish plants with five different vitamins – B1, B2, B6, D1 and C – to see which would make them grow more quickly. He found that vitamin B6 resulted in the best outcome. “My hypothesis was that vitamin B6 was the best for these plants because it helps your heart and circulation; that might have helped the plants retain more water,” Marcellus explained.

Across the Atlantic, Grace Heffernan, 14, from Ireland, studied the effects of juglone, an allelopathic compound found in black walnut trees, on the growth of Japanese knotweed, a fast-growing invasive species. She distilled three different solutions with juglone and sprayed them on the different stands of knotweed. “The Japanese knotweed that I sprayed has not grown back yet, but there’s other Japanese knotweed in the district that has grown back, so my educated guess is that black walnut tree is inhibiting the growth of Japanese knotweed,” she summarized.

In Spain, Roque LĂłpez FernĂĄndez, 14, researched perfumes and created his own using essential oils from native and invasive plants found in his home region of Galicia. “I didn’t just want to make perfumes,” he said. “I wanted to explain something about them, specifically the issue with invasive plants in the region, damaging the ecosystem.”

Creatures great and small

Bernardo Camargo, 13, from Brazil, has been interested in dinosaurs since childhood and hopes to eventually become a paleontologist. “Paleontologists use just fossils and bones to describe more about the history of our planet, and I think this is incredible,” he said. However, Bernardo also sees an enhanced role for modern technology. His project used 3D modeling and virtual reality as tools to study the distant past in a more accessible way.

A very different type of creature captured the attention of Czech delegate Jan Macel, 13, who became fascinated by the tiny water insect Gerris lacustris — also known as the common pond skater or common water strider — and the way it seems to skate across the surface of water. Jan studied the insect’s body structure, measuring the hairs on its six legs and comparing them to the legs of a cockroach. He found that the skaters were able to move effectively on water thanks to the high density of hairs on their legs.

Overall, the diversity and quality research represented in this year’s cohort of Broadcom MASTERS International delegates was both impressive and inspiring. The world will surely be hearing more from these talented young scientists, programmers, mathematicians and engineers in the future.

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Why is the sky blue? How much sleep do we need? What is consciousness?

Six of this year’s Broadcom MASTERS International delegates had questions they wanted answers to, and what better way to find them than using the scientific process? After all, it’s their scientific curiosity that connects them with one another. So even if they may be physically apart in this big world, they still have this community to lean upon. Learn more about these intrepid young scientists from around the globe, their projects, some of their favorite snacks and places to visit in their home countries below!

Camryn Bronson, 13
United States

Which chemical removes blood most effectively from tile?

Inspired by the television show Criminal Minds and intrigued by forensic work, Camryn tested five different chemicals to see which one removes blood the most effectively from tile. “This was done by analyzing how bright the tile glows when sprayed with a substance known as luminol, which glows when in contact with blood,” she explained. “I found that out of the five substances of bleach, laundry detergent, isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar and distilled water, white vinegar removed blood most effectively.”

One interesting snack Camryn enjoys from the United States are Girl Scout Cookies. “I like Thin Mints and Tagalongs.” For those who are unfamiliar, Camryn elaborated, “Thin Mints are milk chocolate covered cookies with a crunchy slightly minty chocolate cookie center. Tagalongs are milk chocolate covered cookies with peanut butter flavoring inside.”

Eoghan Farren, 14
Ireland

What are the carbon footprints of different diets?

Eoghan’s project was inspired by his sister, who is a vegan. He wanted to determine if “,” a method to measure how far food has travelled before it reaches consumers, were significantly different in various diets. First, Eoghan designed a survey and then distributed it to collect responses. He then performed a statistical analysis on his data. “The analysis involved the translation of the responses into a format that allowed different diets to be compared,” he explained. “It showed that vegan diets had a higher food miles footprint than one of omnivorous diets.”

If one of his Broadcom MASTERS International delegates were to visit his home country of Ireland, he recommends visiting any of the beautiful beaches in Donegal, the county where he lives. “They are stunning and some of the best beaches in the world,” he endorsed.

Danielle “Dani” Gibson, 14
Australia

Do native fruits have less sugar then non-indigenous fruits?

Danielle investigated fruits that are native to Australia to see if they have less sugar in them compared to non-indigenous fruits. “I accomplished this by fermenting different samples of native Australian fruits and recording their weights after different periods of time during the day, and then once a day for a week,” she explained. “I compared these results with ones from the previous year where I had tested the glucose content of common western fruits.” Ultimately, Danielle found that native fruits had less sugar.

Danielle recommends her fellow delegates try “Snack Packs.” “They are a Western Sydney street food that are based off of Turkish cuisine,” she said. “It is chips with shaved beef on top, with a selection of sauces. It can also have cheese as well.”

Helena “Helča” Nimshausová, 13
Czech Republic

Are we consuming too much salt?

For Helena’s project, she kept track of how much salt she consumed per day in a two-week period to better understand why salt is both important for the human body, but also dangerous to consume too much of. Helena’s mom helped her record how much salt Helena ate with each meal. “I calculated my average daily consumption and then compared my results with other statistics and recommendations,” Helena explained. “The results of my self-analysis made me happy because I kept to the recommended daily amount of salt.”

Helena’s favorite street food from the Czech Republic is sausage in a roll. “It’s similar to an American hot dog, but you don’t have to slice the roll lengthways.” Instead, a long hole is made through the bread and then ketchup or mustard is placed inside with the sausage.

Rowan Parkinson, 14
Canada

Is listening to music while working a distraction?

“It is commonly believed that listening to music while working is a distraction and will negatively affect one’s ability to concentrate on a task,” Rowan told the Society. “My project explored whether binaural beats (a type of music) could instead be used to improve concentration.” In Rowan’s experiment, 25 subjects were instructed to play a 48-tiled memory game before and after listening to 20 Hz binaural beats. While playing, they were also fitted with a Muse headset (a portable EEG device), which recorded their brainwave activity. Rowan compared their first and second memory test scores and analyzed their concentration indices as measured by the Muse headset. “My results showed that 84% of subjects improved their memory test scores by an average of 24.3%, and 80% of subjects also improved their concentration indices by an average of 36.1%.”

Beavertails are one of Rowan’s favorite foods from Canada. “They are pastries made of fried dough, stretched into the shape of a beaver’s tail and served with a choice of toppings including cinnamon, maple butter, chocolate hazelnut and more.”

Aarush Suryanarayanan, 13
India

How does stellar metallicity vary with planetary mass?

Using data from NASA archives of all confirmed exoplanets, Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Aarush analyzed the metallicity-period-mass relationship of single planetary systems, multiplanetary systems and binary star systems. “Apart from confirming aspects of our existing understanding of exoplanet properties, my research indicates the presence of at least two exceptions to a previously hypothesized low-mass planet mass-metallicity upper limit among other results,” Aarush found. “These results will help scientists better understand planet formation and evolution.”

“A trip to India is not complete without a selfie in front of the Taj Mahal,” Aarush told his fellow delegates. “One of the seven wonders of the world, this monument is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra. The Taj Mahal, with its gardens, took 20 years to build!”

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Hilary Chee, 14
Singapore

Witnessing the negative effects of air pollution in her native Singapore, Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Hilary wanted to do something about it using her science research skills. “I aimed to create a versatile, low-cost and biodegradable filter that anyone could easily install on existing fans,” she told the Society. “I tested three plant materials: luffa gourd, corn silk and sugarcane bagasse. Luffa gourd was the most efficient after 5 minutes at 74.4% efficiency. Sugarcane bagasse and corn silk were around 50% effective. Repeatedly usage of the material also did not decrease filtration efficiency by a large percentage.”

It is not often that one’s culture is recognized by the UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, but Singapore hawker culture gets to boast that title and it’s something Hilary is very proud of. “Since Singapore is a melting pot of various cultures, we don’t have a specific tradition that all Singaporeans share, but our hawker centers are definitely one of the common spaces where our various cultures interact and overlap.”

Ashley Katandawa, 13
Zimbabwe

Ashley designed a portable hammer mill. “This machine can be used by small-scare gold miners to crush their ore,” he explained. “Pharmacists can use the mill to crush their medicines. It can also be used in the spice industries.” The COVID-19 pandemic gave Ashley additional time to work on his prototype and perfect its functionality. He hopes to become an electrical engineer one day, as he wants to make work and life easier for people.

Victoria Falls in Ashley’s native country is a must-see, according to Ashley. As another one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Ashley strongly urges his fellow delegates to have this on their itineraries if given the opportunity to visit Zimbabwe.

Lucas Katz, 14
United States

For his engineering project, Lucas designed and constructed a spherical-motor that enables omnidirectional motion for robots, prosthetics and electric-vehicles, including electric-skateboards, electric-wheelchairs and autonomous self-driving cars. “The spherical motor is designed to rotate in all directions and can also serve as a sphere-shaped wheel, enabling ultimate maneuverability and enhanced safety,” he explained. “Normal motors attach to a vehicle frame using an axle connected to a wheel that can only rotate in one direction.”

A unique American food Lucas enjoys is deep dish pizza. “It is similar to a traditional pizza, but with a two to three-inch layer of tomato sauce over the cheese,” he described. “Due to the thicker crust and sauce, each bite is biscuit-crisp, flowing with sauce over the mozzarella cheese.”

Zhiqian “Baymax” Miao, 14
China

Zhiqian built an automatic pet cage. “It is made up of four main systems,” he explained. “There are  feeding, water, excrement cleaning and blue tooth systems.” One of his main motivations for his invention was to make lives easier. Zhiqian’s prototype can look after small animals like rabbits or hamsters.

Zhiqian’s favorite food from his native China is Xiaolongbao, also known as soup dumplings. “It literally means ‘little basket bun’ and are traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, hence the name.” He is also a fan of sweet glutinous rice dumplings.

Adam Naufal Mohd Faizal, 14
Malaysia

Adam built an autonomous grease trap maintenance system. Several observations he made about his local community motivated him to pursue this project. “Everyday, I am seeing more reports from the municipal authorities that our local environment is becoming more polluted,” he said. “There are also local cleaning contractors that are getting diseases caused by unhygienic working conditions.” All this spurred him to take scientific action, wanting to provide his community with an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to how things are currently done to maintain grease traps.

Nasi Lemak is a Malaysian dish Adam wanted to share with his Broadcom MASTERS International cohort. “It represents the beauty of Malaysia in a simple and enjoyable way. Nasi Lemak consists of coconut rice served with a chili paste called sambal and boiled eggs. It is so delicious, I dare to guarantee if you are to visit and try it, you will become addicted.”

Liang “Linky” Siting, 14
Hong Kong

Liang devised a device to calculate the service life of water filters. “When the device detects that people are using the drinking fountain, the digital display sensor shows the life of filter,” he said. “When the filter needs to be serviced, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology will send a message to remind maintenance workers to replace it. There is also a sensor that will turn on to let people known to not to use the drinking fountain [until the filter has been replaced].”

One of Liang’s favorite traditions is celebrating Lunar New Year. “We hold a big banquet and invite friends and relatives to eat and watch the dragon dance team composed of children from every family.”

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Sophia Baker, 14
United States

People began ordering a lot more takeout when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and because the food often comes in plastic containers, Sophia became concerned about increased pollution. For her project, she investigated the effect different main ingredients in bioplastic had on its durability and biodegradability. “Using bioplastic for takeout container would help to improve ocean health and decrease carbon dioxide emissions,” Sophia said. So, she made prototypes using tapioca and potato starch and found that both were more durable than Styrofoam and degraded faster.

If anyone from Sophia’s cohort of Broadcom MASTERS International delegates were to visit her home state of Arizona, she recommends visiting the Grand Canyon. “Many come from all over to see the sunrise and sunset, to take in the peaceful silence, fresh air and natural beauty,” Sophia described. “Native tribes such as the Navajo and Hopi have put great value on the Canyon, referring to it as a ‘place of emergence.’ Many are said to set sail through as part of their passage from this human life to their next afterlife destination.”

Hanun Dzatirrajwa, 13
Indonesia

Hanun was interested in tracking and analyzing Twitter conversations about COVID-19. Using the hashtag “#covid19semarang,” Hanun gathered data from the social media platform from March 2, 2020 to July 21, 2020. Her research found that users were discussing conversations on four main themes: 1) hesitancy to adopt the use of masks, 2) mobility of Semarang society, 3) discouraging community activities and 4) scarcity of personal protective equipment.

A unique Indonesian tradition that Hanun shared with her fellow delegates is a festival called Dugderan. “Dugderan welcome the holy month of Ramadan,” she explained. “It is officially opened by the Governor and is enlivened with fireworks. During the festival, once can see Warak Ngendok, an imaginary creature that can only be found during Dugderan.”

Mauricio “Mau” Licea, 13
Mexico

Climate change is something Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Mauricio cares greatly about. During the pandemic, many cities were reporting lower air pollution levels, but Mauricio wanted to verify that was indeed the case. “By reviewing air pollution records before and during the pandemic, I analyzed what adjustments to daily life we have to make to save our planet,” he told the Society. His research included strategies that could help keep pollutant levels low even when people resumed pre-pandemic activities.

Sharing a Mexican tradition with his fellow delegates, Mauricio discussed the importance of celebrating the Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. “Altars containing candles, colored paper, fruits, breads, marigold flowers, photos of people who have already died, as well as their favorite foods are put up,” he explained. “It is believed that on those days their souls are granted permission to visit their families and take away the aroma of those delicious dishes and drinks placed as a sign of the love that they still have.”

Loulwa “Lulu” Marzooqi, 13
Saudi Arabia

Seeing the toll COVID-19 had on the mortality of older people motivated Loulwa to study how bioinformatics could be used to screen natural compounds for their potential inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2. Her research showed that chicoric acid is one possible inhibitor. “This offers promising insights to apply to further research in order to limit disease spread,” Loulwa said. She hopes to continue studying other possible therapeutics for the novel coronavirus.

There are many interesting traditions and holidays in Saudi Arabia, but choosing just one to share with her Broadcom MASTERS International cohort, Loulwa picked Eid al Fitr. “Every year, the day after Ramadan is celebrated,” she shared. “It involves amazing cooking, feasting on delicious food, visiting family and friends, and most importantly, sharing gifts!”

Eunchae Song, 12
South Korea

Handwashing is very important when it comes to preventing COVID-19 infection. People should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, but Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Eunchae wanted to take that a step further and designed an Arduino handwashing timer for 30 seconds. “When you put your hands in the sink, the clock begins a 30-second countdown,” she explained. “If you were to stop handwashing before the 30 seconds are up, a warning sound will alert you to continue.” In the future, Eunchae hopes to make it easier for young children to access software like the one she used for her project.

Eunchae suggests visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in her hometown of Seoul. “It is the palace where the king lived during the Joseon Dynasty,” she said.” Eunchae also shared interesting facts about the evolution of Hanbok, traditional Korean clothes. While people have worn them for nearly 1,600 years now, Hanbok have improved and more people wear them.

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Monique Ackermann, 13
Brazil

Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Monique’s project came out of an activity with electrical circuits from her science class. She studied daily electricity use and proposed a way to use the resource more consciously. “I wanted to promote the sustainable and safe use of electricity, to minimize energy consumption and ensure the safety of electrical discharges,” she said. To do so, Monique compared different energy conductors and also examined how to develop a device that protects children from electric shocks.

If a fellow delegate were to visit Monique’s home country of Brazil, going to Cristo Redentor (translated “Christ the Redeemer”), one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is a must. Visiting any of the beautiful beaches throughout Brazil would also be an activity Monique recommends.

Verónica “Vero” Adams-Suárez, 12
Puerto Rico

Verónica’s research is about substituting part of the fine aggregate in concrete with shredded polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). PET is a lightweight plastic that is widely used for packaging, especially bottles or other packaging. “I was inspired to do this project because I am very concerned about the amount of plastic on our beaches and natural resources,” she explained. “There is not a good way of disposing of plastic, an environmental problem. By replacing some of the fine aggregate in concrete, PET could be an alternative and at the same time reduce the amount of sand needed to prepare the concrete.”

Related to Verónica’s desire to preserve the natural world, the Vieques Bioluminescent Bay is a mandatory place to visit she says. “Puerto Rico has three of the world’s five bioluminescent water sources. It is an amazing experience to see the water glow with millions of single-celled microorganisms called dinoflagellates.”

Ahmed Tarek Alframawy, 12
Egypt

Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Ahmed’s engineering project aims to make an integrated city that employs a smart system using a remote internet connection. He specifically looked at the possibility of using solar energy and was concerned with making sure people with special needs could navigate easily. There are three components to Ahmed’s proposed city: the smart home, which includes temperature and light sensors; the smart road, which includes motion sensors and the smart gate, designed for security purposes.

“What drives me to be a scientific researcher is my passion to solve problems,” Ahmed expressed. “I can help my country with what I have learned.” If a fellow delegate were to visit Egypt for just a day, he highly recommends going to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Chia-Tse “Alex” Hung, 13
Taiwan

Chia-Tse wanted to solve the problem of inconvenient transportation in mountainous regions, so he explored the feasibility of using wind-powered cable cars. He also believed this would alleviate some of the world’s energy demands. According to Chia-Tse, “Science exists to improve our lives. That’s why I did this research and I hope my designs will be useful.”

One of the landmarks in Chia-Tse’s native Taiwan is the Taipei 101. Previously classified as the world’s tallest building from 2004 to 2009, he says his fellow Broadcom MASTERS International delegates shouldn’t skip out on it should they visit Taiwan.

Niamh Loughran, 13
Northern Ireland

Niamh got the idea for her project when she was taking out her recycling bin. “It was very light, but full, and made me think there must be a better way of dealing with recyclable waste,” she said. “I realized that if this waste could be compacted prior to collection, it would greatly reduce the collection cycle completed by the bin lorries, thus reducing traffic congestion on roads and reducing the CO₂ emissions emitted by these lorries.” So, she set out to build a waste compacting prototype and found that her design could reduce the volume of waste by almost 75%.

Sharing an aspect of Northern Ireland culture with us, Niamh discussed the tradition of Gaelic games. “Gaelic sports include football, which is a bit like rugby and hurling or camogie (the girls’ version of hurling) which is the fastest field sport in the world,” she explained. “These sports are played in our local towns and villages all over the country. It is considered the national games in Ireland and on All-Ireland final day, when the best two county teams play, there are over 80,000 spectators watching in the national stadium, Croke Park. Not bad for amateur players!”

Snigtha Mohanraj, 13
United States

Snigtha’s project investigates the usage of three different natural coagulants (Nirmali seeds, Shrimp shells, and Cassava peels) for removing microplastics from water. “These inexpensive, nontoxic, and efficient natural coagulants agglomerate with the microplastics, and these formed aggregates can be easily filtered out to remove the microplastics,” she explained. Her results indicate Cassava peels are a great coagulant, working more effectively than the others she tested.

When asked about an American destination her fellow delegates must visit, Snigtha recommended Yosemite National Park. “It is a breathtaking place, you’re surrounded by beautiful nature on all sides. I went to Yosemite in both the summer and winter, giving me different views of the waterfalls, towering sequoia trees, mountains and wildlife.”

Joaquín “Joaco” Paulo Soravilla, 13
Uruguay

Joaquín wanted to find a way to recycle paper that would otherwise be discarded. “In our class, we began to create ecological books,” Joaquín said. “Then we saw an opportunity to recycle the paper that we were throwing away, like paper clippings and sheets of notebooks.” The process, Joaquín explained, is very simple—it requires just water, a blender and molds to give the “new” paper shape. Next, Joaquín is working on creating a device to press the recycled paper.

In Joaquín’s home country of Uruguay, there are deposits of agates and amethysts. “They are semi-precious stones, highly valued throughout the world and known for the positive energy they transmit and their natural beauty,” he described to his fellow delegates. For Joaquín, they are a must-see for anyone who visits.

Benjamin “Ben” Stow, 12
South Africa

For Benjamin’s project, he studied making renewable fuel out of a succulent plant called Portulacaria afra (Spekboom) using the anaerobic digestion process. “The global climate crisis has resulted in the urgent need to find renewable sources of energy,” he noted. “I have a deep commitment to finding ways to make the world a better place and to reduce the impact of humans on the planet.” For further research, Benjamin would like to compare Portulacaria afra’s ability to produce biogas to ordinary kitchen waste’s ability.

Given an opportunity to visit South Africa, Benjamin insists his fellow delegates should make plans to see the country’s incredible wildlife. “We are blessed to have the Big 5 [game animals] living in the wild, at our door step,” he shared. “I would be proud to show them off to anyone.”

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Rionach Hackett, 13
Northern Ireland

Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Rionach Hackett has used her time sheltering in place to explore new hobbies, including teaching herself French. She’s also writing a novel and taking voice lessons. Along with these artistic endeavors, Rionach tells the Society that she’s helping her “dad build vegetable beds in our garden and helping to start a compost bin!”

Advocating for the planet and its inhabitants and educating her family and community about environmentally-sound practices is important to Rionach, as demonstrated by her research project. She collaborated with a few friends to build an Eco-Powered Dollhouse, which she says was “designed to educate young children about renewable energy through play. It includes fully functioning solar panels, a windmill and a well, among other features which promote an eco-friendly lifestyle.” She adds, “We chose to create this as young children need to know more about renewable energy and combating environmental issues such as climate change.”

Kai-Hsuan Hsu, 14
Taiwan

Kai-Hsuan Hsu, this year’s delegate from Taiwan, tells the Society that his school has been in session during the pandemic because the virus has been well contained in his country. Still, students and faculty are asked to wear masks and socially distance in class as a precaution.

Through his studies, Kai-Hsuan has discovered his curiosity for science and mathematics. In fact, his research project is focused on math. “The objective of my project is to observe what shape would be created by rotating a point by layering two different shapes. I discovered an easier version of this experiment from a math book, and wondered what would happen when things were more difficult, which is why I did this project. I like to try several ways to approach different problems.” Evidently, Kai-Hsuan doesn’t shy away from challenges and says that he “hopes to contribute to society by applying science to life and in doing so, improve the world.” 

Ruvarashe Moyo, 14
Zimbabwe

Ruvarashe Moyo, says that electric power cuts ─ known as load shedding ─ across her home of Zimbabwe last between 10-15 hours a day. In order to create electricity, Zimbabweans use firewood. Although it is the is cheapest and easiest alternative, the use of firewood has led to damaging consequences, such as deforestation and soil erosion. According to Ruvarashe, “Children in rural areas are missing many hours of school going to look for firewood. Even without the power cuts about 63% of the population do not have access to electricity.” Ruvarashe thinks the answer to Zimbabwe and the world’s global energy crisis could lie in the electricity produced using bacteria. Ruvarashe explains that in her research project she “used bacteria to create electrical power by oxidizing simple compounds in wastewater. The electrons and protons released travel through an external circuit producing electricity.” Her ultimate goal is to give every family in her country and beyond clean, eco-friendly and accessible alternative energy sources.

While Ruvarashe believes that “science is the only way young people can change the world,” she also has an appreciation for the cultural traditions, beliefs and heritage she grew up with in Zimbabwe. One cultural tradition she shared with the Society is a musical instrument called a mbira, which is “believed to chase away harmful spirits and cures sickness. The mbira is used in all celebrations such as weddings, installation of new chiefs and honoring the dead. Also, we believe in totemism, a system of belief in which humans are said to have kinship or mystical relationships with a spirit-being, such as a plant or animal.”

Akira Naumovski, 14
Australia

Since he was a little boy, Akira Naumovski has always been intrigued by computers and working with his hands to build things. In his project, Akira devised a gadget he calls a “Do-It-Yourself Facial Recognition System,” using a Raspberry Pi, a television, a camera and other pieces of hardware and software. The system was integrated into a smart mirror, which he then tested on 17 different people. Akira explains that he did this “by training the system to recognize the participants’ faces through taking photos” of them at various angles and with a hat on. “I then increased the number of photos of each participant and examined whether the number of photos stored in the system affected how well the system could recognize the person while they were performing one of the expressions or wearing the hat.” Facial recognition systems hold many applications, including identification at a gym or apartment building. 

When he learns about the latest in technology, Akira imagines how he might one day invent something to make an impact too. “In particular, I like Apple and how they shift the global paradigm from time to time.” Akira tells the Society that if Steve Jobs were still alive, he would have enjoyed a “casual chat with him about the world, artificial intelligence, transportation and design principles.”

Puteri Intan Sofiyah, 14
Malaysia

In her research project, Malaysia delegate, Puteri Intan Sofiyah, aimed to harvest alternative energy using piezoelectric sensors or discs, a widely adopted technique to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. Puteri explains, “Normally, we can produce energy from wind, water or solar, but in my project, I harvested energy from piezo discs.” Puteri shares a key way piezo discs are used in Malaysia: the discs are placed under the roads where vehicles drive across. The pressure exerted from automobiles on that pavement “generate free energy from the natural and habitual action of the vehicles and people.” The energy harvested from the system is then deposited into a storage device and can be used when needed.

Similarly, in her project, Puteri says she used buzzers to harvest energy “because in a buzzer, there is a piezoelectric disc which emits sound when we supply electricity to it. However, when I reverse the piezoelectric process, the disc can generate electricity.” She hopes that her science might contribute to the overall lowering of utility bills and make the planet greener.

Puteri tells the Society that one of the characteristics she loves most about Malaysia is the diversity of
her nation, which includes three main ethnic groups, including Malays, Chinese and Indian, each having their own customs and traditions. One of her favorite Malaysian breakfasts is a hot plate of roti canai, “a flour dough that has been kneaded and shaped into a pancake and eaten with curry or peanut sauce!”

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Dana Alharthi, 14
Saudi Arabia

Delegate Dana Alharthi has always been passionate about science; she aspires to be a computer scientist one day. Her research project focuses on the digital risks of cyberbullying. Dana explains that her “project is about a way to detect cyberbullying using machine learning algorithms, specifically the Naïve Bayes Classifier.” She gives an example to explain: “If two social media users have a simple chat together and one bullies the other, my system detects the common bullying term right away to delete it before it sends.” Dana hopes that her work can help stop cyberbullying and negative online incidence.

“Science in general is such an amazing world of knowledge. It is a hero to everything. Hopefully science can cure COVID-19 too,” Dana tells the Society.

Do Hyeon Kim, 14
South Korea

Seoul locals often lounge and picnic along the luscious green spaces by Korea’s fourth longest river ─ the Han. Delegate, Do Hyeon Kim, says it’s one of her beloved spaces to hang out with friends, while eating Kimchi and Korean chicken.

Do also enjoys biking by the Han, but she does so with caution. Do says she’s “always been afraid of riding a bicycle on the roads” of her homeland. Thanks to her own scientific solution, a safe suit meant to protect riders and pedestrians, she is no longer afraid of getting into accidents. “The accident prevention suit is designed to prevent crashes while riding a bicycle. At first, the suit didn’t work properly. So, I developed a second version after fixing the shortcomings of the first.” Do used computer science and coding to ensure that a cyclist wearing her suit would be noticeable to drivers on the road, specifically by turning on LED lights when the cyclist presses a button. The lights also illuminate when the rider stops abruptly.

In the future, Do hopes to maximize the field of computer science to help the marginalized peoples of her nation. “I haven’t decided my final dream yet, but using software to help the socially disadvantaged is my current goal and dream.”

Kushaal Kumar Pothula, 14
India

Since he was a little boy, Kushaal Pothula has been wholly captivated by the stars and the planets. When he was 12, he came up with two hypotheses in the field of astronomy and bravely forwarded them along to NASA. He was surprised when he got a letter back acknowledging his ideas. Kushaal says, “I find it amazing how almost everything in the universe can be explained using science. I want to contribute to the field of astronomy and solve enigmatic, perplexing scientific mysteries.”

While his heart is in astronomy, Kushaal’s current research focuses on making life safer down here on earth. His project looks at ways to prevent hazardous release from e-waste, that is, waste from discarded electrical and electronic machinery. If electronics aren’t disposed of properly, human health and safety is at risk. “I try to solve the problem of e-waste by reusing it to make wireless electricity.”

One of Kushaal’s favorite traditions in his country is the greeting Namaste, which means “let our minds meet.” He explains that the greeting is done by putting one’s palms together, rather than a handshake, which “also prevents the spread of COVID-19!”

Lo Tsz Ting, 14
Hong Kong

The dangers of toxic gas leaks and other hazards in Hong Kong prompted delegate Lo Tsz Ting to partner with two of her classmates to develop the U-shaped Smelly, a “sensor that detects when the levels of gas in a U-shaped water trap are high.” In Hong Kong, water in toilet u-shaped pipes prevent contaminated (with bacteria, viruses) gases from flowing in the wrong direction (from the sewers into the house or building). Lo explains that this gas detection technology adds water automatically to prevent gas leaks, making tenant living environments and buildings safer. She is troubled by recent reports that in Hong Kong, diseases such as SARS and COVID-19, are thought to have spread through the plumbing in some buildings because the intended barriers are not working as expected. Her method detects when the pipes have dried out and automatically fills them.

Lo adores Hong Kong, the global port city where she was raised. She tells the Society that it is often “referred to as the pearl of Asia.” During down times before the pandemic, Lo would venture with her family and friends to two major local theme parks, Disney Land and Ocean Park, both of which have been shut down due to COVID-19.

Xiaojin Wang, 14
China

Delegate Xiaojin Wang invented an intelligent compound drive lane system, aiming to make driving safer. He uses “a video recognition technology, which is retrofit to current road infrastructure. This intelligent system ensures the compound lanes in cities are extensively visualized to drivers for safety purposes. It can also greatly optimize road capacity and automatically regulate when the road is crowded.”

Xiaojin tells the Society that if he could have dinner with any 91”Œșœ hero, he’d sit down with Ming Lin, the Chief Engineer of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, the longest sea crossing and unbroken bridge-tunnel system in the world. “I admire him because of his team’s enormous impact on construction, science and technology.”

Xiaojin also shared that some of his favorite foods are popular during Chinese festival seasons, including Zongzi, sticky rice dumplings, at the Dragon Boat Festival in June and mooncakes at the Mid-Autumn Festival in the fall.

Learn more about Broadcom MASTERS International 2020 delegates who did projects focused on human health and disease here.

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Tamzhin Valentine, 13
South Africa

Since she was a child, Tamzhin Valentine, has lived with vitiligo, a skin condition where patches of skin are characterized by a loss of pigment. She tells the Society that as a child she did not “understand why, I was treated differently while others could go out and play on a sunny day. Now that I am older, I know what other people living with this disease are going through.” She added, “I did this project to motivate and encourage myself from being unhappy and left out. This topic really helped me understand and support people living with vitiligo.”

For her BCMI project, Tamzhin surveyed her fellow students and community about their understanding of vitiligo. She also interviewed a professional skin therapist and others living with the condition and led an awareness campaign at her school. During her literature review, Tamzhin came across an article that described how “some African tribes think they are cursed when they have the condition.”

In the future, Tamzhin hopes to “formulate a substance that stimulates the release of pigments in areas of the body that it’s not found.” She would also like “to formulate a test where loss of pigment can be detected before birth and the mother can take a substance that restores the DNA that is responsible for the pigment of the skin.” One day, Tamzhin hopes to meet international model, Winnie Harlow, who has vitiligo. “I admire her confidence level living with this condition.”

Jan Trapero Gallart, 13
Spain

These days, after eating toast and ham or pancakes with sugar, typical breakfasts in his home country of Spain, Jan Trapero Gallart, logs onto his virtual classes. “I take part in online robotics and programming exercises every day. And, sometimes I practice the guitar, watching videos on the Internet because we don’t have online lessons at my music school.” Clearly, Jan’s passions are diverse, including both music and science.

In his BCMI science research project, Jan used the popular memory game called Simon, to deepen his understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. He tells the Society that, “the game would not cure Alzheimer’s, obviously, but I think it would work well as an occupational therapy, keeping patients’ minds active.” Jan’s inquisitiveness and drive to improve peoples’ quality of life keep him motivated. “Science is especially important to me because I like investigating. I would like to make a positive impact in the world, inventing or discovering something that helps people.” 

Mary Shea Ballantine, 13
United States

Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, BCMI 2020 delegate, Mary Shea Ballantine, looks forward to the Kentucky Derby every year. But for the first time since World War II, the Derby was postponed. Mary tells the Society, “Many people, including my family, look forward to watching the horses race around the track and betting on who will win! Other special symbols of the Derby include a rose blanket presented to the winner and crazy hats that the ladies wear!”

During the pandemic, Mary, has observed that the world is looking to scientists for their expertise, insights and a vaccine. “We are seeing that our lives, jobs and the world’s economy depend on science!”

Mary’s BCMI project was focused on the detrimental consequences of automotive exhausts on human lung functioning and the lung microbiome. “The bacteria I tested were probiotic, meaning necessary for our health.” She explains that when probiotics are killed, the risk of infection increases. “I discovered that automotive exhausts kill bacteria by decreasing their growth and motility, making them resistant to antibiotics.” Mary is committed to doing research that will bring a healthier future for humanity. She hopes that one day she can be a scientist like her 91”Œșœ hero, Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Martin Chalfie.

Amos Paulete, 14
Uruguay

Born and raised in Uruguay, BCMI delegate, Amos Paulete describes the picturesque terrain of his country, known for its beach-lined coasts and the taming of horses in the fields. Situated in South America, Uruguay is a popular destination spot where tourists partake in the beauty of its rolling hills and waters.

However, Amos is concerned that toxic cyanobacterial blooms not only damage the water ecosystem, but also swimming in Uruguay’s oceans pose a risk to human health. The cyanobacteria produce toxins that are harmful to the human body, particularly the liver and the central nervous system. Amos explains that, “Because where I live is a place of tourism, we need to solve this problem. When cyanobacteria reproduce faster than normal, it can be dangerous for humans and wildlife. We did this project because people can’t swim at our beaches, because of the cyanobacteria.” Amos built a prototype of a drone, called a Cianobot, designed to detect these bacteria.

Amos says he believes the pandemic, “is teaching us how life can change, and it is important to respect all the people around you. If we work together we can stop COVID-19 from spreading.”

Read about six 2020 BCMI delegates whose projects focus on ways to help the environment and our planet here.

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