Broad Street Scientific Journal 2020

LETTER from the CHANCELLOR
"For 300 days I’ve been fortunate to be a part of something that strives to represent and benefit all humanity. As I
look out and reflect on our shared world, that has been the greatest honor. . . I can’t wait to pay it forward to the next
explorers and watch them fly even higher."
~ Christina H. Koch ‘97
I am very happy to introduce the ninth edition of
the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics’
(NCSSM) scientific journal, Broad Street Scientific, with the
words of NASA astronaut and NCSSM graduate Christina
H. Koch ‘97, who recently set a record for the longest single
spaceflight by a woman. We are proud of Christina, and
of each of our NCSSM students who conduct significant
scientific research during the academic year. Broad Street
Scientific is a student-led and student-produced showcase
of some of the impressive research currently being
conducted by students at NCSSM.
As I write this foreword, those of us in North
Carolina and in much of the United States are responding
to stay-at-home orders as a result of the COVID-19 global
pandemic. The importance of scientific inquiry is amplified
in times like these, when cutting-edge technologies and
treatments are literally saving lives each day, and our
researchers accelerate their search for both a cure for
this virus and a vaccine to prevent its return. At NCSSM,
students are given regular opportunities to develop their
research skills and share their results as part of the broader
scientific conversation around the world. Many go on to
join that larger community of researchers, asking difficult
questions and providing guidance grounded in data to
those who may address the next global challenge. We are
proud to be a part of their educational journey.
Opened in 1980, NCSSM was the nation’s first public
residential high school where students study a specialized
curriculum emphasizing science and mathematics.
Teaching students to do research and providing them with
opportunities to conduct high-level research in biology,
chemistry, physics, computational science, engineering
and computer science, math, humanities, and the social
sciences is a critical component of NCSSM’s mission
to educate academically talented students to become
state, national, and global leaders in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics. I am thrilled that each year
we continue to increase the outstanding opportunities
NCSSM students have to participate in research.
Each edition of Broad Street Scientific features some
of the best research that our students conduct at NCSSM
under the guidance of our outstanding faculty and in
collaboration with researchers at major universities. For
thirty-five years, NCSSM has showcased student research
through our annual Research Symposium each spring and
at major research competitions such as the Regeneron
Science Talent Search and the International Science and
Engineering Fair. The publication of this journal provides
another opportunity to share with the broader community
the outstanding research being conducted by NCSSM
students.
I would like to thank all of the students and faculty
involved in producing Broad Street Scientific, particularly
faculty sponsor Dr. Jonathan Bennett, and senior editors
Olivia Fugikawa, Jason Li and Eleanor Xiao. Explore and
enjoy!
Dr. Todd Roberts, Chancellor
4 | 2019-2020 | Broad Street Scientific