Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • August 15, 2012 Area Governor’s School researchers make presentations During an intensive summer academic program, 85 Governor’s School scholars explored why the Ancient Guangalans of Ecuador disappeared. They conducted research to see how garlic, cinnamon, or cloves can provide protection from the streptococcus bacteria, and asked what happens to a plant when temperatures are higher and there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The Governor’s School in the Sciences scholars presented their findings at an Aug. 3 conference at Drew University. Governor’s School scholars are high school students entering their senior year who were selected for the program from more than 300 applicants. Among the students who presented research projects at the Drew University campus were Richard Tamirian of Allendale, Sophie Lederer of Glen Rock, Michelle Guo of Ho-Ho-Kus, and Peter Xiong of Mahwah. Students worked in small groups during the three-week program. “The Governor’s School cultivates interest in the sciences for high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds. Governor’s School graduates have made important contributions to research that benefit New Jersey’s citizens and economy. We are very proud of the research the students presented…at Drew,” said New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks. Her office administers state funding for the Governor’s School. Scholars lived on the Drew campus during the summer program. Emphasis was placed on solving complex issues that exist on local, state, national, and international levels. The scholars participated in college-level courses and labs. There were guest speakers, including the 2011 Nobel Prize winner Adam Riess, who is an alumnus of the Governor’s School in the Sciences. The scholars engaged in activities such as career day and a college fair, that helped them connect with professors, professionals, and peers throughout the state. This year’s program was funded by the State of New Jersey, Roche Foundation, Zucchi Trust, Novartis, Independent College Fund of New Jersey, Bayer Healthcare, Team 2: Teaching Assistant Elizabeth Day of Warren, Team Leader Michael Avaltroni of Staten Island, NY, Olabade Omole of North Plainfield, Jonathan Wu of Belle Mead, Jonathan Lin of North Brunswick, Peter Xiong of Mahwah, Tania Wu of Randolph, Nathaniel Okun of Short Hills, Dominique Voso of Margate City, Matthew Piccolella of Point Pleasant, Suraj Shukla of Parsippany, Marcus Elias of Towaco, and Emily Chen of Pittstown. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Glaxo Smith Kline, and contributions from alumni of the Governor’s School in the Sciences. Team 2’s chemistry project involved “Improving the Hydrophobicity of Kitchenware through the Covalent Bonding of Phosphonic Acids.” This team, which included Xiong of Mahwah examined new methods to coat nonmetallic surfaces with substances that repel non-stick substances that repel water. This research would enable the coating of materials to which current non-stick substances cannot be used. Other advantages include the fact that these new substances would be permanently attached and less toxic than the current non-stick materials now being used. Team 3, which included Allendale’s Tamirian, focused on microbiology. This group’s project was “The Spices of Life: Testing the Antimicrobial Effects of Garlic, Cinnamon, and Clove against Streptococcus Mutans.” A variety of herbs and spices have been shown to kill bacteria in the body. This project examined whether these natural antibiotics are effective against bacteria found in the mouth. This research could lead to the development (continued on page 15)