Students from across the division gathered recently at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center for the senior division of the Prince William-Manassas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Young scientists presented research projects reflecting months—and in some cases years—of scientific inquiry, experimentation, and problem‑solving.

 The event brought together high school students representing a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, environmental science, biology, and technology. Judges evaluated projects based on scientific rigor, originality, and presentation.

Among the standout projects include the following five grand prize projects:

  • “AEROCOOL: Aerospike Engine Research On COOLing through Biomimicry” by Mazen Ben Chouikha, Michael Obeng, and Devin Wanchoo, juniors at Osbourn Park High School and The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park
  • “Sustainable Leather Alternatives: The Effect of Zinc Oxide and Microcrystalline Cellulose on Mechanical Properties and UV-Blocking of a Sodium Alginate- and Gelatin-Based Biomaterials” by Erin Jansen, a sophomore at Patriot High School
  • “Design and Performance Analysis of Low-Cost Lead Filtration Systems” by James Kim and Abid Safwan, sophomores at Osbourn Park High School
  • “Designing for Presence: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Incentive Structures to Reduce Smartphone Use During Social Interactions” by Atiksh Bhan, a sophomore at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
  • “SepsiSense: A Sepsis Detection and Post-Sepsis Health Monitoring Software for Continuous Recovery Assessment” by Belva Fianko, Bilal Khan, and Naman Patel, seniors at Osbourn Park High School and The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park.
Atiksh Bhan, one of the grand prize winners, shared the motivation for pursuing this research. “It is common to observe families at restaurants engaging with their phones rather than interacting with each other. This observation prompted me to investigate potential solutions. Our findings indicate that progress is possible, which is encouraging.”

Erin Jansen, another grand prize winner, said that participating in the fair represents a significant opportunity. Her winning project, "Sustainable Leather," has the potential to positively impact both the environment and the leather industry. Integrating engineering and bioscience, her work seeks innovative solutions to longstanding challenges.

The regional science fair continues to highlight PWCS’ commitment to hands‑on, inquiry‑based learning and student innovation. Sponsored by Prince William County Public Schools, I‑66 Express Mobility Partners, Leidos, and SPARK, the education foundation for PWCS, the event provides a platform for young scientists to demonstrate their knowledge and creativity, with projects ranging from microbiology to advanced robotics.

Grand prize winners will advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May. First and second place winners will advance to the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair in April.

A full list of winners is posted on the Prince William-Manassas Regional Science and Engineering Fair webpage. The list of organization winners will be continuously updated as the organizations notify us of which projects they have selected.