What do exoplanets and bees have in common? The answer is not just that they are out of this world but that they also send staff and students at T.C. Williams High School buzzing with excitement.
Bees and exoplanets are the topics that two T.C. Williams seniors chose to explore in-depth that catapulted them to within the top 300 high school scientists in the United States. Both Tessa Naughton-Rockwell and Ana Humphrey reached one of the top tiers in the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), the nation’s most prestigious pre-college science competition. Ana has also since been named one of the competition’s 40 finalists.
Having one student at this level would be incredible enough, but two is really a testament to the level at which these two students are being taught here at T.C. Williams. We are a school where students can select a subject they want to learn about, get the support needed to explore it and hone the skills that enable them to compete at the highest level in the United States,” said Principal Peter Balas.
Ana’s inspiration came in sixth grade after making a detour to visit the Science Talent Search competition — for which she is now a semifinalist — on her way home from a soccer game in DC.
I remember talking to one girl who actually went on to win the competition that year. She was growing algae in a lab under her bed. That seemed like a completely insane idea, that you would have a full laboratory experiment in your bedroom under your bed. Right then I knew that I wanted to be one of those students,” said Ana, who is driven by her absolute love of physics and quest to explore the big questions, like, ‘Where did we come from? How is it possible that we even exist? What is our place in the universe?’
Ana’s research centers around her use of mathematical modeling to identify the most probable locations of exoplanets — planets outside our solar system — that may have been missed by the prime mission of the Kepler Space Telescope. The idea of using math to find planets lights her up.
Tessa is driven by a desire to save her own planet.
Her research centers on the correlation between internal beehive temperature and pesticide exposure in her desire to understand the reasoning behind the decline of the bee population. If a beehive is too cold, the brood will die and she believes that neonicotinoids, a class of insecticide, relate to colder temperatures in the hive. She hopes that research like hers will lead to increased awareness of the issue and to pesticide reform.
In addition to their shared passion for research and data, Ana and Tessa also share a passion for sharing what they learn with others. Inspired by a middle school science class project, Ana founded a non-profit organization, Watershed Warriors — a student-led organization that writes and teaches hands-on lessons focused on the environment to local fifth graders in ACPS and beyond.
Tessa joined Watershed Warriors and also started a bee club at T.C. with some of her classmates and is now a beekeeper. The club manages their own hive near the Chinquapin Community Garden and engages in community outreach to help people understand the role they can play in supporting our bee population.
We go out into the community and teach people about bees and how bees are dying and why they are so cool, especially focusing on younger kids. There is a big stigma against bees so our work focuses on very young kids to help not be afraid of them and help them understand that bees are really cool insects and that we need them as pollinators, so that they can grow up with an appreciation of bees and their importance,” said Tessa.
Ana and Tessa learned how to develop their projects, conduct research and present their work at science fairs and competitions in the Science Research class available to students in grades 10 through 12 at T.C. In the course, students pursue their own scientific questions and develop skills through authentic research in science. They’re encouraged to pursue discussions, internships and/or mentorships with scientists and experts professionals aligned with their projects.
Tessa, a semi-finalist, and Ana, a finalist in the talent search, were selected from among nearly 2,000 students representing 601 high schools in 48 states and two U.S. territories, and eligible students living in seven other countries. They had to prove exceptional research skills, innovation and promise as scientists to get to this level. Alumni of STS have made extraordinary contributions to science and hold more than 100 of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including the Nobel Prize and National Medal of Science.
As a Regeneron Science Talent Search finalist, Ana is being recognized for engaging in trailblazing scientific research that addresses some of our most urgent global challenges. She and the 40 other finalists will undergo a rigorous judging process, interact with leading scientists, display their research for the public and meet with members of Congress in March. Winners will be announced at a black-tie gala award ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 12.