Alisha Armstrong, left, and Della Churchill examine samples taken during research into the count of microplastics at Reliance and Heritage harbors. The five-student Wrangell team took third place at a virtual Southeast science fair.
A group of high school students who participated in an environmental research program won third place in Southeast competition for their work comparing the amount of microplastics in the water at Wrangell harbors.
The science fair, sponsored by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), was held virtually on April 30. The students were presented with awards for their work, including third place overall.
The University of Alaska Southeast has been running the Rural Alaska Students in One-Health Research (RASOR) program for high school classes across the region since 2020 to highlight environmental issues that can affect human health.
Wrangell students this school year conducted research comparing the amount of microplastics in the water of two of Wrangell's harbors. Microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters in size (about one-fifth of an inch) and come from various sources, from clothing to personal care products that break down and wash into waterways.
High school science teacher Heather Howe said via email that students Alisha Armstrong, Della Churchill, Aubrey Wynne, Boomchain Loucks and Trevyn Gillen conducted the research. Water samples were collected using a plankton net tow for three minutes at Reliance Harbor and Heritage Harbor on Feb. 7 and 12. Their data was compared to findings that were presented last year by Mia Wiederspohn, Jacen Hay and Daniel Harrison.
Their hypothesis had been that the levels stay consistent. However, the comparison showed otherwise.
"We found in our research that the microplastics count was higher than we expected it to be," Armstrong said. They found that microplastics had increased in all locations, particularly at Reliance Harbor.
Howe said the students then created a scientific research poster and used it to present their findings at the virtual AISES Southeast regional fair. The students won the Environmental Science and Sustainability Award, representing "Haa Aani, Protecting and Honoring our Land," and received third place overall for their project.
Armstrong, who was more focused on her upcoming graduation, admitted to being a little surprised. "I wasn't expecting to win anything," she said. "I thought it was pretty cool to be a part of that."
Howe said that the program serves as a great steppingstone for students who are looking for introductory coursework in science at the college level, as RASOR's instructors, Ellen Chenoweth and Willa Johnson, work with the students every step of the way.
"It has been amazing to see Wrangell students progress throughout the years of the RASOR program," she added. "The opportunity to be exposed to this level of scientific research in high school is incredible and something I wish I would have had as a student."
The top three research teams from the fair will present their data at the AISES national conference in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 3-5.
"Only two students are allowed to present a research poster at the national conference," Howe said. "With Alisha graduating, the remaining four students may choose to create another poster for their research or just send two delegates."
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