Columbia Science Research Projects Examine Anxiety, Adolescent Behavior, Alzheimer’s Disease and More

Oct 27, 2025 | Columbia, District

Liam Smith presenting his research at the Columbia Science Research Mini Symposium

Liam Smith presenting his research at the Columbia Science Research Mini Symposium.

Columbia High School students in the Science Research program presented their work to classmates on October 15 as part of a Mini Symposium in the school auditorium. Students explained their research projects and what they have learned so far. They also answered questions about their projects from students and teachers in the audience.

The research projects included topics such as anxiety, adolescent behavior, Alzheimer’s Disease, and eating disorders.

“The mini symposium always reminds me of the power of this program and all the great things our kids are doing,” said Heidi Gleason, a Columbia Science Teacher and Director of the Science Research Program. “It is always an invigorating day!”

Science Research II students are juniors and Science Research III students are seniors.

Science Research II

  • Dylan Beardsley – “The presence of sugar and climbing ability in Drosophila melanogaster: A model for Diabetics”
  • Elizabeth Daoust – “The Association Between Fluctuations in Menstrual Phases and Severity of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms”
  • Snehaa Gopinath – “Raman Spectroscopy and the Connection between AD and Epilepsy”
  • Brooke Haney – “The Legacy of Black Locust on The Microbial Activity of The Albany Pine Bush”
  • Allison Hutton – “The Implementation of Micro-Hydrokinetic Turbines for Remote Community Electrification”
  • Kaleigh Mackey – “The Effects of Supplemental Feeding on Coral Growth Rates”
  • Lyla Maguffin – “The Relationship Between ARFID Drivers and Anxiety Symptoms”
  • Eliot Merritt – “The Impact of the Partisan Lean of a News Source on Student’s Future Civic Engagement: An Investigation of a High School PIG Class”
  • Andrew Puglisi – “What is the effect of immigration related videos on fear as measured with the Skin Conductance Response Test (SCRT)?”
  • Amber Travis – “CRISPR-Cas 9 and Genes Relating to Alzheimer’s Disease”

Science Research III

  • Aneira Bailey – “The Combined Effects of Various Albedos and Amounts of CO2 on the Climate of the Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1e Compared to Earth”
  • Kaylee Mercer – “The Impact of Travel Distance to Healthcare Clinics on Low Birth Weight Rates in selected Regions.”
  • Sarah Rainville – “Autonomous Motivation Within the Athlete-Coach Relationship and Disordered Eating”
  • Alex Saddlemire – “Familial Triangulation and Its Impact on Adolescents’ Externalizing Behavior”
  • Liam Smith – “Protecting Shark Populations with Barriers and Tagging”
  • Lillian Sturgis – “PM 2.5 in Columbia High School will have a correlation with absent students at CHS”