ADVANCED AUTHENTIC RESEARCH CELEBRATORY SHOWCASE

– TABLE OF CONTENTS –

PROGRAM HALLMARKS .......................................................................... 1

STUDENT PROJECT & HUMAN CONNECTIONS ............................................... 3

ELEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES & AAR COLLABORATION PROJECT .......................................................... 24 HENRY M. GUNN HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM & AAR PARTNERSHIP ........................................ 25 ABOUT OUR PROGRAM ........................................................................ 26

PROGRAM HALLMARKS 2016-2017

● The Santa Clara County School Boards Association has announced PAUSD’s AdvancedAuthentic Research (AAR) program as one of the 2017 winners of its prestigious Glenn W.Hoffmann Awards, a 33-year tradition which celebrates school programs that significantlyimpact student success in Santa Clara County.

● The article “Innovative Teaching and Learning through Advanced Authentic Research,”authored by Jeong Choe, Deanna Chute, Angela Merchant, Mary Robinson, and Max McGee, iscurrently in press for publication in the National Consortium of Specialized STEM Schools(NCSSS) Journal. The article describes the design, development, and implementation of theAAR program.

● The article “Cultivating Innovation and Inclusiveness through Partnerships,” authored by JeongChoe, Deanna Chute, Markus Autrey, Max McGee, Mary Robinson, Erin Angell, Eric Bloom,Barbara Sih Klausner, and Miguel Fittoria, is being published in the fall edition of Success inHigh-Need Schools Journal. This publication describes a two-part collaboration betweenPAUSD’s Advanced Authentic Research (AAR) program, Palo Alto High School’s Social JusticePathway (SJP) program, and DreamCatchers (DC). The project evolved from an effort to mergeinnovative teaching and learning with inclusiveness. The paper aims to first, describe eachprogram; and second, discuss the implementation, results, and ongoing progress of thiscollaboration.

● The AAR team (Jeong Choe, Deanna Chute, Angela Merchant) worked together over thesummer to build a scalable infrastructure for the 2016-17 program, including weekly researchcurriculum. This year, students were guided through this curriculum by their teachers (ErinAngell, Deanna Chute, Ed Corpuz, Marie Durquet, Rachel Kaci, Hilary McDaniel, AngelaMerchant) while externally being advised by their mentors on specific content as they workedon their projects.

● The AAR program hosted events including Opening Social at Gunn Titan gym in September2016 with approximately 500 people in attendance.

● The AAR program started hosting mentor coffee at the district office for mentors to networkand share their mentoring experiences with one another.

● The AAR program continues to work very closely with the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce inmentor recruitment, led by the Director of Community Engagement Dawn Billman and CEOJudy Kleinberg. This partnership has expanded and strengthened as the Chamber launched itsInnovative Talent Partnership.

● One of the AAR sections in Palo Alto High School was co-taught with special education for thefirst time, led by Rachel Kaci and Deanna Chute. This first cohort of students receivedadditional individualized support from the district, led by Jessica Tabron and Jeong Choe.

● AAR has been awarded additional funding from California Department of Education.

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● Seniors from the Social Justice Pathway (SJP) conducted research as part of their senior capstoneresearch project through collaboration with the AAR program for the first time. The SJP program,led by Erin Angell and Eric Bloom, supports capstone projects in which the students are guidedthrough both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This is supported by the curriculumdeveloped through collaboration between the SJP and AAR programs.

● The AAR program was approved by the College Board to implement the AP Capstone coursesat Gunn and Palo Alto high schools. AP Capstone Seminar (open to all juniors and seniors) is afoundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations, which explore thecomplexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives.AP Capstone Research is a year-long course with AP Seminar as the prerequisite, in whichstudents focus on developing a research project under the guidance of their instructor andexternal mentor. At the end of this course’s two-year sequence, students will be eligible toreceive an Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Innovative Diploma Program.

● The Culinary Arts Program at Gunn High School, led by Cindy Peteres, give students theopportunity to explore the diversity of U.S. regional and international cooking styles throughhands-on experience. These courses help students develop an appreciation for a wider varietyof foods and cultures through presentations, demonstrations, and laboratory experiences. TheSports Nutrition course helps students build good health by maintaining and improving theirfood choices. Like AAR, the Culinary Arts Program gives students the opportunity to explorereal-life skills through hands-on experiences.

● The AAR team is collaborating with the Elementary Educational Services on our new CreativityCart program to extend the philosophy of AAR to elementary schools by cultivating studentskills in design, research, and development of self-advocacy. Led by Chief Academic Officer forElementary Education, Barbara Harris, and Teachers on Special Assignment, Joe Young andLeslie Faust, this program goes beyond the Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) toprovide personalized learning and knowledge application.

● AAR began collaborating with Stanford’s Peace Innovation Lab Curriculum and InstructionDirector Freedom Cheteni to launch Journal A2I3R (Advanced Authentic [InterdisciplinaryInquiry & Innovation] Research), a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary academic research journalfeaturing posters and personal stories behind the project from high school. Journal A2I3R isbased in PAUSD’s AAR program office and is a joint endeavor between PAUSD and Stanford’sPeace Innovation Lab, Graduate School of Education, the Public Knowledge Project, and Centerfor Design and Research. Journal is committed to amplifying the student voice while fortifyingAAR's three key elements of personalized learning, integration of knowledge, and developingcommunication skills.

● The AAR program has begun a collaboration with Foothill College in which PAUSD high schoolstudents will work with Foothill College science engineering students in small group projects inbioenergy, robotics, neuroscience, climate research, clean energy, and other exciting fields, ledby Robert Cormia, a member of Foothill College’s engineering faculty. These hands-on projectswill include building prototypes and scientific apparatus, conducting experiments and/oranalyzing large public data sets, presenting data in poster sessions, and preparing students todo real engineering work. This relationship with Foothill College builds on an existingpartnership with NASA-Ames, which offers PAUSD students authentic research experienceworking directly with NASA scientists and/or Foothill projects co-located at NASA-Ames.

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STUDENT PROJECTS & HUMAN CONNECTIONS

~ Unedited, Authentic Version ~

Part I: Advanced Authentic Research Projects ArushiAgawal:DataDrivenTargetDiscoveryinLungSquamousCellCarcinomaMentor:GihaniWijewickrama,ScientistatFibroGenInc.“IrecentlyreadPaulKalanithi'sautobiographicalbook,WhenBreathBecomesAir.HiswordschangedthewayIviewlungcancer,notasadiseasethatcanusuallybebeaten,butcanonlybecircumventedforabitoftime.AsIreadaboutthetreatablemutationsthathe"hoped"tohave,Iwasremindedoftherealityofmyresearch-tofindmutationsforspecificsubtypesofcancersandtreatthecore.Kalanithi'scommandoflanguageinspiredmetolearnthelanguageofdataforapersonalizedgood.”SandhiniAgarwal:UsingComputerTechnologytoAccuratelyAssessWalkingBalanceDisordersMentor:KaiZhu,IndependentSoftwareEngineer“Thiswasmyfirsttimedoingscientificresearchanditwasalifechangingexperienceforme.WhenIfirststartedthisproject,Ididn’timaginewheremyresearchwouldtakemeasIhadmorequestionsthananswers.Myprojecthadmanyupsanddowns,butIamproudtohavebeenabletopushthroughthoseobstaclesandachievemygoalswiththehelpofmyamazingteachersandmentor.AARhasbeenmorethanjustanacademicexercise‒ithasbecomeanintegralpartofmylifebyhelpingmesolvealong-standingprobleminthefieldofmedicineandgivebacktotheworld.”EthanAkama-Garren:ALiteratureReviewoftheAPA&ContrastingResearchontheEffectsofViolentVideoGamesMentor:JudyArgumedo,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Ihavealwaysbeenanavidvideogameplayer.EarlyoninmylifeItookalikingtothevideogames.However,Ilivedinahousethattriedtolimitmyexposuretothem,statingthattheycouldaffectmybehaviornegatively.Thisstatementdidnotsatisfyme,becauseIdidnotbelieveit.So,whenIenrolledinAARthiswasaresearchareathatIwantedtofocuson.”JeremyAkioka:HowCanStatisticsBeUsedtoUnderstandInjuriestoBaseballAthletes?Mentor:LudovicLegrand,HewlettPackard“Ourmotivationtostudythistopiciswhatgotusinvolvedinthisprojectinthefirstplace.NikoandIbelievedthatthiswouldbeourfirstgoodresearchopportunityasahighschoolstudent.Itwaseasytostaymotivatedforthisprojectbecausewewereveryfamiliarwiththesubjectandknewthatthefutureofourresearchcouldleadtoresultsthatinfluenceourhealthdirectly.”AnkitaAmberkar:ComparisonofStandardofCareofStrokeTreatmenttoNewerMethodsMentor:KirkTrisler,GritstoneOncology“Myresearchthisyearwascenteredarounddeterminingthemosteffectivetreatmentforstrokerehabilitation.Forthepastfewyears,IhavehadastronginterestinNeuroscienceandcomingintotheAARprogram,IknewthatthiswasatopicIwantedtoexplorefurther.Initially,IwasslightlyuncertainastowhichtopicwithinthedomainofNeuroscienceIwantedtocover,butwiththehelpofmymentor,Iwasabletofindatopicthatisasfascinatingtome.

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JeanetteAndrews:GrowthMindsetandGenderStereotypeThreatMentor:HilaryMcDaniel,PaloAltoHighSchool“Myworkthisyearhasbeenmeaningfulbecauseithasgivenmereal-lifeexperienceonwhatit'sliketoconductresearch.Thereweremanyunexpectedchallengesalongtheway,includinggettingsurveyresponsesandavoidingresponsebias,aswellashavingacceptancefornotbeingabletofindanystatisticallysignificantdataintheend.However,thesechallengeswerevaluable,andhavegivenmeinsightonthehardworkittakestoconductresearch,withmanytipsforimprovementgoingforward.”MichaelBao:ObstacleDetectionAlgorithmsofAutonomousVehiclesMentor:AndreaAngquist,PivotalLabs“IchosetoresearchobstacledetectionalgorithmsbecauseIhadaninterestinartificialintelligenceandwantedtoexploreaparticularaspectofautonomousvehicles.”JoseBecerra:KeyComponentsofaRideOutMentor:JessicaTabron,RachelKaci,JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“ItactuallymademethinkthatschoolwasfunbecauseIgottoresearchsomethingI’minterestedin.”RachelCai:OptimizingVehicleRoutingMentor:KaiZhu,IndependentSoftwareEngineer“I'vealwaysbeeninterestedincomputerscience,butI'venevergottenthechancetoexplorethetopicfurther.IwasabletousetheprogrammingskillsIhadlearnedtobuildsomethingthatcouldbenefitpeopleinreallife,andhasrealusesandbenefits.Ihavealsobeenabletolearnwhatitwasliketoworkonaresearchproject,andundertheguidanceofmyteacherandmentor,Iwasabletoimproveoverthecourseofthisyear.”IsabelleChappuis:PhysicalTherapyTreatmentinthePonsetiMethodMentor:ToddNorwood&NataliaSiegel,AgilePhysicalTherapy“Mymotivationbehindmyresearchareacamefromafewthings.FirstoffIhaveahugeinterestinphysicaltherapyandbeingabletohelppeople,myprojectincludedphysicaltherapy.Iamalsoinvolvedandhaveaninterestinanon-profitorganization,Miraclefeetwhichcuresclubfootinthirdworldcountries.Combiningthosetwointerestscamethemotivationbehindmyresearchprojectwhichwasfindinganeffectivephysicaltherapytreatmentpost-PonsetiMethodtreatment.”MichaelChau:SpintronicApplicationsofDopedGrapheneRibbonsMentor:HarmanJohll,NationalJuniorCollege-Singapore&MaxMcGee,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Inallhonesty,IreallyenjoyedworkingonthisAARresearchproject,becauseIlearnalotofadvancedchemistryregardingdopedgrapheneandspintronicsthatextendspasttheclassroom.Thus,myworkinAARhashadmeaningformebecausenotonlyhasitcomplementedmylearninginAPChemistry,butalsohasallowedmetocontributetothescientificcommunitybyresearching;webuiltonanareawherelittlewasknown.”BrianChen:RaisingAwarenessofFamilialHypercholesterolemiathroughExplorationofLiteratureMentor:JoshKnowles,StanfordUniversityMedicalCenter“IhavepersonallyknownmanypeoplewhohaveheartdiseasesanddisorderssuchasFamilialHypercholesterolemia,andrecognizehowoftentheyarenotdiagnosedorthedisorderisnotrecognized.Iwantedtolearnmoreaboutthesedisordersandhelpspreadawarenessinordertoincreasethenumberofpatientsdiagnosedandtreatedearlier,andacceleratethedevelopmentofnewerandbettertreatmenttechniquestohelpwithbothphysicalandpsychologicaleffects.”JenileeChen:PlasticConsumptionbyMealwormsMentor:ShanShanYang,StanfordUniversity“WorkingonanAARprojecthashelpedmebuildconfidenceinmyself.IlearnedthatIhavethetoolsavailabletocreateoriginalresearchandmakethenecessaryadjustmentsalongtheway.Compilingtheworkoftheyearintoafinalposterwasrewarding;forme,itrepresentedalotofconsistentworkpayingoff.”

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LawrenceChen:ModelingtheEffectsofPanaxGinsengonAlzheimer’sDiseasePatientsUsingC.ElegansMentor:AliceHahnandAngelaMerchant,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Themotivationbehindmychosenareawastoconnectthetangiblewiththeintangible.Weconnectedaroot,namelyGinseng,whichisalmostalegendtomostAsianfamiliestoAlzheimer'sdisease,aprevalentailmentaffectingmillionsofpeople.”

TianChen:GrapheneSpintronics:DensityFunctionalTheoryStudyofFe,Co,Ni,andPtEmbeddedinGrapheneMentor:HarmanJohll,NationalJuniorCollege-Singapore&MaxMcGee,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IchosetoresearchtheareaofmaterialssciencebecauseIwantedtodesignandexplorematerialsthatareoptimalforspintronics.”

AllisonCheng:CaseStudy:BiochemicalEffectsofDrugsonaParkinson'sDiseasePatientMentor:AlanWalworth,YouSA“Throughtheprocessofconductingthiscasestudy,Ilearnedaboutthedifferentresearchmethodologiesthatcanbeusedtoaddressasingleproblem,aswellasgainingabetterunderstandingofexperimentaldesign.IhopetoapplytheskillsIlearnedfromthisprojecttootheraspectsofmylifebecauseInotonlylearnedresearchandscience-relatedskills,butalsoskillsthatareapplicableinthefuture.”

JuliaCheunkarndee:ImpactsofNonviolentMovementsonPopularCultureMentor:ChristopherRovee,LouisianaStateUniversity“Studieshavefoundthatnonviolentmethodsarebecominganincreasinglypopularoptionforprotesting.Evidenceofthiscanparticularlybeseeninrecentyears,withprotestssuchasthe2017Women'sMarchthatattractedanestimateof5millionparticipantsworldwide.Understandingtheculturalimpactsofpeacefulprotestssuchastheseiscrucialinordertobringaboutfurtherchange.”

SophiaChiang:Religion'sImpactonFamilyStructureMentor:LynneWilson,BrighamYoungUniversity“Doingthisprojecthasbeenameaningfullearningexperienceinamyriadofareas.NotonlywasIabletoexploreaninterestingsubjectthatIhadpreviouslyknownnothingabout,butIlearnedhowtobettermanagemytime,useadvancedsearchengines,andextractrelevantinformationfromavastpoolofresources.”

KaitlinChiu:DiversityandMindsetMentor:ChrisFarina,PaloAltoHighSchool“IwantedtodothisstudybecauseIwascurioustoseehowstudentsatPalyviewedtheirlearningstyleandhowhavingpeoplefromdifferentbackgroundsaffectshowtheylearn.”

AliciaChu:TheImpactofSubliminalCuesonGender-NeutralAdvertisementsMentor:ChrisKolar,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Theprocessofcompletingthisresearchprojecthasbeenextremelyrewarding.Togofromaveryroughconcept,toanactualsurveythatpeoplecantake,andtofinallyacquirethedataandpresentithasbeenfun,thought-provoking,andanoverallgoodexperience.Iamlookingforwardtotakingtheclassagainnextyeartodelveintoanothertopic.”

DanielChu:ImprovingwebdesignthroughusermousemovementpatternsMentor:IsaacMadan,Venrock“IchosetostudythisbecauseIwascuriousastohowtheuserscontributetothedevelopmentofawebsiteandhowsuccessfulwebsitesusethistoimprove.Thelackofpubliclyavailableresearchfrommajorcompaniesalsointerestedme,aswebtestingwasanextremelycommonpracticeamongpopularwebsites.Iwasinterestedinlearningwhatresultscouldcomefromcrowdsourceddata.”

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YoungSong(ELIZABETH)Chung:PowerofMindfulnessMentor:LanaFeng,PersonalizedDiagnosticsInc.“Beinginpainisneveragoodfeeling,especiallyforme.Althoughnotasgraveaschronicpain,Ifeelpaininamoreseverelevelthanmostpeopleinthesamesituationandithasbeenhardsometimestocopewiththeseverity.Thisresearchwasawayformetofindawaytotrytolessenthestressofmyself,aswellasothersinsimilarsituations.”JoshuaCode:HortonHearsaHydraulophoneMentor:SteveMann,StanfordUniversity“IwasmotivatedtochooseaDIYprojectinAARbecauseIlikedthelabexperimentsIhaddoneforphysicsclassesinyearspast.Iwantedtotakeonaprojectthatwaslikealabexperimentonsteroids.IwasinspiredbySerenaGupta,arecentgraduateoftheMenloSchoolwhobuiltherownhydraulophone.”KatherineDeAndre:HowIncomeCorrelatesWithSuccessMentor:LauraBricca,PaloAltoHighSchool“WhenIwasinelementaryschool,mydadusedtocomeintomythirdgradeclasstoreviewmathfactswithus.Thedifferencebetweentheknowledgeofmathfactsamongstudentswasstartling.Thismotivatedmetofindawaytolessenthisgap.”CameronDiep:TheEffectsofSleeponMoodMentor:BelaSingha,Merck&Co“Ourworkthisyearismeaningfulbecausethetopicisrelevanttotherealworld,andwewereabletointeractwithpeopleinourcommunity,whichwedon'tusuallygettodoinclass.Weareluckytohavehadthisopportunity!”JoshuaDonelly-Higgins:HealthcareEnrollmentBarriersMentor:AliceHahn,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Ichosetoresearcheducationalfundingpolicybecauseithasaverylarge,tangibleimpactontheoutcomesofthosewhogothroughthepubliceducationsystem.Ibelieveitisincrediblyimportanttogivefundingtothosewhoneeditmost,soIdecidedtofindoutwhothosestudentsareandhowthatfundingcanbeobtainedanddistributed.”CaitlinDrover:HealthcareEnrollmentBarriersMentor:JiaPu,Mathematica“Ihavealwaysbeeninterestedinhealthcareandmedicine,soIwantedtotakethatpassionandlookatitfromasocialscienceperspectiveratherthanahardscienceperspective.OverlappingthisprojectwithmycapstoneprojectfortheSocialJusticePathwayhasenabledmetodivedeepintotheissueandconnectwithpeopleinameaningfulway.”KiraEnriquez:Full-DayKindergartenMentor:HilaryMcDaniel,PaloAltoHighSchool“IntheSocialJusticePathway,wehavetalkedaboutacademiclaningandtheachievementgapandthesestarttodevelopveryearlysoIwantedtofindawaytoworktoclosethisgap.”JacksonFitton:EducationintheBayAreaMentor:AliceHahn,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IhavebeenintheSocialJusticePathwayforthreeyearsofhighschoolandIthinkthetopicofeducationhasalwaysbeenmoreimportanttomethanotherswehavediscussed.ThereisalotofimprovementswecanmakeonoureducationsystembutIdidn'tsetouttofixitnecessarily,butrathertoresearchandlearnmoreaboutit.”

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KevinFrans:ImageReconstructionthroughGenerativeAdversarialNetworksMentor:JinZhang,CATechnologies&MelanieTory,TableauSoftware“WhenIfirstheardofcomputervision,Iwasamazed.Couldmachinesreallybetrainedtoseelikehumansdo?Whilecurrentmethodsdon'texactlyfollowtheirbiologicalinspiration,convolutionalneuralnetworkshaveproventoimitateimagepatternstoasurprisinglyaccuratedegree.Iwantedtotakethistechnologyandseewhatitcouldbeusedforinpracticalterms.Imagereconstructiontacklestwobigtasks:understandingtheworldfromaphotograph,andbeingabletocreateandimaginemissingareas.”AmberFu:TheEffectofSleepObtainedonEmotionalStatesandAthleticPerformanceMentor:SureshSubramaniam,WhizzSystems“Ichoseaprojectaboutpsychology,becauseIwasinterestedinlearningmoreaboutthebrainanditsfunctions.IchosethetopicofsleepspecificallybecauseIwantedtounderstandthepurpose/functionofit,howitaffectsus,andmore.”AhanaGanguly:DiversityandMindsetMentor:ChrisFarina,PaloAltoHighSchool“Thisareaofresearchhasbeenofgreatimportancetomeoverthecourseofthisyear.Diversityisanimportantandimpactfulissue,andalthoughalotofvaluableconversationsarebeinghadaroundrelatedtopics,wefeltitwasnecessarytoprovidea"hardresearch"perspectivelookingatdiversityandmindsetinclassrooms.”KaviGill:AnAttemptatTrainingArtificialIntelligenceComponentsinVideoGamesMentor:MariusMilner,YouTube“IwasmotivatedtochoosethisresearchareabecauseIhavealwaysbeenafanofgamingandIthoughtthisfieldwasinteresting.”CindyGuo:WhatAretheMostAppealingFactorsinAirportEducationalVideos?Mentor:JimWadleigh&AndrewSwanson,PaloAltoAirport“Throughthisproject,Ilearnedthatschooldoesn'thavetobeboring.IcanlearnwhatIwanttoandexplorewhatinterestsme.Iwishallclasseswerelikethisbecauseitmakesmewanttoworkhard,andtheclassisn'tasstressfulastheotheronesbecauseIhaveinterestinwhatI'mdoing.Nextyear,Iwanttocontinuepursuingaresearchprojectinthefieldofbusiness,butmaybeswitchadifferenttopic.IhopemyresearchthisyearwillbebeneficialforthePaloAltoAirportsotheycancommunicatetothepublicthattheairportisahiddengem.”AkanshaGupta:OptimalStopPlacementStrategiesforMomentumTradesinEquitiesMentor:ChrisKolar,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IchosetodoAARbecauseIwantedresearchexperiencethatisbeyondwhatthetypicalschoolcurriculumoffers.Aftersigningupfortheclass,Iwashappytodoaprojectineitherengineeringorcomputerscience,asIaminterestedinboth(andpotentiallywanttopursueacareerinthesefields).Ialsowantedtodoacomputerscienceprojectinordertoadvancemycodingskillsandlearnmoreaboutalanguage.ItturnedoutthatIreceivedacomputerscienceproject,andthispastyearhasbeenveryenjoyableandrewarding.”AyushGupta:OptimalStopPlacementStrategiesforMomentumTradesinEquitiesMentor:SameerGupta,LindmarCapital,LLC“IchosetodoAARbecauseIwantedresearchexperiencethatisbeyondwhatthetypicalschoolcurriculumoffers.Aftersigningupfortheclass,Iwashappytodoaprojectineitherengineeringorcomputerscience,asIaminterestedinboth(andpotentiallywanttopursueacareerinthesefields).Ialsowantedtodoacomputerscienceprojectinordertoadvancemycodingskillsandlearnmoreaboutalanguage.ItturnedoutthatIreceivedacomputerscienceproject,andthispastyearhasbeenveryenjoyableandrewarding.”

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BrentHan:ImpactofFamilialHypercholesterolemiaonDailyLivesofAffectedIndividualsMentor:JoshKnowles,StanfordUniversityMedicalCenter“ThisprojectgavemetheopportunitytoworkwithawonderfulpartnerandmentorinbetterunderstandingFamilialHypercholesterolemia.Althoughtheworkwasdemanding,Ireallyenjoyedreachingouttoourparticipantsandsharingtheirstoriesthroughourresearch.FamilialHypercholesterolemiaisrelativelylittle-known,andtherehastobemoreawarenessonthisissue.”JennyHan:CorrelationsBetweenGlobalAssetsandFutureVIXValuesMentor:SameerGupta,LindamarCapital,LLC.“Iwanttolearncomputerscienceandengineeringinthefuture,andthoughtthiswasagreatopportunitytodelvedeeperintothetopic.WhileIfacedmanysetbackswhiledoingthisproject,butIfoundtheprocesstobemuchmorerewardingthantheresultitself.”MayaHeron,AnalyzingEffectiveWaysofClosingtheAchievementGapMentor:MiguelFittoria,Dreamcatchers“IwasworkingwithanorganizationcalledDreamCatchersforaninternshipanditwasthenthatIrealizedthatIhadapassionfortheissue,thereweremanystudentsjustlikemewhowereputatapredisposeddisadvantagethattheycouldnotchangeoversomethingaboutthemselvesthattheycouldnotchange,andthattomeseemedlikethemostfrustratingthingtheinworld.KatherineHoffman:AnalyzingPerceptionofSatisfactionofArtworkMentor:JessicaTabron,RachelKaci,JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“MymotivationforthisprojectwastobetterimprovemyunderstandingofhowIshouldfeelaboutmypiecesofartworkandhowtothinkaboutitfromaprofessionallens.”MayaHoman:TheEtiology,IdentificationandEffectsofChildhoodAbuseMentor:TashaSouter,VeteransAffairsPaloAltoHealthCareSystem“Thisprojecthasbeenmeaningfulformebecauseitgavemeachancetolearnmoreaboutatopicthatisusuallyleftinthedark.Iwantedtoexposetheeffectsabusehasandtheriskitposestostudents'wellbeingbecausechildabuseissomethingthatcouldaffectpeoplehereinPaloAlto,andthosewhoareexperiencingitshouldneverhavetofeelalone.”JerryHong:EffectivePoliciestoMaximizeSmartphoneUtilityinClassroomsMentor:VictoriaThorp,PaloAltoPulse“Cellphonesareapartoflife.YetIfindmyselfdistractedbythemconstantly.IwonderediftherewasawayIcouldmaintainmyrelationshipwithmydeviceinaclassroomsetting,orifIhadnochoicebuttorelinquishmyphoneforthegreatergood.”MichaelHuang:ImageReconstructionthroughGenerativeAdversarialNetworksMentor:JinZhang,CATechnologies&MelanieTory,TableauSoftware“MyworkinAARonimagereconstructionhashadgreatmeaningtomebecauseIlearnedagreatdealabouthowmachinelearningtechniquesanditsapplications.”Haoming(Jerry)Huang:TheStudyofArtificialNeuralNetworkMentor:DeannaChute,PaloAltoHighSchool“Sincetakingmyfirstcomputerscienceclassinsophomoreyear,Ihavedevelopedagenuinepassionforthesubject.IpursuedcomputersciencethroughoutjunioryearbydevelopingmyowniOSappandworkingonmultipleextracurricularprogrammingprojects.AsIgainedmoreexperience,Ibecamemoreandmoreinterestedintheareaofartificialintelligence.Iamfascinatedbytheideaofrobotsprogrammedwithhumanintelligencetomaketheirowndecisionsandhavetheirownthoughts.ByresearchingaboutArtificialNeuralNetworks,IcanbuildasolidfoundationonwhichIcanusetofurtherpursuemyinterestinArtificialIntelligence.”

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SoumyaJhaveri:TeenagePerspectiveonVitalEntrepreneurialCharacteristicsMentor:JeanneMcGrane-Cherry,StanfordHealthCare“Iwasmotivatedtoresearchthisbecausealotofmyclassmates,peers,andfriendswanttostartabusiness,butaren'tsurehowtodeveloptheskillstheyneed,andwhichskillsarethemostimportant.Additionally,IwantedtoknowaboutwhatmadetheteenageentrepreneursIknewverysuccessful.”

DorianJohnson:TheStudyofPrisonPolicyMentor:JessicaTabron,RachelKaci,JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Asaminorityinamostlywhitepopulatedcity,Iampassionateaboutthistopic.Icareaboutthisproblembecauseitaffectsandmanyotherseveryday.”

JennaKaplan:TheStudyofTacticsandIdeologiesofal-QaedaandtheMuslimBrotherhoodtoAchieveTheirRespectiveGoalsMentor:RobertWeiner,NavalPostgraduateSchool“Idecidedtoresearchal-Qaedabecausefornearlytwoyears,terrorismandthevariouspoliciessurroundingithavefascinatedme.IhavereadeverybookthatIcouldgetmyhandsonaboutthetopicandhaveamassedlargequantitiesofknowledgeaboutal-Qaedaandaselectionofotherterroristgroups.BeingabletouseallofknowledgeandreallyhavesomethingtoshowforitintheformofaposterandaresearchpaperfeltlikeavalidationofallofthehardworkIhaveputintomyresearch.”

NormanKarr:TheIdealSmartphoneMentor:MikeSuk,SanDisk“MyworkthisyearhasbeenverymeaningfulbecausewhenIstarted,Iwasveryskepticalabouthowwellthesurveywouldturnout.Ithoughtthatmostpeoplewouldn'tcareandwouldtrollorevennottakethesurvey.Butwhen78peoplelegitimatelytookthesurvey,Ifeltveryimpacted.ThefactthatIwasabletostartfromscratch,conductasuccessfulsurvey,andthenuseittodesignaprototypesmartphonewasverymeaningful.”

MinkiKim:TheStudyofHowFederalReserveAffecttheU.S.EconomyDuringtheGreatDepressionand2008RecessionMentor:GregoryChristainsen,CaliforniaStateUniversity“I'vealwayslikedthehumanities,preferringtoreadeconomicsinsteadofdoingsciencehomework.Lastyear,IalsobeganinvestingandexploringhowWallStreetfailurescouldsuddenlyaffectAmericans.”

YoungjuKim:Cancer:ResearchingtheHedgehogPathwayMentor:RandallMann&BenjaminMeyers,StanfordSchoolofMedicine“Myfirstintroductiontocancerwasmyfather'sdiagnosiswhenIwasin7thgrade.Watchinghimstrugglethroughhisillness,wishingIknewhowtocurehim,IdecidedIwantedtoresearchthesamethinghehad;theHedgehogpathway.IfIcontributedtotheknowledgeandunderstandingofthispathwayrelatedtocancer,insomesmallway,IwouldhavehelpedotherpeoplefromhavingtosufferthroughchemotherapythewaysomanypeopleIknowhave.”

EdwardKim:TheIdealSmartphoneMentor:MikeSuk,SanDisk“Myworkthisyearhasbeenmyfirsttimecreatingmyownresearchtopicandconductingresearchonitindependently.AlthoughIhadhelpfromamentor,thiswasthefirstself-ledprojectI'vedoneandhelpedintroducemetothefieldofengineering.”

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MinaKim:EvaluatingSoilandWaterQualityUsingGreywaterSystemMentor:YuhuaJi,PATH“Myprimaryinterestwasincorporatechemistryandengineering.Aftertalkingtomymentor,wedecidedtofocusonchemistry,alsorelatedtoenvironmentalscience.IchosethisresearchareabecausedroughtisaprobleminCalifornia,andIwantedtostudydifferentwaystoimproveandsolvethisproblem.Then,mypartnerandIfoundresearchregardingGreywatersystem,whichiswaterdischargedfromwashingmachines,showers,baths,andsinks.”QuinnKnoblock:PalyStudentsCollegeResourcesExperienceMentor:AliceHahn,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Thisresearchnotonlyimpactedmepersonally,butallPalystudentsapplyingtocollege.IfeltthatIcouldnotonlyhelpmyselfbetterunderstandwhatgoesintohelpinghighschoolstudentsprepareforcollege,butshowthecommunitywhathighschoolersarefacing.”AsaKohrman:CanWomenLivingwithHIVGivebirthtohealthybabies?Mentor:MonicaHahn,UniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco-Women'sHealthPrimaryCare“Thisworkhastaughtmealotabouthowtoconductresearchandhowtounderstandbigissuesinthecontextofmyowncommunity.”AkhilKumar:Neuroplasticity:AStudytoUnderstandtheFormationofNeuralPathwaysMentor:SalingHuang,AbgenixInc“ThisresearchprojectisimportanttomebecauseIhavealwayshadaninterestinlearningaboutthebrainbecauseitistheareainthebodywhichscientistknowtheLEASTabout.Thereforetherearealwaysnewphenomenonsorideasdiscoveredeveryday,henceIchosethespecificconceptofNeuroplasticitybecauseit'suniqueandIamalsoprogressivelylearningaboutthisphenomenonasIcontinuetoconductexperimentsandwriteaboutit.”AdrienneKwok:ChangesinConsumerAttitudesTowardsOrganicandInorganicFoodsMentor:LizMartinez,IllinoisMathandScienceAcademy“Classroomknowledgeonpesticidesandhormonesoriginallypiquedmyinterestinresearchingorganicandinorganicfoods.Asoneofcountlesscontemporaryissuesthatcontinuestoaffectmanypeopletoday,thedebateastowhetheronefoodgroupissuperiorovertheotherhasbeenaquestionIhavealwayswantedtoexplore.ReviewinginformationsuchasthepotentialeffectsthatpesticidescanhaveontheenvironmentandhumanhealthinitiallyplantedtheseedforthisAARproject.Throughthisproject,Ihavebeenabletoanalyzepeople’sperceptionsoforganicandinorganicfoods,inadditiontoenrichingmypersonalknowledgebyresearchingseveralsignificantpesticidesandhormonesinfoodsthatIcommonlyconsume.Mydesiretotiehumanbehaviorandpreferenceswithatopicsuchasorganicandinorganicfoodsculminatedinthisresearchproject.”NadezhdaLeinhos:IncreasingBlackFemaleRepresentationinEntertainmentMentor:KathleenWoods,PaloAltoHighSchool“AsanactressofAfricanAmericanheritagemyself,I'malwaysonthelookoutforrolesIrelateto.IlovethatIcanwatchTVshowslike'Black-ish'and'Empire,'withpowerfulblackwomenatthecenteroftheaction,butuntilrecentlywith'Fences'and'HiddenFigures'haveIseenmanyblackfemalecharactersinmovietheatersthataren'tsecretaries,prostitutes,orsidekicks.Iwonderedwhythatwas,andthatcuriositybecamethemotivationforthisproject.”EthanLi:BindingSimulationsofPlant-basedinhibitorsofHIV-1ProteaseMentor:EuniceHung,NationalJuniorCollege-Singapore&MaxMcGee,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IwantedtodoHIVresearchbecauseIwantedtohelppeoplestayhealthy,butalsomakeawiderimpact.”

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AudreyLi:AnalysisofRisingCannabisUsageTrendsMentor:AngieChwen-YuenA.Chen,StanfordUniversity“ThisprojecthashadmeaningformebecausenotonlydidIlearntoestablishscientificskills,Ihavealsolearnedtheimportanceofcommunicationbetweenmypartner,ourmentor,andespeciallyinfamiliestocurbpotentialmisuse.”ConnorLi:TheStudyofHowSanFranciscoBayland'secosystemchangedintheLastCenturyMentor:MahaAlnajjar,StanfordUniversity“ThemotivationbehindmychosenresearchprojectwasduetothefactthatIhaveworkedandbeenintheBaylandsbefore.Ireallyenjoytheclimateandcommunitythatexistthere,andIwouldhateitiftheBaylandsonedaydisappeared.Whenwetalkaboutclimatechange,wedon'tusuallythinkthatitaffectsuslocally.ThereforeIwantedtoseeifandeventuallyhowsomethingsasgrandasClimateChangehasaffectedourlocalcommunityoftheBaylands.”NicoleLi:Game-BasedLearningandMathInterestMentor:MarthaCastellon,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IwasabletosupporttwostudentsatJLSontheirmathematicaljourneysandpersonalgrowth.Wedidplentyofmath,butIthinkhavingsomeonetheretoseetheirgrowthovertheyearandcareabouttheirlearningwaspartofthereasontheykeptcomingback.It’snarrativeevidencethatconnectioncanmakeadifference,andIamgladIgottobeapartoftheireducationalexperience.”NikolasLillios:UseofStatisticstoUnderstandBaseballRelatedInjuriesMentor:JeongChoe&ChrisKolar,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Wechosethefieldofbaseballandstatisticsbecausewebothenjoymathematicsandalsoarepassionateaboutsports,particularlybaseball.Wehaveplayedthegameourentirelivesandithavebothseencareersendedtragicallybecauseofinjuries.Thisiswhywearemotivatedtohelpdiscovertherootoftheseinjuriestohelpfutureathletes.”SeanLin:IntegralKinematics:TrainingMuscleControlandPerformanceMentor:SteveMann,StanfordUniversity“Ihaveplayedbasketballandparticipatedinnumerousotherathleticeventsthroughoutmylife,andthereforeIhavedevelopedastronginterestinsports,athletics,andfitness.AftermeetingProfessorMannandseeinghisMannFitboard,Isawpotentialinhisinventionofabsementforsportstraining.Absementdevelopsbodycontrolwithunprecedentedfeedback.Furthermore,absementsportsequipmentcentersaroundtheuseofasmartphoneapp,whichallowseveryoneeverywheretoutilizeabsementsportsmechanismstodevelopmusclecontrol.Therefore,Ipartakeinintegralkinematicsresearchbecauseofitsimmensepotentialinthefitnessworld.”ClaireLin:TheEffectofSleeponEmotionsandAthleticPerformanceMentor:SureshSubramaniam,WhizzSystems“AARseemedreallyneatbecauseitisafairlynewclassandinvolvedresearchingsomethingthatyouarepassionateabout.IgottotallyhookedontheclassbecauseIfoundatopiconneurosciencethatIwantedtoknowmoreabout.ThegreatthingaboutitisIalsogottoworkwithsomeonewhowaspassionateaboutitaswell.ThismotivatedmemoreaboutAARbecauseitisaclassthatyoucanchoosewhatprojectyouwanttocreateforyourfinalanditissomethingthatyouenjoyaswell.”KathleenLiu:PrescriptionDrugPrices:TheJustificationandOppositiontotheRisingPriceofMedicineMentor:JiaPu,Mathematica"Prescriptiondrugprice"hasalwaysbeenabuzzwordthatIrememberhearingallaroundmeonthenews,inarticles,andfrompoliticians.Specifically,HillaryClinton'scampaignthatwentonaroundthefirstquarteralsodirectlyaddressedwhatshecalledunjustifiedpricehikesformedicine.IrealizedthatIknewverylittleaboutthistopicandwantedtolearnmoreaboutitwithouttheskewofgettinginformationfrompoliticalparties.”

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TimothyLiu:TheTutorNetworkMentor:GraceXiao,EducationStart-up“Myworkthisyearhasbeenespeciallysignificanttomebecauseithas,forthefirsttime,providedmewithrealinsightintothebusinessworld.ThroughthisprojectIlearnedhowtoworkwithothers”XavierLoinaz:TheDesignofVisualRecognitionSoftwaretoAnalyzeDeepBrainStimulationVideoMentor:EricSabelman,KaiserPermanente“ThisismysecondyearinAAR.Iwasexcitedtohavetheopportunitytoextendmyprojectfurtherthisyear.MyprojectinvolvesnovelsoftwaredevelopmentforsurgicalvideosinvolvingDeepBrainStimulation.”RaphaelLong:MitigationofInterferenceinWirelessSystemsMentor:MinnieHo,Intel“OverthecourseofthisyearIhaveexploredthetopicofwirelesscommunicationthroughsimulation.Themechanismsthatallowrapidtransferofhighquantitiesofinformationfascinateme,andIthoroughlyenjoyedmodelingvarioustechniquesoferrorminimization.”TaraMadhav:ExploringConsequencesofRecentEasternEuropeanMobilityTrendsMentor:ElizabethWahl,UCLAextension“Myinterestintheintersectionofdifferentsocialsciencesledmetomyinterestinstudyingsomethingasinterdisciplinaryasmobilitytrendsandpoliticalconsequences.Ihopetocontinuetopursuemyresearchinterestsincollege.”JacquesManjarrez:TheFundamentalsofStoryMentor:AlannaWilliamson,PaloAltoHighSchool“I'vealwayshadadeeploveforstoriesandwhattheymeantooursociety.Nowadays,itcanbearguedthatlifeisastory.Listeningtostories,readingstories,watchingstories,experiencingstories.Tounderstandstorieswouldbetounderstandakeyaspectoflifeitself.”HelenaMcFadden:America’sHomelessAnimalPopulationMentor:JessicaTabron,RachelKaci,JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Asananimallover,thisresearchprojecthasallowedmetodeepenmypassionofpursuingacareerasaVeterinarian.Ifocusedmyeffortsinvestigatingtherescueoptionsforhomelessanimalsinhopesofonedayfindingasolution.”MehrnazMirhosseini:Music:AWaytoCureMemoryDiseasesMentor:SalingHuang,AbgenixInc“Arguablyoneofthesaddestthingsthatcanhappentoahumaniswhentheylosetheirmemory.Memoriesmakeupaperson’sidentity,sowhenthatislost,notonlyaretheylosingapartofthemselvesbutfromaphysiologicalstandpoint.”NiharMitra:SpintronicApplicationsofDopedGrapheneRibbonsMentor:HarmanJohll,NationalJuniorCollege-Singapore&MaxMcGee,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Wechoseaprojectoncomputationalchemistrybecauseitinvolvedtheapplicationsofcomputerscienceinatraditionalsciencefield,allowingustoexploreaninterdisciplinaryfield.”PalomaMitra:ComparingtheEffectofVariousLandscapeChangesonDiseaseEmergenceMentor:ShwetaChoudhry,ScienData“AARenabledmetopursuemyinterestinepidemiology,along-heldinterestofminethathassuchabroadandmeaningfulimpactonpeople.Whilecasuallystudyingithasalwaysbeeninteresting,gettingtoworkonaveryspecificresearchprojectwhereIcouldfocusonaselecttopicwasenjoyable.”

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GautamMittal:Computer-generatedResponsesinSpamEmailChainsMentor:MelanieTory,TableauSoftware“Inearly2016,IsawaTEDtalkdonebyaBritishcomedianthatinvolvedreplyingtospamemailmessagesandessentiallydrivingthespammersinsanewithcyclicconversationsandotherpracticaljokes.However,onekeytakeawayfromthatwasthatspammersarehumanresourcesandcanbeexploitedusingavarietyofconversationtechniques.IwonderediftherewasawaytoautomatethisprocesstoprovidetheprimitivefoundationsforapossiblecybersecuritysystemthatscammedandexploitedspammersinthewaythattheTEDspeakerdescribed.”JacquelineMoore:StructuringShortStoriesMentor:CraigMallery,IndependentScreenwriter“Myprojectallowedmetopursuereading,oneofmyrecreationalinterests,inanacademicsetting.Iwasabletolearnmoreabouthowtoanalyzetextsthroughatechnicallenswhilesimultaneouslyreadinginterestingandenjoyablepiecesofwriting.ThroughAAR,IfoundawaytoapplymyselftoasubjectthatIwasgenuinelyinterestedin,anddrawmeaningfulconclusionsfrommywork.”EmmaMunch:CanWomenLivingWithHIVGiveBirthtoHealthyBabies?Mentor:MonicaHahn,UniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco-Women'sHealthPrimaryCare“Infreshmanyearbiologyclass,theunitonvirusesreallygrabbedmyattention.Iwasreallyinterestedinhowavirususesahostcell's"resources"topropagateitself.ThisprojectonHIVisastepforwardonthisviralinteractionwithDNA;itfocusesonhowavirusispassedfrommothertochildandhowthiscanbeprevented.”ZahraMuzaffar:DiversityandMindsetMentor:ChrisFarina,PaloAltoHighSchool“Althoughwedidnotachieveouroriginalgoaloflookingintothedistrictresponsetotheidentifiedachievementgapandthesuccessoftheirgoals,wedidbegintouncoverdisparitiesbetweenethnicgroupswithinaclassroom.Fromlearningaboutwhetheragroupofstudentspreferschallengingwork,tostudentsasawholevaluelearningandtheabilitytochangeintelligence;ithasbeenaneducationalexperience.”AnmolNagar:BrandinginModernDayBusinessesMentor:NatashaCastro,EventoWishes“IchosetodoresearchinthebusinessfieldbecauseithasnorelationtothecontentIwanttostudy.However,Ithinkthattheproblemsolvingskillsusedinthebusinessworldarerelevanttoallsortsofcareers.ImostlywantedtoexperimentwithsomethingIhadzeroexperiencein,justtoseewhereitwouldtakeme.”DanielNemeth:TheStudyofHowSanFranciscoBayland'sEcosystemChangedintheLastCenturyMentor:MahaAlnajjar,StanfordUniversity“Ichosethisbecauseitwasaprojectthatwasinteresting.Itwasaprojectwithlocalimpactanditwassomethingthatwasmeaningfultome.”MatthewNemeth:ComparingTrendsinOncologicandPharmaceuticGrowthMentor:VenkataramanSriram,GileadSciences“SincethebeginningofAAR,Ihadplannedondoingsomethingrelatedtocancerresearch.Idecidedtolookatwhatinfluencesthegrowthoftheoncologyandpharmaceuticalmarkets,soIcouldultimatelylearnmoreaboutthecancerindustryinaneconomicperspective.”RachelNew:KalmanFiltersandRobotControlMentor:DanielMoyer,Apple“IwasmotivatedtodothisprojectwhenIgaveapresentationonthesubjectinGunnRoboticsTeamasanassignmenttopresentsomethingyoufindinterestingtotheclass.EveryonethoughtitwassupercoolandMs.GranlundmentionedthatshecouldhelpmeactuallycompletetheprojectsoIwasveryexcited.”

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TannerNewell:PeepSupportPossibilitiesMentor:JonathanFrecceri,PaloAltoHighSchool“Iwasmotivatedtodothisprojectbyatraumaticeventinmylife.Iwanttolessenthepossibilityofothersgoingthroughthesamething.”SerinaNguyen:PrioritizingInvestmentsintheDigitalBankingSpaceMentor:Mikefogel,NCRCorporation“SinceIwanttomajorinmarketing,Ienjoyedseeingwhatitwaslikeworkinginthebusinessfield.Thisclasswasagreatwayformetoexplorethefield.”MichaelNisenzon:VoronoiDeletionTilingsfromgridsMentor:ThanePlambeck,Counterwave“Thisyear,IlearnedtousenewmathematicaltoolslikeLaTeXandMathematicatomodelandexplaintheories.Ihopetocontinueusingtheminthefutureandtocontinueprovingmathematicalrelationships.”FrederickNitta:GrapheneSpintronics:DensityFunctionalTheoryStudyofFe,Co,Ni,andPtEmbeddedinGrapheneMentor:HarmanJohll,NationalJuniorCollege-Singapore&MaxMcGee,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IchosetheresearchareaofmaterialssciencebecauseIwantedtodesignandexplorematerialsthatareoptimalforspintronics.”RonaldOr:GroupExerciseTherapy-LifeChangerforCancerPatients?Mentor:KirkTrisler,GritstoneOncology“Ihavealwaysbeeninterestedinboththebiomedicalfield,aswellasthepsychologyfield.Ithoughtitwouldbefuntodoaresearchprojectonacombinationofbothfields;itturnedouttobeagreatexperience.”TylerPackard:CanMachineLearningbeUsedtoCreateGraphicArt?Mentor:AdamJung,IndependentSoftwareEngineer“WechosetoresearchmachinelearningbecausewebothhaveadeeppassionforcomputersciencethatwewantedtoexpandthroughtheAARprogram.Machinelearningwasonechallengethatneitherofushadtackledyet,sowetookthisopportunitytolearnmoreaboutthefieldwiththehelpandguidanceofourmentor,AdamJung.Webothlearnedalotaboutartificialintelligenceandmachinelearningthroughoutourproject,anddefinitelyfulfilledouroriginalgoalofexploringnewthingswhiledoingso.”HannahPan:ImageReconstructionthroughGenerativeAdversarialNetworksMentor:AlanWalworth,YouSA“TheworkthisyearhashadmeaningformebecauseIhavealwayshadinterestindifferentaspectsofbusiness.Becauseofthisproject,Ihavehadtheopportunitytoexploreapplicationsofbusinessinreallifesuchasinvestinginpropertyanddeterminingfeasibility.”WilliamPark:ControllingtheImmuneSystemwithFOXP3InhibitorsMentor:TomCromatie,Syngenta,Inc&JeongChoe,AliceHahn,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Idecidedtofocusmyprojectontheregulationoftheimmunesystembecauseofmypassionatedislikeforallergies.Despitebeingoneofthemostadvancedpartsofthehumanbody,itsurprisedmethatafter200,000yearsofevolution,myimmunesystemstilldoesn'trecognizepollenasharmless.”AveryPearson:BarriersthatImpedeAccesstoReproductiveHealthCareinCaliforniaMentor:CatherineCrystalFoster,WestlyFoundation“I'vealwaysbeeninterestedinwomen'shealth.Outofcuriosity,inthebeginningoftheschoolyearIbegantoresearchthistopicinCalifornia.IwasshockedbywhatIfoundandthoughtthatthisissueneededattention.”

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BrendonPena:WhyTeensPreferCommunicationviaSnapchatMentor:JessicaTabron,RachelKaci,JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IhadfunexploringmoreaboutSnapchatsoIcanteachadultsaboutwhattheirkidsareupto.”YuFeng(Veronica)Pu:SolarPanelsanditsEnergyOutputMentor:JimWadleigh&AndrewSwanson,PaloAltoAirport“ThisyearbeingintheAARprogramandbeingassignedtoworkonthisprojectwithmymentorMr.JamesWadleighfromthePaloAltoAirporthadbeenanhonorandmagnificentexperience.Myworkthisyearmeanstheworldtomebecauseitissoimportantforanybusiness,especiallyinacitylikePaloAlto,toimprovetheirenergysourcesintorenewableenergies,suchassolarenergy.Throughthisproject,Ihavelearnedhowtotakeinitiativeandaskforresourcesthatwillanswermyquestions.IamtrulythankfulthatIhadthisopportunitythisyeartohelpanactualorganizationachieve100%sustainablesolarenergy.”SimranPujji:RecommendationforthePaloAltoAirportontheUseofSolarPanelsBasedonCaseStudiesMentor:JimWadleigh&AndrewSwanson,PaloAltoAirport&JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IthasbeenveryexcitingtoworkwiththePaloAltoairport.Myresearchonlyfocusedontheuseofsolarpanelsintheairport,butthereissomuchmorethatIcandowiththeairportnow.It'sreallyexcitingtobeabletohelpthemmaketheairportmoresustainable.”SamirPuranik:EvaluatingDisruptiveInnovationsofthePastandPresentMentor:NickhilJakatadar,Vuclip.com“MymotivationbehindthisresearchwasthatIwasextremelyinterestedinwhatconstitutesatechnologybeingdefinedas"disruptive."Itwasinterestingtoponderandresearchwaysofhowothershavedonethis,butmanydidnotfullytakeintoaccounttheimpactofthetechnologyonthedailylivesofpeople.Iaimedtoincorporatethisqualitativeaspectintomyresearchwhileatthesametimeusingquantitativedata.”ClaireQiao:ParticleAirPollutioninDevelopingCountriesMentor:SteveKelem,Independent“IalwaysfoundlookingataproblemandtryingtofindtheeasiestmethodtosolveitfunandIwantedtodothatformyresearchproject.”JuliaQiao:WhatIstheFeasibilityofaHousingVentureforCollegeResidents?Mentor:AlanWalworth,YouSA“Thishastaughtmeagreatdealaboutfinanceandrealestate.Inowknowalotmoreaboutinvestmentsandhowthehousingmarketworks.IthasprovidedmewithagreathandsonexperiencethatIwouldotherwisenothave.”JordanQuigley:AfterSchoolProgramsConnectiontoClosingtheAchievementGapMentor:HilaryMcDaniel,PaloAltoHighSchool“Ihavealwayslovedchildrenandbeeninterestedinhowaccesstoresourcesmayaffectschoolperformance.IthoughtthatthistopicwouldbeveryinterestingandIreallywantedtoworkwithchildren.”NathanRamrakhiani:TheSignificantPredisposingRiskFactorsofAlzheimer’sDiseaseMentor:GloriaChui,BDBiosciences“AdvancedAuthenticResearchhasbeenatremendousexperienceinmanyways.Thecollaborationwithrealscientistsandprofessionalshasbeenbothenlighteningandenriching.Overall,IamextremelyproudofwhatmypartnerandIhaveaccomplishedthisyear,andhopetoapplytheseresearchstrategiestowardsfurtherinvolvementinthescientificcommunity.”

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GillianRobins:GenderDifferencesinAttitudesTowardsWritingandTechnologyMentor:JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Myworkthisyearhashadmeaningformebecauseithastaughtmeskillslikedataanalysis,andpresentingdatainanaestheticallypleasingway.Ithasgotmeinterestedinstudents'attitudestowardtheircurriculumandhowaccesstowardstechnologyanduseoftechnologyaffectstheseattitudes.”AdnaanSachidanandan:AnalyzingWebsiteswithMachineLearningMentor:AndreaAngquist,PivotalLabs“IchosethistopicbecauseoftenIdecidetocreateawebsiteforonereasonoranotherbuthavetroublechoosingadesigntofollow.IalsogetlotsofcriticismfromothersbecauseImyselfdonotknowwhatpleasesthem.ThepurposeofthisprojectwastocreateasolutionformyselfandforthemillionsofotherswhoarelikelyhavingthesameissuethatIamhaving.”IsaacSatz:IsNAFTAaGoodTradeDealfortheUS?Mentor:JudyGoldstein,StanfordUniversity“Mymotivationforthisresearchwasfortworeasons.First,Iwasreallyinterestedinmacroeconomics,andabouttotaketheclass.Ihadreadafewbooksoninternationaltradedeals,andfoundthesubjecttobeveryinteresting.Second,thetopicofNAFTAwascominguprepeatedlyinpolitics,asmanypeoplewerearguingoveritseffectivenessanditsusefulnesstotheUnitedStates.Iwantedtoexaminewhattheyweresaying,andseewhowasmorecorrect.”JordanSchilling:AnalyzingWaystoBuildPortableHomesMentor:SeanFollmer;JohnCannistraro,StanfordUniversity“TheworkthatIhavedonethisyearhasreallymeantalottomebecauseithasthepotentialtochangesomeone’slife.Notonlywasthatmotivationformyproject,butalsosomethingIwillholdontofortherestofmylife.”AnnaSeligson:CRISPRCas9asaGeneEditingToolMentor:MaiNguyen,CorteymeInc.“AlthoughmyprojectaboutCRISPR-cas9asageneeditingtooldidnotturnoutasexpected,Ilearnedalotthroughouttheprocessofresearchingthesystemanditsthebenefitsitwillprovidetoscientistsinthenearfuture.”RobertSelwyn:OptimalStopPlacementStrategiesforMomentumTradesinEquitiesMentor:SameerGupta,LindmarCapital,LLC“Iaminterestedincomputerscience,andoneofthebestapplicationsofthefieldisinthestockmarket.Whentradingstocks,humanscanonlyreviewandunderstandacertainamountofdata.Thismakescomputersadvantageousbecausetheycanprocessacompany'sentirehistoryinamatterofseconds.Thethoughtofbeingabletoprogramacomputertooptimizestockmarkettradesthathappeninthereal-worlddrewustotheprojectthatweareresearchingtoday.”MatthewSeto:LaningAffectingPalyGrowthMindsetMentor:MiguelFittoria,Dreamcatchers“MyworkhasbeeninfluencedbymytimeintheSocialJusticePathway,butalsoworkingwithMiguelFittoriafromDreamCatchersforthepastyear.Gettingtoknowthestudentsintheprogrammotivatedmetowanttohelpthecommunity.”AmarShah:Homicide:AnExaminationoftheIncreasein2015Mentor:GregoryChristainsen,CaliforniaStateUniversity“IchosetodomyprojectonhomicideratesbecauseIwantedtoexploreatopicthatcombinedmathandthesocialsciences.”

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DavidShau:ModelingtheeffectsofPanaxginsengonAlzheimer’sDiseasePatientsUsingC.elegansMentor:AliceHahn&AngelaMerchant,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“MypartnerandIhadtogothroughmultiplehurdlesinordertoexecuteourexperiment.Althoughmanythingsdidn'tgoasplannedandourdatawasn'tasconclusiveaswewouldhaveliked,wewereabletoworkaroundthelogisticalobstacleswithlimitedexperience,equipment,andtime.Itultimatelytaughtusthat,especiallywiththeexperiencethatwehad(none),largescaleprojectslikethisareextremelyunlikelytorunsmoothlyduringthefirstiteration.Theentireprocesshoweverwasfun,refreshing,andthefeelingoffinallyfinishingtheprojectafterhoursofworkwasverysatisfying.”BethanyShiang:EvaluatingSoilandWaterQualityUsingGreywaterSystemsMentor:YuhuaJi,PATH“ThedroughtinCaliforniahasbeenaproblem,sowethoughtitwouldbeimportanttofindwaystocontributetosolvingtheproblem.”AndrewShieh:MarketingSocialMediaApplicationstoHighSchoolersMentor:AviShabtai,MultiPhy“Iwasreallyinterestedinhowmarketersarebestabletotargetthehighschooldemographicsincewearesuchanenticingmarketaswecouldholdalotofinfluenceoverpopcultureandtrends.Idecidedtofindouthowmarketerscouldbestreachthehighschooldemographic.”AndrewShih:AModelofCellularAllometricScalingLawsMentor:Ching-AnPeng,UniversityofIdaho“Myworkthisyearhastrulyhelpedmegrowfromjustastudenttoapersonwithadequateknowledgeofhowtodoresearch.TheprojectrepresentsthejourneythatIwentthrough.RegardlessofwhetherIwasgoingthroughsomedifficulttimeswithmyresearch,myfinalprojectisaculminationofallofmyeffortsandmygrowth.”MayaShoval:SimulatingCollisionsBetweenSatelliteandHostGalaxiesMentor:YuLu,CarnegieInstitutionforScience-Physics“IhavebeeninterestedinspacesinceIwasalittlekid,sogettingatasteforthefieldofastrophysicshastaughtmealotaboutwhatittakestobecomewhoIwantedtobesinceIwasfive.Astrophysicsisnotaneasyfieldtoresearch,butitisthemostinterestingandrewardingtome.”MeghnaSingh:LifeTrajectoriesofPaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrictAlumniBasedonCollegeTierAttendedMentor:BinaPatel;SujataPatel,VadenHealthCenter,StanfordUniversity“NotonlydidIgaininsightabouthowtoconductayearlongresearchprojectfromstarttofinish,butIwasalsoabletomeetmanypeoplewhoareinvolvedinthebettermentofthehealthandwellnessofstudentsinourcommunity.Ithasbeentrulyincredible.”JoshSingh:CanMachineLearningBeUsedtoCreateGraphicArt?Mentor:AdamJung,IndependentSoftwareEngineer“Thisyearhasbeenablessingandextremelyinformative.IlearnedhowtotaketheconceptsthatIhavelearnedinmyclassesandimplementthemintherealworld.IhavedeepenedmyunderstandinginsubjectsthatIwanttolearnaboutandmyloveforthosesubjectshasmultiplied.TheconceptsthatIhavelearnedthisyearwillbewithmeforeverandwilldefinitelyhelpmeinthefuture.”CorinneSmallwood:PalyStudentsCollegeResourcesExperienceMentor:AliceHahn,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IchosetoresearchthefinancialaidapplicationprocessbecauseIhadrecentlygonethroughapplyingtocollegeandfeltlikeIcouldconnecttoit.”

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LaylaSolatan:FindingRelationshipBetweenStereotypeandAcademicUnderperformanceinHistoricallyUnderrepresentedGroupsMentor:CatherineCrystalFoster,WestlyFoundation“Aftersevenmonthsofresearch,brainstorming,andplanning,IhadreachedthepointinmyresearchwhereIthoughttheissueIwasdealingwithwassimplytoodeep-rootedformetochallenge.However,Iknewthatthismindsetwaswhatkeptothersfromfightingthisissue.Eventually,Idesignedanexperimentandwasamazedtoseethatitworked.Lookingback,Iamremindedthatthemostchallengingissuesaretheonesyoushouldnevergiveupon.”RiaSood:ImpactofFamilialHypercholesterolemiaonDailyLivesofAffectedIndividualsMentor:JoshKnowles,StanfordUniversityMedicalCenter“Thisprojectwasmeaningfulformebecauseithelpedmebecomemoreawareofunknownheartdiseasesandlearnfirsthandfrompatientswhatit'sliketolivewithadangerousdiseasesuchasFamilialHypercholesterolemia.”AnnaleeSoohoo:HowcanGooglemakeGoogleCloudPlatformmoreCompetitiveasaCloudComputingService?Mentor:RodneyDyle,Google“Iamveryinterestedinbusiness,andIultimatelywanttopursueadegreeineconomicsandbecomeanentrepreneur.AARwastheperfectopportunitytolearnbothmoreaboutdatacentersandcloudcomputing,whichareessentialfortechnologystartups.Ialsogottobuildastrategicanalysis,whichhelpedmeseecompaniesdifferentlyandapplysomeoftheideasI'velearnedonroboticsandineconomicsclasstoarealcasestudy.”AngusStayte:AnalysisofMarketingStrategiesUsedtoTargetDiverseAudience?Mentor:JeongChoe,RachelKaci,JessicaTabron,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IthasbeenmeaningfulbecauseIbuiltvaluablerelationshipswithmymentorandotherinfluentialadultsinmylifewhotaughtmethevaluesofbeingontime.”SarahSundermeyer:LiteracyDevelopmentinAt-RiskStudentsMentor:JimEagen,SynapseSchool“WorkingwithelementaryschoolstudentsthroughtheBookBuddiesprogramwasextremelyrewardingforme.ThekidsIworkedwithwereenthusiasticandcooperative,andIlovedgettingtosharemyloveofreadingwiththem.”AviTachna-Fram:DoesAsymmetricDominanceAffectVoterPreferences?Mentor:CristinaGomez,NTTDatacompany“ThisworkhasmeaningformebecauseitisafieldthatImaywanttogointointhefuture,assuchIamhappytohavedoneit.Furthermore,ithasgivenmealensintotheideasthatiwanttoexploreandgivenmerealworldexperiencedoingsuch,whichIvalue.”EdwardTang:ProsandConsofUsingStemCellstoCureBlindnessMentor:AliceHahn,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Thisyear,myworkhasdeepenedmyinterestofmedicalresearch.Priortothisproject,Iwasinterestedinpursuinganeducationandcareerinmedicine.Whileresearching,Irealizedthattheresearchbeingdoneandtheadvancementsbeingmadearegreatlyimpactingpeople'slives.However,therearestillimprovementsandadvancementsthatneedtobemade.IhopethatinthefutureIwillbeabletodomoreresearchinthisfield,perhapsmakingabreakthroughtreatmentordiscovery.”

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LeilaTjiang:AnAnalysisofPaloAltoHighSchool’sIdleEnergyConsumptionMentor:RebeccaNavarro,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Beforethisyear,Ihadnotrealizedtheimmensesizeoftheenergyindustry.Aftercompletingmypreliminaryresearch,andscouringthroughprivateandpublicwebsitesandtheirdatabases,Irealizedhowmanypeoplewereinvolvedineachsectoroftheenergybusiness.Moreover,Ihadalwaystakenenergyforgranted;however,afterthisproject,I'velearnedtoconsidertheembodiedresourcesthatchargemycomputereachnight.Fromthebeginningofthisyear,I'vehadtheaimofconductingresearchrelatedtoenvironmentalsustainability.Sincethen,myperceptionanddefinitionofenvironmentalsustainabilityhasevolvedforthebetter.”EmilyTomz:SatisfactionandCohesionWithinYouthGirlsSoccerTeamsintheBayAreaMentor:KenScheve,StanfordUniversity“Myinterestinresearchingteamcohesionandsatisfactionwithinyouthgirlssoccerteamswassparkedbymyownclubandhighschoolsoccerteamexperiences.Myteamswereverydifferent,whichledmetobecuriousaboutwhichfactorsleadtothesedifferentexperiences,andhowcoachesandteammatescanproactivelymaketheseexperiencesbetter.”CalliaTong:Asian-AmericansinCinemafromthe1930'stoTodayMentor:MargaretCain,FormerlyIllinoisMathsandScienceAcademy“MyworkthisyearhashadmeaningformebecauseIresearchedatopicthatIampassionateaboutandisveryapplicabletotoday'ssociety.Byfurtheranalyzingthissocietalproblem,Iwasabletounderstandtheoriginsoftheissueandgrowmoreimmersedinthetopic.”LydiaTsai:MethodologiesforRehabilitationfromSpinalCordInjuriesMentor:PatrickWager,VeteransAdministrationHealthCareSystem“Althoughourresearchendedupinadifferentplacethanweexpected,ourfinalproductwasagreataccomplishment.Withthehelpofourteacher,Mr.Corpuz,andourmentor,Mr.Wager,mypartnerandIwereabletotalkthroughtheobstaclesweencountered,andIlearnedabouttheprocessofresearching,formingaconclusion,andwritingaresearchpaper;researchrequiresmuchrevisionbutisultimatelyveryfulfilling.”AnnetteTsui:CRISPRCas9asaGeneEditingToolMentor:MaiNguyen,CorteymeInc“WorkingwithAARthisyearhadbeenanexperienceofalifetime,beingabletodoresearchforbiologyevenoutsidealabwasanopportunityinitself.Iwentinitiallyintothecourse,IhadtheslightestideaofwhatIwouldberesearching.However,Icameoutwithnewknowledge,newresources,andadeeperunderstandingofCRISPRandit'suseintherealworld.Beingabletomakeacontributiontothescientificworldevenasastudenthasbeenagreatexperienceandlesson,andI'mextremelygratuitousforthisopportunitythathasbeenhandeddowntome.”NeelimaValluru:NeuralNetworks:TheEffectofstimulationintheBNSTontheLateralHypothalamusMentor:LuisdeLecea&WilliamJ.Giardino,StanfordUniversity“Ihavealwaysbeenfascinatedbythebrain,andunderstandingthebrainnetworkbynetworkisthebestwaytounderstandexactlyhowitworks.Moreover,theBNSTisaregioninthebrainthatusuallymanagesstress,andthenetworksIamstudyingareconnectingtheBNSTtohypocretinintheLH.Hypocretinisaneurotransmitterthathasbeenshowntobeimportantinsleep.Soitwasinterestingtometoseehowstressandsleeparerelated.”SamarthVenkatasubramaniam:PrioritizingInvestmentsIntheDigitalBankingSpaceMentor:Mikefogel,NCRCorporation“Ihavealwayshadaninterestinbusinessandfinance;however,often,researchinthesefieldsishardtocomeby.Assuch,Ifoundthisresearchtobeincrediblyrewarding.NotonlydidIgainvaluableexperiencedealingwithindustryprofessionals,butIgainedalotofknowledgeinthisfieldaswell.Assuch,thisprojecthasbeenincrediblyrewardingforme.”

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JenicaWang:BioinformaticsScreeningofCellSurfaceReceptorstoIdentifyNewStemCellandProstateCancerMarkersMentor:GongXue,StanfordUniversity“Myworkthisyearhasbeensignificanttomebecauseitsolidifiedmypassionforscientificcancerresearch.Collaboratingwithothermembersofthelabandcontributingtoaproject'sgreaterpictureallowmetogrowasaresearcherandastudent.Iwillbeattendingcollegethisfall,andIintendtocontinuemycancerresearchjourneythere.”AnnaliseWang:AnalysisofRisingCannabisUsageTrendsMentor:AngieChwen-YuenA.Chen,StanfordUniversity“IjoinedAARbecauseIwasinterestedinindependentSTEM-focusedresearch,andexitedtheprogramknowingthatresearchismuchmorethanjustonefield,andrequiresmuchmorethanjustoneperson.It'sinterdisciplinary,andateameffortmorethananythingelse,andhasopenedmyeyestotheworldsofself-motivation,branchingoutandneverceasingtoquestioneverything.”MichaelWang:Ultrasound:anExaminationofPropertiesandApplicationsMentor:KindelLauner,PaloAltoHighSchool“Ijustwantedtolearnaboutultrasoundandlearnaboutcoolthings.”MollyWeitzman:DifferenceinWritingCapabilitiesofStudentsWithoutEnglishSpeakingParentsandHowTheirAbilitiesCanBeImprovedMentor:MarthaCastellon,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“IwasinspiredtopursuethisresearchafterinterningattheJLSwritingcenterlastyear.Isawthatstudentswerestrugglingandcouldnotgethelpathome,butalsothatmanywereunabletoattendtheafterschoolprogram.Myresearchconfirmedthatthiswasanongoingissue,soIdecidedtocreateamoreaccessibleprogramandstudytheeffect.”ElizabethWilkinson:OptimizingLaserAblationofaSiliconSpecimenviamicroPREPMentor:SanderGubbens,GatanInc.“Atthebeginningofthisschoolyear,IhadnocluewhatIwantedtoresearchthroughAAR,orwhatIwantedtogainfromtheprogram.Lookingback,myresearchprojecthaspropelledmeintoarelatedmajoratcollege,andinterestedmeinparticipatinginresearchpasthighschool.I'velearnedvaluableskillsaboutworkingwithothers,meetingdeadlinesasateam,andthinkingonmyfeet.Ifeelsoluckytohaveexperiencedthesethingsthatmostpeoplewon'tgetuntillaterinlife,andamgratefulforthisinvaluabletakeawaythatIdidn'tevenknowIwantedatthebeginningoftheyear.”ElenaWillow:TheEffectsofSleeponMoodMentor:BelaSingha,Merck&Co“Ourworkthisyearismeaningfulbecausethetopicisprevalenttotherealworld,andwewereabletointeractwithpeopleinourcommunity,whichwedon'tusuallygettodoinclass.Weareluckytohavehadthisopportunity!”TiairaWitherspoon:TeenPregnancyEducationMentor:JessicaTabron,RachelKaci,JeongChoe,PaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict“Thetopicofteenpregnancyisanissuethatismeaningfultomeasmanywomeninmyfamilyandsomeofmyclosestfriendshavebeenteenmothersthemselves.I'mhopingtoraiseawarenessofthistopicandtopromoteeducationtoteens,aswellasthegeneralpublic.”MicaelaWong:TheSignificantPredisposingRiskFactorsofAlzheimer'sDiseaseMentor:GloriaChui,BDBiosciences“Alzheimer'sDiseaseisadiseasethataffectsmillionsofpeoplearoundtheglobeeachyearandcanbedevastatingtothepatientandtheirfamilies.Ourgoalwastoeducateourselvesonthesubjectsothatwecouldsharetheinformationwithothersandtowarnothersontheenvironmentalfactorsthatcouldplayapartindevelopingthedisease.”

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AmyWu:MethodologiesforRehabilitationfromSpinalCordInjury(SCI)Mentor:PatrickWager,VeteransAdministration'sHealthCareSystem“Myworkthisyearhasbeenveryeye-openingtome.MypartnerandIstartedthisresearchprojectoffwithoutacleargoal--asdidmanyothers--andweendeduphavingtomakequiteafewchangestoourfocusastheyearwenton.However,onceweweresetonourtopic,thepathwasalotstraighterandtheresearchthatmuchmoreenjoyable.Thisprocesshastaughtmeaboutresearchingeneral,andhowitdoesn'talwaysgoasplannedandwilltakeyouonunexpectedjourneys,makingtheultimatefinalproductallthemoremeaningful.”AllisonWu:What’stheFeasibilityofaHousingVentureforCollegeResidents?Mentor:AlanWalworth,YouSA“Ithinkmyworkthisyearhasprovidedmuchexperienceintherealmsofcommunicationandresearch.Inordertoconductourresearchappropriately,wewererequiredtocommunicatewithourmentorandstayupdated.Ithinkthatthistypeofcommunicationandinteractionisreallyapparentintheprofessionalenvironment,anditwasnicetogetatasteofit.”JessicaWu:InfluenceofWell-KnownUniversityonNeighboringPublicSchoolAchievementGapMentor:KindelLauner,PaloAltoHighSchool“LivingnearStanfordhasinfluencedmetoreflectonmyownschoolexperience.”Yuan(Vivian)Wu:SeismicSafetyofPaloAltoHighSchoolBuildingsMentor:ChristopherRojahn,AppliedTechnologyCouncil“MyAARexperiencewasmeaningfultomethisyearbecauseIwasabletohavepersonalsupportincompletingmyresearchproject.Igottolearnaboutseismicsafetyofbuildingsfrommymentor,Mr.Rojahn,andanalyzedatathatIcollectedwithhishelp.NotonlydidIgainproblemsolvingskillsfromthisproject,Iwasalsoabletoexploreanewfieldofscience.”EricBo-HanYap:SiliconValleyandtheCaliforniaEconomyMentor:ToddCollins,TregaronCapital“Lastyear,ItookthebusinesslawcourseatPalyanditbuiltafoundationofbusinessknowledgethatIthenusedtothinkmoreindepthaboutaprojectconcerningeconomics.LivingintheSiliconValleywasanotherdrivethatmotivatedmeresearchthisprojectbecauseithelpedmeunderstandtheimportanceoftheCalifornianeconomy.”AndrewYin:OptimizingLaserAblationofaSiliconSpecimenviamicroPREPMentor:SanderGubbens,GatanInc.“Growingupinafamilyoftwochemicalscientists,IwasalwaysinterestedinhowsciencewasappliedtoimprovethequalityoflifeandhowIcouldcontribute.SigningupforAARgavemethatopportunitytocombinemystrengthsinmathandsciencewithmylongtimeinterestinchemistrytolearnmoreaboutthefieldofchemicalengineering.IwasmotivatedtodoresearchbecauseIknewthatadvancementsinthisareaofstudycoulddirectlycontributetoimprovingthestandardofliving.Nomatterhowsmallofastepitis,Ibelievethatitisastepintherightdirectionforimprovingeveryone'slives.”SamuelYun:CommonStressorstoTriggerDepressionAmongPalyStudentsMentor:VenkataramanSriram,GileadSciences“Eventhoughmyresearchispreliminary,IwasinterestedtofindoutexactlyhowstudentsfeelaboutstressorsatPaly.”

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StephanieZhang:PrescriptionDrugPrices:TheJustificationandOppositiontotheInflatingPriceofMedicineMentor:MukulAgarwal,BootupVentures“Igottolearnalotaboutthebusinesssidetomedicineandthemanycomplicationsthereof.Itopenedupmyeyestohowinterconnectedeverythingis—afluctuationononeendofthestreamcancauseripplesthatcomplicateconditionsevenfurtherontheotherend.Itwasincrediblyinterestingtoassessthesenuances,andIamgladIamnowrelativelywell-informedonthecontroversialmatter.”AliceZhang:AnalyzingtheEffectsandExternalitiesofaCarbonTaxMentorRobynReiss,Independent“Lately,Ihavebeentryingtobecomemoreinvolvedinenvironmentalismandspreadingawarenessforviablesolutionstothegrowingissueofclimatechange.EspeciallyastheU.S.governmentchangesitsapproachtocombattingclimatechange.Ibelieveitisevenmoreimportantintakingactiononthelocallevelandfindingaccessiblewaystobetteringourenvironment.”AshleyZhang:TheEtiology,IdentificationandEffectsofChildhoodAbuseMentor:TashaSouter,VeteransAffairsPaloAltoHealthCareSystem“Emotionalabuseisnotaswidelystudiedastheotherabuseandwewantedtoshinelightonthisoften-overlookedarea.”DanaZhao:PotentialEffectsofGlobalizingSocialMediaonDevelopmentalPovertyMentor:ZhenFang,Independent“PovertyandtechnologyaretwofieldsIamparticularlyinterestedin;thisresearchprojectwasagreatopportunityformetodelvedeeperintotheintersectionsandoverlapsofthesetwofields.”AliceZhao:Optimizing3DScratchHologramsMentor:AdamNorton,GoogleInc.“Asagraduatingsenior,Iamlookingforwardtopursuingelectricalengineeringandcomputersciencesthisfall.Thehands-onexperiencesI'vehadwithlaserengravers,measuringtoolsanddataanalysiswillprovetobeveryhelpfultowardsmysuccessincollege.Iamimmenselygratefulformymentor,Mr.Norton,andAARforexposingmetoresearchearlyoninmyacademiccareer.”NicholasZhao:ThePotentialofMachineLearninginAnalyzingFinancialDataMentor:BhusanGupta,Snypr,Inc.“Inourtechnology-drivensociety,machinelearningisanewandrapidlyprevalenttechnologythatgreatlyinterestsme.Withthisnewinterestinmachinelearningandanexistinginterestinfinancialinformation,myresearchprojectwasformed.”ShannonZhao:BrandinginModernDayBusinessesMentor:NatashaCastro,EventoWishes“MymotivationtoresearchaboutmoderndaybrandingsparkedfrommyinvolvementinDECAandfromthereIbecameveryinterestedinbusinessmarketing.BrandingisafascinatingbranchofmarketingandIwascompelledtolearnmoreaboutit.”XinyueZhong:ComparingtheQualityofChineseandEnglishTranslationsofJapaneseTextMentor:MamieGongPoggio,Independent“IwantedtodothisresearchontranslationcomparisonsbecauseIreallylikelanguages(andsurely,especiallyJapanese),andIthoughtIwouldbeabletolearnhowtoproducegoodtranslationsthroughstudyingprominenttranslators’works.”

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AdelineZhou:HowDoestheDevelopmentofaCountryAffectItsMarketingStrategies?Mentor:ToddCollins,TregaronCapital“Ichosetofocusonmarketingbecauseitplacesaheavyfocusoncommunicationandistherefore,crucialtothesuccessofabusiness.Economiesvaryfromcountrytocountry,soIwantedtomeasurehowthischangeaffectsacountry'seffectivenessincommunicatingtoconsumerstobetterunderstandwhichlarge-scalefactorsaidorhinderone'sprosperity.”DanielZhu:TheIncrementalExplanatoryPowerofCashFlowInformationforStockValuationMentor:CharlesLee,StanfordUniversity“Myworkthisyearhasincreasedmyunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenqualityandvalueinformationinfundamentalanalysis.Throughthisresearchproject,IhavelearnedagreatdealaboutusingPythonfordataanalysis,aswellashowtodealwithunexpectedresults.Lastly,thisprojecthastaughtmehowtomanagelargeprojectsgivenlimitedtimeandresources.”

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Part II: Elementary Educational Services & AAR Collaboration Project

-AARCreativityCartProgram-

TheAARteamiscollaboratingwiththeElementaryEducationalServicesonournewCreativityCartprogramtoextendthephilosophyofAARtoelementaryschoolsbycultivatingstudentskillsindesign,research,anddevelopmentofself-advocacy.LedbyChiefAcademicOfficerforElementaryEducation,BarbaraHarris,andTeachersonSpecialAssignment,JoeYoungandLeslieFaust,thisprogramgoesbeyondtheNext-GenerationScienceStandards(NGSS)toprovidepersonalizedlearningandknowledgeapplication.EachCreativityCartisstockedwithusefulandengagingmaterialstonurturestudentcreativitywithinagivensubjectwhileconnectingtheirlearningtocomplex,real-worldapplicationsthroughguidedandpersonalizedprojects.StudentswhoparticipateinCreativityCartprojectsareencouragedtoexploreavarietyoftopicsatappropriategradelevels.Byallowingeachstudenttochoosetailoredprojectsubjectswithgeneral,guidingquestions,theprogramwillfostergenuinestudentintereststhatcanbeextendedtoanytopic.Students’creativeeffortswillbecelebratedinashowcaseoftheirprojectsontheAARwebsiteattheendoftheschoolyear.Asitgrows,theCreativityCartprogramwillbeadistrict-wideopportunityforPaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrictelementarystudents.ThepilotprogrambeganthispastFebruaryatPaloVerde,Addison,Nixon,Briones,Greendell,andElCarmeloaspartofthedistrict’sefforttomeetequityandaccessgoals.Eachschoolreceivedasupplycartstockedwiththematerialsmostrelevanttotheiranticipatedactivities.TeachersarecurrentlybeingprovidedwithideasandresourcesforintegratingtheCreativityCartprogramintotheircurriculumledbyJoeandLeslie.ThiswillencourageteachersandstudentstofindthebestwaytomakeuseoftheCreativeCartsinawaythatworksforthem.Tonight’seventfeaturesaslideshowofstudentsandteachersinaction.Welookforwardtoseeingwhereourstudents’curiosityandimaginationcantakethem.

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Part III: Gunn High School Culinary Arts Program & AAR Partnership

TheCulinaryArtsIntroductioncourseandCulinaryArtsInternational/RegionalcoursesgivestudentstheopportunitytoexplorethediversityofU.S.regionalandinternationalcookingstylesthroughhands-onexperience.Thesecourseshelpstudentsdevelopanappreciationforawidervarietyoffoodsandculturesthroughpresentations,demonstrations,andlaboratoryexperiencesledbyCindyPeters.TheSportsNutritioncoursehelpsstudentsbuildgoodhealthbymaintainingandimprovingtheirfoodchoices.LikeAAR,theCulinaryArtsProgramgivesstudentstheopportunitytoexplorereal-lifeskillsthroughhands-onexperiences.WeareexcitedtoshowcaseCulinaryArtsProgramstudentcreationsalongsideourAARstudentprojects.Tonight’seventfeaturesdessertsprovidedbyGunn’sCulinaryArtsprogramandaslideshowofstudentsinaction.TheCulinaryArtsIntroductionclasshasprovidedMadeleineCookiesandChocolateCreamCheeseCupcakes.TheCulinaryArtsInternational/RegionalclasshasprovidedChocolateChipBananaBreadandDutchAppleCake.Thankyoutothehard-workingstudentswhopreparedthisevening’sdesserts:

CulinaryArtsIntroductionJessicaArgumedo,LaureBeerthuizen,JesusBernal,AndrewCampbell,JessicaCarter,MadeleineCeaser,OscarChou,LovroDikic,EsauFerdinand,ArielGries,AndrewHollerbach,AnaJauregui,JihunLee,KyuHyunLee,MengyuLiu,OliverLiu,AnnaMendelsohn,VictoriaMock,MichiruNozawa,NajaiSpiller,ZoeSpringer,CassandraTalavera,DanielTamler,MelodyTorabi,ShuoWang,DemetriusBarnes,EllenCao,AnneChandra,JoseCid,DiegoCruz-Leyva,MayaFussell,HinakoHata,AkhilKumar,JihunLee,MeganLi,ChristopherLia,MatthewLin,BethPiper,ReneRivas,MichaelRothstein,AngelaRyu,WendySakuma,ChanmiShin,BuseSukur,BenjaminTycz,JiaWan,ZiyueWang,MikaelaWolkowitz,JaredYang,SevdeBanuYildiz,QiaoZhang,QiqiZhu,SavanahAlvarez,SimonAntony,FrancescaBaffico,ZoeBanks,Cesar

Bermudez,WilliamChi,MonicaCrichton,GuangyaoDou,JacquelineFong,ElizabethGreen,ElizaGriesemer,DylanGruber-Taylor,JessicaGuzman,BarbaraHernandez,NatalieJagoda,HannahKim,Jiayi

Li,KarinaLiu,AlondraMarin,CorinnaMartinezLuna,FrancescaMontellanos,AlyssaPama,SophiaPinedo-Ruiz,GraceRawlinson,NaomiRodriguez,ElianaRoodman,AikaTanaka,AuroraTeller,

YuchenYe,SanaaZakariya

CulinaryArtsInternational/RegionalAlmogBar-Yossef,CamilaBesprosvan,MikaelaCagampan,AnneChandra,VictoriaCrayton,AlexiaFlojo,JackGermain,ElizabethGreen,PriscillaHwang,TrenitraJackson,YihanLi,SophiaPinedo-Ruiz,DanielaPlata-Torres,AngelaRyu,WendySakuma,MelodyTorabi,MikaelaWolkowitz,BrendaZhao,JessicaArgumedo,DannyBisenti,BreannaBravo,AndrewCampbell,CoryCarlson,JessicaCarter,Julia

Cheunkarndee,OscarChou,JoseCid,PhebeCox,BlakeDenson,MinaGuzman,FallonHsia,JuanPauloIdanan,JessicaJen,KazukaKo,KyuHyunLee,JiayiLi,MengyuLiu,EthanLowenthal,SamLysaght,AnnaMendelsohn,AvaMiller,ThomasMilner,FrancescaMontellanos,LucyMorse,MichaelOh,AndyPan,RowanPansare,TristanRenaud,ThomasRowe,JasminSaltoUriostegui,AlexandraSmith,NajaiSpiller,

CassandraTalavera,MalikTela,MelodyTorabi,RebeccaTrockel,QiaoZhang

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ABOUT OUR PROGRAM The Advanced Authentic Research (AAR) program strives to fulfill our mission of nurturing student interest and igniting student passion through real world, hands-on research enabling students to explore career pathways. The program innovatively adapts Career and Technical Education foundation standards in conjunction with Next Generation Science Standards for science and engineering practice, and our district’s vision statement for students to explore topics in a wide variety of disciplines including STEM, Humanities, Business and Social Science fields. Advanced Authentic Research students bring passion, curiosity, and perseverance to the program.

For more information about AAR, please visit: https://aar.pausd.org

For information about how to become a mentor, please visit:

https://aar.pausd.org/mentor/register

For information about student projects, please visit: https://aar.pausd.org/projects

Thank you for your support!

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