{"id":75268,"date":"2026-03-17T09:07:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=75268"},"modified":"2026-07-16T08:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T12:44:07","slug":"utc-hosted-regional-science-and-engineering-fair-highlights-stem-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/utc-hosted-regional-science-and-engineering-fair-highlights-stem-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"UTC-hosted Regional Science and Engineering Fair highlights STEM talent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Students

James McCorkle, left, a senior at Baylor School, and Joshua Kim, a senior at McCallie School, display their award certificates after advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Photo by Audrey Bigham.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dozens of students from across the Chattanooga region gathered on Monday, March 9, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s Challenger STEM Learning Center to present their research projects to a panel of judges.<\/p>\n

The Chattanooga Regional Science and Engineering Fair has existed for 74 years and attracts both middle and high school students to showcase their projects and compete for the chance to advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. This year\u2019s international fair will be held from May 9-15 in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

The Chattanooga event showcased creativity and hard work, with projects ranging from artificial intelligence and animal prosthetics to bacteria detection.<\/p>\n

Dr. Stephanie Philipp, the interim director of the STEM Education program at UTC and an associate professor in the School of Education, emphasized the Regional Science and Engineering Fair\u2019s long history.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext year will be the 75th,\u201d Philipp said. \u201cWe usually get around 40 to 60 high school projects a year. Most are from private schools, but we\u2019re starting to see more public school participation as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philipp mentioned that some of the student researchers involved in the event reach out to UTC staff or scientists to help gather information.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat kind of mentorship really helps students explore real-world science,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Student

Veera Pathak, a student from McMinn County High School, discusses her research on how altered media can affect memory during the Chattanooga Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Philipps said one of the most beneficial parts of the event is the communication and problem-solving skills students are learning. She described the research process as \u201cmessy at times,\u201d with adjustments being made along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if students never become scientists or engineers, they understand persistence and how to see a project through,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

McMinn County High School\u2019s Veera Pathak took a look at the intersection of human memory and artificial intelligence. Her project, titled \u201cFalse Memories: The Impact of Altered Media on Memory Distortion,\u201d examined how altered images can affect a person\u2019s recollection.<\/p>\n

Her research challenged common assumptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main inspiration was the rise of AI and false media on social media and in the news,\u201d Pathak said. \u201cI expected older adults to be more susceptible to false memories than younger people, but my data showed not too much difference between groups under 18 and over 18.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Students

Haley Patel, left, and Kenley Petrosino, seniors at McMinn County High School, presented their project on sustainable prosthetics for animals. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Other students examined more hands-on engineering types of research. Seniors Haley Patel and Kenley Petrosino, also from McMinn County High School, drew on personal experience to create sustainable prosthetics for animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy pet goat was born with a wound and missing most of his back half,\u201d Petrosino said. \u201cI also had a pet turkey born without a leg, so we had to make her a prosthetic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patel described seeing all of their hard work become a durable prototype as the most rewarding part.<\/p>\n

Ivan Zheng, a junior at Baylor School, developed a bacteria detection system to reduce infections.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat inspired it was how many health care-associated infections there were,\u201d Zheng said. \u201cOne in every 31 patients receives an infection. My system could help prevent doctors from going into procedures without proper sterilization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judges evaluated the projects, considering both creativity and practical application. UTC Professor of Engineering JW Bruce said he looks for solutions to real problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking for the student\u2019s ability to identify a real problem and come up with a viable design that implements the solution. In engineering, it\u2019s less about theory and more about usability, safety and manufacturability,\u201d said Bruce, who also praised the way students have used advanced technology like drones, machine learning and computer vision.<\/p>\n

The middle school projects were judged by UTC STEM students looking to pursue a career in teaching. Mallorie Wooten, a senior majoring in math STEM education, said the experience allows students to apply classroom learning in real research. Senior Paige Poland, also a math STEM education major, described judging the projects as a way to support and encourage curiosity.<\/p>\n

Philipp said one of the most exciting parts of the Science and Engineering Fair is the growing diversity in STEM participation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoy seeing how many females are involved, not just in biological fields, but also in robotics and engineering. We also see male-female teams, which mirrors real-life collaboration,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"High

Ivan Zheng, a junior at Baylor School, presented his research on a bacteria detection system. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

On Tuesday, March 10, the students and their families gathered at the Challenger Center to announce the winners, with the top two projects advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.<\/p>\n

Special awards were also announced by organizations such as the American Chemical Society and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.<\/p>\n

Senior Joshua Kim of McCallie School earned first place in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category for his project titled \u201cIonizable Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimer Optimization: Investigating Dendrimersome Nanoparticles for Enhanced mRNA Transfection in Vitro.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was tremendous. I try to bring my best\u2014the best rigorous scientific research and presentation,\u201d Kim said. \u201cI\u2019m just really glad the judges could see my excitement for the work I did. I\u2019m very grateful for this honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was the third consecutive year that Kim advanced to the international competition. In 2024, he traveled to Los Angeles after his project, \u201cAccelerating Breast Cancer Diagnoses: Leveraging Machine Learning to Accurately Predict Breast Cancer Presence and Growth with Hormonal Data,\u201d placed first in the Biomedical and Health Sciences category.<\/p>\n

Last year, his project titled “Optimization of One-Component Ionizable Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimer Design for Enhanced Dendrimersome Nanoparticle mRNA Delivery” placed fourth in the competition held in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

James McCorkle, a senior from Baylor School, also advanced in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category with his research titled \u201cUsing Collagen-19 Expression in C. elegans Development to Further Expand the let-7 microRNA Genetic Interactome.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCorkle\u2019s project explores a tumor suppressor gene.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very excited; I have heard a lot about the International Fair, so I\u2019m really looking forward to the networking opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

McCorkle plans to continue his research and gather additional results as he prepares for the international competition.<\/p>\n

Philipp said the event teaches students about the challenges, opportunities and rewards of science and engineering.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work, but also fascinating. Once you get involved in a project, you really want to see it through,\u201d she said. \u201cThat persistence will help in any future career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

Chattanooga Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CRSEF)<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dozens of students from across the Chattanooga region gathered on Monday, March 9, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s Challenger STEM Learning Center to present their research projects to a panel of judges. The Chattanooga Regional Science and Engineering Fair has existed for 74 years and attracts both middle and high school students to showcase their projects and compete for the chance to advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. <\/p>\n

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