By Harry Kane

For 36 consecutive years the Region IV Science Fair has been held at the Somerville High School. On March 24, high school students from around the bay area exhibited their science projects to the judges and the public.

Director of the Region IV Science Fair, Sebastian LaGambina, welcomed and congratulated all the participants. “The projects each year become more and more amazing.”

LaGambina thanked the Region IV awards Chairman, Joseph Tarello, noting he is one of the founders of the Massachusetts State Science and Engineer Fair; and Tarello has been part of the Region IV Science Fair for the past 36 years.

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said, “In a technological age where we communicate so much electronically, so much communication is non-personal; it has actually caused the emergence of direct interpersonal communication to become more important because we do it for fewer hours historically.

“What we see here today is a result of that high quality, scientifically-based interpersonal communication on a direct level. What you have developed creating these exhibits is something that will translate dramatically into the work force.”

Third Prize went to Eugenia Kim from Lexington High School. Her science project was entitled, Applied regulation of characteristic historical events and auricular discord through lexicon mining to calculate. She will receive a check for $250. District Gas Company will give the award at a special ceremony in the month of May.

The Second prize was awarded to Emily Hu from Lexington High School. Her science project was entitled, Perception, action and outcome: The effects of mindful decision making on post decision affect. She will receive a $350 award from District Gas Company at the ceremony in May. Hu will have the honor of being the representative to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh.

The Grand Award Winner was a team project combining the efforts of Surya Bhupatiraju and Hao Shen from Lexington High School. Their science project was entitled, Investigating the spread of influenza a virus: A Phylogenetic analysis of the H1N1 Subtype. District Gas Company will award them $500. Bhupatiraju and Shen will also go on a trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair.