Greeley’s Science Research Program offers a broad range of scientific opportunities, covering a wide range of topics for students interested in exploring topics from quantum physics to marine biology. Additionally, there is a wide range of options available for how a student decides to present their findings. Options include coding, analyzing statistics online, or even making a project in person. 11th grader Alexis O. felt that the best way for her to convey her results was to make a physical, functioning system. Initially, she found herself intrigued by environmental science and chose to investigate further. “I knew that going into the program, I wanted to do something covering environmental science, and kept reading more articles and different aspects about it,” Alexis said. Her drive is what got her accepted into the program—attending meetings, creating presentations, and engaging in prior research are necessary steps to follow for anyone who is looking to join. What matters most is that the student has the ability to identify a source’s core themes and implement those findings into their own research. Furthermore, participants are required to find a mentor who will guide them during their involvement in the Science Research Program. Alexis shared that cold emailing professors or degree holders working at research institutions was best for her acquisition of a mentor.

Ultimately, Alexis recognized how significant an issue wastewater treatment is, and decided to dedicate her project on studying this problem. She focused on building a hydroponic system—a soilless facility designed to treat wastewater. Alexis worked on her project over the summer and constructed it at Greeley’s Greenhouse, committing time in and out of school to observe the results of her experiment. In her experiment, she tested different hydraulic retention times and measured plant heights, mass, and concentrations of the synthetic wastewater she created. Then, she attached timers to the water pumps in the system and repeated experimentation.