While most members of the Class of 2025 are winding down their high school careers, Anabelle Shotton is still working hard to prepare for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where she will compete in the Physics and Astronomy category from May 10th to May 16th. ISEF is a prestigious competition geared towards top STEM students from around the world, and Anabelle is representing Dobbs with her project, “Large-Scale Multi-Messenger Simulation of White Dwarfs in the LISA Era.”
Shotton’s performance in the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair this past March guaranteed her a spot at the international competition. She drew and designed all graphics on her poster board with Google Slides tools, including visual diagrams, and spent months rehearsing the presentation. She won the highest award at WESEF, first place and a trip to ISEF, with 14 other students receiving recognition for their exceptional presentation: Delbar Afshar Ghotli, Ava Chabert, Angela Crowe, Heidi Gastorn, Nina Hankewycz, Max Higgins, Tessa Hunt, Ariel Klein, Sean Lambert, Daniel Koplik, Mathias Cardozo-Romani, Eleanor Walker, Lyla Wallen, and myself (Lily Williams-Ameen). She didn’t make it to the awards ceremony, but we were all there cheering her on when they announced the ISEF finalists.
First place and a Top 20 recognition didn’t mean endless celebration. Anabelle has to schedule her IB exams in Columbus, OH (where the fair takes place), and has since presented at Regeneron headquarters. Of the honor, she’s “so grateful to have been chosen.” Sharing her research is just as important as being recognized. “I know it means that I was able to convey the ideas of my research to other people, which is so important to me since I really love studying this stuff and want to teach that love to others!”
Sarah Marino, our Science Research coordinator, is delighted with the students’ performance this year as well. “Watching our students challenge themselves and support one another has been incredibly rewarding. Anabelle’s achievement and our students’ success reflect not only their dedication but the collaborative environment of our whole program. I couldn’t be prouder!”
We’re wishing Anabelle all the best in May for her competition – hopefully, she’ll come back from Columbus with even more success! First place at ISEF guarantees students $6,000, but they can win up to $100,000 with special awards. Good luck, Anabelle, and continue sharing your love of science with the world!
