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Scientists and employees from the Marine Biological Laboratory (�ֲ���ý) played a key role in Falmouth Academy’s annual science fair on Friday, February 21, acting as mentors and judges for students in Grades 7 to 12.

The �ֲ���ý’s participation gave students the chance to learn from and be inspired by leading researchers in various fields.

Junior David Aubrey won a first-place prize for his project on the biophysical determinants of T-cell receptor signaling in zebrafish. David was mentored by �ֲ���ý Assistant Scientist Carrie Albertin, Veterinarian and Marine Resources Director Lisa Abbo, Zebrafish Facility Supervisor Troy McInerney, Associate Director of Imaging Services and Imaging Scholar Carsten Wolff, and Director of Imaging Services and Staff Scientist Louie Kerr. David also communicated with Senior Scientist Marko Horb for IACUC purposes, and Research Assistant Leslie Murphy helped connect him with people at the �ֲ���ý.

David also won an H. Walcott Brown Award for extensive research and technical ingenuity.

David again won a first-place prize at the Massachusetts Region 5 High School Science & Engineering Fair. He is moving on to the state competition, the Massachusetts High School Science & Engineering Fair, which will take place on April 4th.

Junior Oleksandr Kaplenko won a second-place prize for his project titled “The Creation of Mutant GJB2 Knockout in Xenopus Utilizing CRISPR Cas9.” Oleksandr was mentored by Horb and Research Assistant Jonathan Romine. Oleksandr will also be attending the state competition.

�ֲ���ý Director Nipam Patel was also involved, presenting an award at the fair.

“These students could be the next generation of groundbreakers and innovators," Patel said. "For that to happen, we need to continue to encourage them to explore science and inspire their curiosity."

Read more from The Falmouth Enterprise .