The Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education (RARE) Center is proud to congratulate local high school student Makaila on earning First Place in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Makaila received the top award for her project, “Investigating the Stability of Prebiotic Uracil Under the Conditions of Impact-Generated Terrestrial Hydrothermal Systems,” earning a $6,000 prize in recognition of her outstanding research achievement.
This accomplishment follows her earlier success at the regional Westchester Science & Engineering Fair and represents an extraordinary achievement on the international stage. Each year, millions of students participate in affiliated science fairs worldwide, with only a select group advancing to ISEF and even fewer receiving category awards.
Her project reflects two summers of research conducted in the RARE Center laboratories, where she worked with Dr. Meri Herrero and Dr. Ellie Hara under the direction of Professor Karyn Rogers. Her work explored questions related to prebiotic chemistry and the stability of biologically relevant molecules under early Earth impact-generated hydrothermal conditions.
We are thrilled to see Makaila’s dedication, scientific curiosity, and hard work recognized at the highest level of international high school science competition. Congratulations to Makaila and her mentors on this exceptional accomplishment.