Students involved in the ROGATE program (Research Opportunities in Gifted and Talented Education) pick a subject and research it extensively for the entire school year, and then prepare a 12-minute presentation for a group of peers at a statewide exposition in May on a college campus.
Last May three seventh graders at Grover Middle School, working under the direction of Debbie Cohen, succeeded in moving on to the next level of participation, ROGATE Gold. As part of that program, the students are asked to present summaries of their research in a public presentation. Below are the students’ summaries of their research topics and their conclusions.
#b#A Mixture of Experiences#/b#
by Siddharth Paratkar
For my research, the topic was saltwater crocodiles. I had a strong reason for choosing this topic. It just so happened that I had recently watched a documentary on Netflix that was about saltwater crocodiles. That made my research much easier, since I had knowledge and love of the topic even before I started ROGATE.
I must say that the presentation was the scariest thing that I have ever gone through. The presentation was very difficult to do because of the time limits for the presentation and the specific order in which things had to be shown. It was measured down to the second, and a mistake anywhere could cost you points. It was nerve-wracking to stand up in front of so many peer judges. I had to present in front of some other middle schoolers, and judges who would grade me based on how well I presented.
ROGATE has taught me so much since I entered the PRISM room, where Grover Middle School’s gifted program is held, two years ago. I knew I made the right choice because here was a place where I could learn more things that I could use later on in life. I learned formality; how to research; I even learned a new word while perfecting my index cards! It was colloquial, which means that I was informal while writing my index cards; that is to say, something that I had written was not using proper language for making an academic presentation.
It was a fleeting experience; to go from sitting in the PRISM room, deciding on my topic, to a college campus, standing formally for 12 minutes and giving a speech on my topic. I really loved doing this, and it is an emotion everyone should feel someday.
#b#The Effects of 3D Printing#/b#
by Neal Singal
I researched 3D printing and the effects it will have. My hypothesis was “3D Printing will revolutionize our world.” I enjoyed my research thoroughly and was even able to use a 3D printer. At the end of my research, I was to give a 10 to 12 minute presentation about my project to other ROGATE students and a judge at a local college. Due to my success I was able to participate in a student-driven program this year called ROGATE Gold Satori.
As part of my research last year I had the opportunity to go to Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL) and interview Dr. Andrew Zwicker. At the end of my interview I was able to print a chain from their 3D printer, my first 3D printed object. This year to complete my ROGATE Gold Satori project I had to do two things; volunteer outside of school that related to my project and present my research to a group of professionals.
After contacting several companies I had the opportunity to volunteer at Touch Tech Labs in Princeton. Touch Tech Labs provides classes about robotics, 3D printing, and animation to children of all ages. At Touch Tech Labs I was able to work with one of the founders, Dr. Das, and was able to explore 3D printing software and print several objects as part of my research from one of their 3D printers.
I also was able to meet the superintendent of West Windsor-Plainsboro School District, Dr. Adherhold, and learn how the district is investing in 3D printing technology at the high schools. Touch Tech Labs was the best part of my ROGATE experience because I was able to learn a lot about 3D printing along with having the opportunity to print several of my creations.
For the final part of ROGATE I presented to a group of successful engineers and doctors as to how 3D printing is and will affect their fields of work. In the field of engineering I was able to show working gears I had printed and how companies were investing in 3D printers to print durable, cheap, and fast replacement parts. In the field of medicine I showed how doctors are now using stem cells to be able to produce living organs. I believe 3D printers will change every field of science.
ROGATE has provided me with many opportunities I would not have been able to find inside my school. It taught me to be independent and how to work in the real world. I have improved as a student and look forward to continuing to research the up and coming topic, 3D printing.
#b#Legalizing Medical Marijuana#/b#
by Elizabeth Johnson
Upon hearing the words marijuana, heroin, and cigarettes, our mind usually remembers our parents telling us about drugs and how they are bad for you. It had never even crossed my mind that any drug could actually be good for you.
The drug I am talking about is marijuana. Medical marijuana, which is also known as cannabis, is flowers and leaves from the hemp plant, in a medicinal form. Cannabis has been prescribed ever since it has been around; for thousands of years. Until the Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937, marijuana was legal and it was prescribed as a medicine. Despite its prohibition, cannabis continues to be the most widely used drug in America. Currently, cannabis is listed as a Schedule 1 Drug, meaning that it is in the most dangerous class of drugs with a high potential for abuse and potentially severe psychological and physical dependence.
But because of its undisputed medicinal properties, New Jersey voters chose to legalize medical marijuana in 2010. Currently, 20 out 50 states have some form of legalized medical marijuana laws.
There were many times that doctors could have prescribed medical marijuana rather than high potent cocktails of pharmaceutical drugs. In one particular case [in Colorado], the Figi family had twin girls. A perfectly happy family. But Charlotte, one of the twins, developed Dravet syndrome, with uncontrollable seizures while the other child was developing normally. By the time Charlotte was two years old, she was experiencing a decline in all of her cognitive abilities. Her parents had tried every medicine available, and nothing was helping. Charlotte had lost the ability to walk, talk, and eat and, she was having 300 seizures a week. Finally, doctors wanted to put her on a veterinary medicine that was given to epileptic dogs or put her under medically induced coma to give her body rest from the seizures.
To make matters even worse, the dad was deployed to Afghanistan. Unable to help his wife to care for his daughter, the only thing he could do was continue searching for remedies. He stumbled upon the information that cannabis oil could possibly help his daughter. Though he could never imagine himself using the marijuana, he convinced his wife to give it a try for his daughter as a last resort. But finding two doctors to sign off on a cannabis card for Charlotte was no easy challenge. After consuming the required milligrams of cannabis oil, her seizures went down from 300 to one a week. Charlotte gets a dose of the cannabis oil and now she is a healthy five-year-old and developing normally like her twin sister.
There are many more cases like Charlotte, who can carry on having a normal life because of natural remedies like cannabis oil. But the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry wouldn’t allow it. There are so many cancer patients, or even AIDS patients taking 30 to 40 pills a day that could easily be replaced with a natural product like this.
The federal government insists that marijuana has no medical value and a high potential for abuse, and still considers it as dangerous as heroin and LSD. Although the Obama administration has given freedom to states to make their own choices, the DEA has continued to raid and arrest patients and their providers in medical cannabis states, and federal prosecutors and judges have continued to incarcerate patients.
A comprehensive study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that even regular, heavy smoking of marijuana does not lead to lung cancer. The Institute of Medicine found no conclusive evidence linking the use of marijuana with the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs. It is the effects of prohibition and the interaction with drug dealers that provides patients with easy access to other more potent and harmful drugs.
The legalization of marijuana for recreational use is an entirely separate issue from cannabis. Patients should not be denied access to cannabis because of debate over whether recreational use should be legal. Legalizing medical marijuana is a perfect option to help people with harsh medical ailments. Marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes in all states.
