One of the most meaningful experiences I have had in high school has been my Science Research class. In this class we work with a professional mentor in our field of interest to perform relevant research and learn how to write and present our findings at different science fairs over the course of three years. For my project, I have been investigating the best sustainable heating system for my school. I first determined the heat loss of my school by looking at the materials of every wall and the temperatures over the course of the year. I then calculated how many solar panels would be required to generate enough power to heat and cool the school year round. This would help my school to become more eco-friendly while also saving the school and town large sums of money in the future as the excess energy being generated over the summer can go to subsidize nearby houses’ energy bills. This research broadened my academic perspective by giving me hands-on engineering research experience similar to that of a college class.
Through this project, I also learned a lot about how to collaborate with people of different backgrounds as we had a partnership with le Lycée Joliot Curie in Sète, France in which we worked with a class of French students who were also researching local sustainability practices. We would meet regularly on video calls to share our progress in each of our unique research projects and further our language skills and cultural knowledge as we would speak purely in French while they would speak to us in English. Eventually we worked with each other to create the first international exchange program at my school in decades. I travelled to their city staying in the home of one of the students at their school, and I presented at Sèt’Expo Sciences, an international science exposition in Sète, along with the rest of their students and two others from my class. We also used this opportunity to learn more about the cultural differences between our two countries, and how different perspectives on our projects could help us to alter our research ideas to be more effective. While at the exposition, we were judged by professionals in our fields who were able to give valuable insight into ways that we could improve the efficiency of our projects using ideas in place in France already.

My experience with the Pleasantville-Sète collaboration was instrumental in shaping both my research and worldview. Early in the program, Zoom calls with the Science Research class at the Lycée Joliot Curie allowed me and my fellow PHS students to refine our French skills while presenting our projects in a foreign language. I was also able to experience life in Sète as a local when I stayed with my host family for a week, which included many trips to explore the town and surrounding areas to learn about its history and industries. Finally, my understanding of my research project was definitely enhanced by my participation in the Sèt’Expo Sciences. The different composting regulations between the U.S. and France informed my understanding of sustainable waste removal, the subject around which my project is centered. I think that infusing science with a multicultural perspective is the best way to ensure that all possible angles/solutions to modern issues are tested, and the Pleasantville-Sète collaboration opened my eyes to this phenomenon.

My work in the science research class has been an incredibly beneficial step into the world of research. My research topic was about how dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) can be used to recycle indoor ambient light such as artificial ceiling lights. This work could be a new field of green energy where indoor lights can help to recycle energy and reduce the dependence on harmful nonrenewable energy sources. The class has taught me the steps on conducting research, writing a research paper, and presenting my research.
One of the best opportunities brought to me with this class was the Sète-Pleasantville collaboration. I spent a week in France where I had the chance to spend a day with French students at le Lycée Joliot Curie in Sète and present my research at the Sèt’Expo Sciences alongside other students of science. The day in the school exposed me to how French education worked with much greater specialization than in the U.S., and the greater freedom students get in taking their classes. The expo gave me a chance to present my research to people who had no experience with it, and I presented it in another language. I also had the opportunity to explain my research on a French radio show. The trip served as a cultural experience as well where I was hosted by another Sète student, saw how everyday life was in France, and took historical tours of the local area. This collaboration has been extremely beneficial in helping me progress in research as well as presenting and learning the customs of another culture. I am grateful for this opportunity and the friendships, knowledge, and memories gained from it.