The Alaska Statewide High School Science Symposium (ASHSSS) is a research, writing and oral intensive program that helps students develop science research, writing, and oral presentation skills. Students complete science research, submit written papers of their projects for technical review and revision and then present the findings to separate panels of judges in one of four categories.

Professor Abel Bult-Ito, Ph.D., directs the program.

Students are able to work with some of the best scientists in their field of interest. Then they can present their results in a scientific setting that, for this level of competition, is as close as students can get to a professional academic science symposium experience.

Past participants have been published in scientific journals, gone on to work toward advanced science degrees, and one was awarded a Rhodes scholarship.   

The ASHSSS program is one of 48 regional affiliates to the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

Click here to visit the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium site

1^st place - Dolma Ombadykow, Factors Influencing Hedonic Well-Being Across the Lifespan, West Valley High School

2^nd place - Kelsey Schober, The Effect of Triclosan on the Growth of Common Soil Bacteria, Palmer High School

3^rd place – Jiyeon Baek, Survival of Elodea nuttallii : Competition with Indigenous Species and Exposure to Limiting Factors, West Valley High School

4^th place - Arthur Schweitzer, The Effedts of Pool Chlorine on Lung Exertion in Adolescent Swimmers, West Valley High School

5^th place - Robin Spielman, Snow Pit Accuracy with the Variability of Snow Conditions, West Valley High School

6^th place - Sarah Swanson, Bird Species and Abundance in Burned and Unburned Spruce Forest, West Valley High School

7^th place - Maria Berkeland, Geochemistry of the Chena and Tanana Rivers near Fairbanks, Alaska: Effects of seasonality and the City of Fairbanks, West Valley High School

8^th place - Abigayle Fisher, The Effects of Different Forest Management Practices on Microbial Communities, Mount Edgecumbe High School

Click here for preliminary winners