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These researchers are no junior scientists

Two Calhoun students have papers accepted by JSHS

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Katherine Ratner thought the measurement system used to categorize hurricanes –– called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale –– was inadequate. So the Calhoun High School senior, 17, set out to create a new system, one that better reflected the size and strength of these monster storms.

With a set of arcane algorithms that she helped to formulate, she sought to account for the myriad factors besides wind speed that give a hurricane power, including how long-lived, how concentrated and organized it is.

Meanwhile, her classmate Brian Kishinevsky, 17, of Merrick, spent weeks and months studying the surface curvature of a sphere with four holes. His study, he said, had no practical application. It was intended, he said, to “develop a deeper understanding of math.”

It was math for math’s sake.

Both Ratner and Kisinevsky had papers on their studies accepted at the Long Island regional competition of the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, a national contest sponsored by the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy. The two are among 150 semifinalists in the competition. More than 400 students from across Long Island applied.

Now Ratner and Kisinevsky must present their papers before panels of experts in their fields at York College in Queens on Feb. 7. Winners of that stage of the contest will move on to nationals, to be held in Dayton, Ohio, from April 27 to 30.

Katherine Ratner

Ratner, who was accepted early decision to Cornell, plans to continue conducting research in college. After her project, she said, “I know what I want to do. I’m majoring in atmospheric science. Now I know what I want to do with my life.”

Ratner’s biggest challenge, she said, was factoring in the drag co-efficient of air, coupled with its density, into her calculations. Her project title was “Power Dissipation of Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic Basin by Subregion of Origin.”

And, yes, she is only 17.

Ratner completed her research project at the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Science over the summers of 2014 and 2015.

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