Slow & steady: Snail project wins second place at fair

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A Seaford High School student placed second in the New York State Science and Engineering Fair on March 28 at the New York Hall of Science in Queens.

Madison Elias, 17, said she was ecstatic about her second-place trophy. Her project focused on the effects of green tea on pond snails’ ability to learn, form and retain memories, which could have implications for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in humans.

The first round of the competition was held virtually, while the second round took place in person. Elias had submitted a video, and was chosen to be one of the contestants.

She had also presented her research topic at a Seaford Board of Education meeting in February 16, along with other students in her class. There, she showed parents and administration her findings.

“It was a privilege just to go” to Queens, she said. “I didn’t expect anything going into the competition.”

Having worked on the project since last September, Elias said she chose the topic because she noticed a lack of effective long-term solutions for PTSD while researching mental health issues. She researched the topic with help from her instructor, Janine Cupo.

Although Elias did not make it to the international level of competition, she was happy with her achievement. Her project, she hoped, will garner attention from future employers, and possibly other researchers with more experience and technology to build on her conclusions.

Elias became interested in researching mental health issues after learning about the human brain in one of her high school classes her freshman year. Since then, she has decided to pursue psychology.

“I was learning about the human brain and learning mechanisms, and it just sparked an interest in me,” she said. She plans to attend Colgate University this fall, and major in psychology.

Elias mainly worked on the project independently, with the assistance of her teachers. She said she was grateful for her parents’ support throughout her research — which included taking care of the snails, which she still has in her home.

Madison’s mother, Kerri Elias, said she can best describe her daughter as self-directed and independent. Although she did not help her with the project, she supported her daughter by providing any tools necessary for the project, including lettuce to feed the snails.

“She’s always out to look for a way to better the world,” Kerri said. “She’s always been so self-driven and self-motivated.”