Monday, April 21, 2025
Students at Wantagh High School who want to learn how scientists conduct research now have the opportunity, thanks to a new state-of-the-art science research classroom.
Located on the second floor of the high school, the room features updated equipment to support students in the Science Research Academy, a four-year program, introduced in the fall of 2023, in which they conduct research with the goal of submitting their work to science competitions. The classroom was funded with a $250,000 grant from the State Senate.
Christopher Kozak, the district’s director of STEM programming for grades six through high school, said the new room is a fully functional lab equipped with weight scales, pipettes, centrifuges, gas connections for Bunsen burners and fume and vacuum hoods to aid students in their research.
“We’re just trying to give students variations of different kinds of experiments that they can conduct within the constraints of what we can have in our K-through-12,” Kozak said.
Teachers, parents, administrators, and Board of Education trustees attended the classroom’s grand opening on Feb. 26. Before it was built, Science Research Academy students worked in the high school’s chemistry classrooms. Kozak said they began using the new research room the following day.
The program launched in the 2023-24 school year with 18 freshmen, and has grown to 32 students this year, Kozak said. More than 60 students are enrolled across freshman to junior courses for next year, according to the district.
Principal Paul Guzzone said the program has been growing in popularity since its inception. “How it has exploded far exceeds what we could have ever thought,” he said.
Guzzone added that he looked forward to seeing the first group of Academy students become seniors in two years, and compete in high-level science competitions.
Students in the program conduct experiments in biology, chemistry and genetics. As freshmen, they take a foundations course, in which they learn how to conduct research by studying doctoral-level scientific papers. As sophomores, they are introduced to research methodology and begin conducting experiments in the classroom. At this stage they are encouraged to develop their own project ideas.
The first two years, according to Kozak, introduce students to basic studies and the formulation of scientific questions. “It’s just making them familiar with what research looks like, and how to look at something and try to decipher and break it down,” he said.
As juniors and seniors, students further develop their experiments, formulate their own research questions and takeaways, and connect with professional researchers. Kozak said the program differs from a traditional science course because it encourages students to be innovative and understand why things happen, rather than simply studying information for tests.
“That helps them develop their projects for competitions,” he said. “It also helps them develop their portfolio for applying to colleges.”
Kozak added that he hoped the new space would help prepare students for science competitions. One of the goals of the program, he said, is for students to submit their research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a national research competition, by their senior year.
According to the district, freshmen Academy students are taking part in the Toshiba ExploraVision competition, which challenges them to research current technology and envision its advancement 10 or more years into the future. Sophomores are entering Barcode Long Island, a student research program that uses DNA barcoding to study and document biodiversity on Long Island through hands-on experiments and scientific mentorship.
“It’s just amazing,” Guzzone said of the program. “It has all the resources and tools that our kids need to explore their passions in science research at a high level.”
Kozak highlighted how the students develop research skills early, presenting findings and collaborating with peers as early as ninth grade. These experiences, he said, help them build communication skills valued by colleges and employers, who seek people who can not only understand science but also convey their work effectively.
“It’s growing so fast, and it’s just incredible,” Kozak said. “Seeing everything progress so quickly is really rewarding. We put a lot of work into this program.”
