New Zealand Student to Showcase Innovative Research at US Science Fair

Seventeen-year-old Sophie Ineson has been chosen to represent New Zealand at the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair in the United States, scheduled for May 2024. Her project, titled Disrupted Digestion, was one of two selected from a pool of seven science projects submitted by high school students in years 11 to 13 from various regional science fairs across the country.

Sophie’s journey in science has recently gained notable recognition. Last month, she won the $50,000 Prime Minister’s Space Prize for Student Endeavour for her innovative research focused on healing wounds in space. This accolade reflects her commitment to exploring significant scientific challenges, a passion that she credits to her earlier work on penguins as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award gold award.

Research Focus and Environmental Impact

Sophie’s interest in penguins and their health was sparked after witnessing a sick penguin at a sanctuary a few years ago. “Penguins are also my favourite animal, so that really hit hard for me, looking at this poor little penguin who could hardly even walk, just because of eating a little tiny bit of plastic,” she shared. This experience motivated her to investigate the impact of plastic on penguin digestion, leading her to conduct experiments on king penguins.

Her research aimed to understand how different types of plastic affect the enzymes in penguins’ stomachs. Sophie utilized enzymes such as lipase and amylase, focusing on their interactions with various plastics. She discovered that plastics indeed interfere with digestion, with the extent of the impact determined by factors like plastic size, density, and chemical composition.

Sophie also participated in a Spirit of Adventure sailing trip last year, which opened her eyes to the plastic pollution in the Hauraki Gulf. She noted, “I think that some people may not even consider how much of an impact maybe their plastic straw or just not disposing of the waste properly has on the penguins.”

Support from the Royal Society

To prepare for the international fair, Sophie will receive mentorship from a member of the Royal Society’s scientific review committee. Dame Jane Harding, president of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, emphasized the importance of science fairs in nurturing young talent. She stated, “Science and technology fairs offer students valuable opportunities to apply scientific investigation to real-world problems, while strengthening their critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.”

Sophie expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to present her project on such a significant international platform. Despite the challenge ahead, she remains excited about the potential impact of her research and the chance to connect with fellow young scientists from around the globe.