Virginia Students Win Big With Sepsis AI and Phone Apps

Forget doom scrolling and environmental despair. A group of Virginia high schoolers just proved young people are building real solutions to problems adults have struggled with for years.

Students from across Prince William County recently gathered at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center for the senior division of the regional Science and Engineering Fair. The event showcased months and sometimes years of scientific research by young minds working on challenges that matter.

Five projects claimed grand prizes and will advance to the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May. The winning innovations span healthcare, sustainability, aerospace engineering, and human behavior.

Belva Fianko, Bilal Khan, and Naman Patel created SepsiSense, software that detects sepsis and monitors patient recovery. Sepsis kills over 350,000 Americans annually, making early detection critical for survival.

Atiksh Bhan noticed something troubling at restaurants: families staring at phones instead of talking to each other. His project tested different strategies to reduce smartphone use during social interactions, and the results showed real progress is possible.

Erin Jansen developed sustainable leather alternatives using sodium alginate and gelatin reinforced with zinc oxide and microcrystalline cellulose. Her biomaterial blocks UV rays while matching traditional leather's durability, offering the fashion industry an environmentally friendly option.

James Kim and Abid Safwan designed low-cost lead filtration systems that could help communities struggling with contaminated water supplies. Mazen Ben Chouikha, Michael Obeng, and Devin Wanchoo researched cooling systems for aerospike engines using biomimicry, drawing inspiration from nature to solve aerospace engineering challenges.

The Ripple Effect

These projects aren't just science fair displays. They represent practical solutions to real-world problems affecting millions of people.

The fair brought together expertise from Prince William County Public Schools, I-66 Express Mobility Partners, Leidos, and SPARK, the education foundation for PWCS. Judges evaluated projects on scientific rigor, originality, and presentation quality.

First and second place winners will compete at the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair in April. Grand prize winners get the bigger stage: the international competition in May, where they'll showcase their innovations alongside the world's brightest young scientists.

Jansen said participating represents a significant opportunity, and her sustainable leather project could reshape both environmental practices and industry standards. Bhan's research on smartphone use offers hope that technology addiction isn't inevitable.

The projects span disciplines including engineering, environmental science, biology, and technology, proving that innovation doesn't fit in neat boxes. These students combined fields, asked hard questions, and built answers.

When teenagers can design sepsis detection software and create sustainable materials in high school, the future looks remarkably bright.