JHS student’s science research earns path to ISEF Fair

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin High School Junior Anna Barnhart will represent Joplin Schools at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, held May 14-19 in Dallas, Texas. Barnhart is the first Joplin High School junior student to compete at ISEF, said JHS Science Research teacher Karisa Boyer.

“Anna has worked very hard this year, spending hours of time working with mice,” said Boyer. “She did two rounds of fecal collection; both of which took about 18-20 hours each time. Countless other hours were spent on various tasks to get her project to the level that it is. I am excited to see her enjoy the ISEF experience and am very excited she will be returning next year as a second-year research student.”

Barnhart earned Overall Senior Division Science Fair winner at the MSSU Regional Science Fair in March, resulting in her ISEF invitation. Her research project, titled “The Effect of Various Diet Consumption on Simulated Alzheimer’s Disease Responses,” also earned first place in Human and Animal Sciences; the Office of Naval Research’s Naval Science Award; the Society of Science award; and the Yale Science and Engineering Award for Most Outstanding Exhibit in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

In April, Barnhart won second place in the biomedical/health category at the MSSU Research Colloquium. All other award-winning projects at this competition were from college students. She also earned first place at the PSU Research Colloquium.

ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition. More than 1,700 high school students from around the world will compete there for nearly $9 million in awards. The event is an in-person science fair, complemented by a virtual site where finalists will share their projects online.