FCE Intern Wins Environmental Sciences Competition at Florida Science Fair

A high school intern working with the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) LTER’s Education and Outreach program has won the State of Florida Science Fair competition in Environmental Sciences. Eighteen year old senior at Felix Varela High School, Juan Gallo, competed with over 800 other students at the state level and won more than $17,000 in prizes. His presentations on belowground versus aboveground production of Sawgrass, the basis of his research at FCE, were the highlight of both the regional and state science fair competitions.

Juan has been working with the FCE LTER's Executive Internship Program since June 2004. We began the Program with Nick Oehm and Felix Varela High School in Fall 2004. We paired Juan with FCE LTER graduate student Greg Juzli, who mentored him in the lab and helped him gain field experience. Juan’s work was accompanied by evaluated coursework and writing assignments prepared and administered by FCE LTER Education and Outreach Coordinator Dr. Susan Dailey that led to a research project with the FCE LTER Education program.

Juan went on tour to promote his research and work with the FCE LTER Education and Outreach program to over 400 science students in his community. His presentation of his research inspired several high school students to volunteer their summer working with FCE LTER scientists.

Congratulations to Juan and all of the people who contributed their efforts and time to enable Juan accomplish so much in such a short time. The following is a breakdown of Juan’s superior performance:

State Competition
• First Place, Environmental Sciences

• U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize--Expenses paid trip for student and teacher to Portland, Oregon to compete at the National Science Fair, whose winner will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to take part in an international competition.

• Chuck Skoch Florida Sea Grant Scholarship—worth $1000

• University of Central Florida Pegasus Gold Scholarship—worth $9600

• Florida Museum of Natural History—worth $50

• Florida Foundation for Future Scientists c/o Crystal Springs Preserve—worth $5000

Regional Science Fair
Juan Gallo-Award: Superior
• Miami Museum of Science—First Place, Category: Environmental Science
• Scientific American Award
• Rosensteil Schools of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS-UM)—First Place plaque, plus an opportunity to work in a lab of his choice at RSMAS and receive a $700 stipend

• US Metric Association- First Place Award certificate

• U.S. Airforce—Fourth Place Award Certificate

For further information:

Susan K. Dailey, Ph.D.
Wetland and Coastal Ecologist
FCE LTER Coordinator of Education and Outreach Programs
Southeast Environmental Research Center
OE 148 University Park
Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199
Office: (305)348-1592
Fax: (305)348-4096