This year, the Regeneron ISEF went virtual! LRSEF alum Gloria Huang participated in the virtual fair and shared her experience with us.
Can you tell us a little bit about your project?
My project, titled “Finding the Most Influential Factors in the Healing Process of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using Parameter Space Geometry,” is aiming to combat the unpredictable nature in the healing of chronic wounds through analyzing a mathematical model in MATLAB. The model describes the interactions between matrix metalloproteinases, their regulators, fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix, four vital factors in the healing response. Using the differential equation model, the 3-D geometry of parameter space was visualized to see how parameters in the model affect the biological system. Knowledge of the identifiability of parameters can, in turn, streamline treatment for healthcare professionals.
What did you think of the virtual ISEF experience?
I had a great time exploring all that Virtual ISEF had to offer! The Society for Science did a great job making the virtual experience as life-like as possible with the showroom they created. The platform created made it very easy to access the various panels, other students’ works, and additional activities!
Did you attend any of the additional virtual ISEF sessions? If yes, what was your favorite session and why?
I attended the majority of sessions because I really wanted to take advantage of and absorb all the knowledge the renowned panelists had to offer! But my favorite sessions were the Women in STEM Panel and the College Admissions panel because I am highly passionate about combating disparities in the computing field for females and underrepresented minorities, so this talk was very relevant! Additionally, being a high school senior, the college panel really calmed my nerves about the changes to the college admissions process due to COVID-19.
Did you face any difficulties in participating in the virtual fair? If yes, how did you work to overcome them?
I did not face any major obstacles in my participation, but it was a little tricky navigating the platform at first. But as I further explored the virtual fair, it became very accessible, and I had no issues.
Is there anything else you want to tell us about the ISEF experience?
I want to thank the Society for Science for all they did in making the best of our current situation. They acknowledge the hardships we are all facing and turned it into something amazing! I even made a friend from Mumbai, India, that I hope to connect with throughout my academic career, from the Pen-pal program they created for the ISEF Finalists! Overall, the virtual fair was a very enjoyable experience with lots to offer.