Jersey City, NJ — The Hudson County STEM Showcase, held in collaboration with Liberty Science Center, brought together an extraordinary community of bright young minds, dedicated educators, and passionate industry leaders to celebrate innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This year’s event recognized the incredible talent and creativity of student participants from public and private schools across Hudson County, awarding more than 100 certificates, medals, trophies, and prizes, including memberships, summer camp, and cash rewards.
More than 200 judges experienced in science, technology, engineering and math volunteered to evaluate more than 400 student’s projects presented during the March 3rd showcase from, ensuring a rigorous and fair process to select winners who embody excellence in STEM. Liberty Science Center, renowned for its commitment to advancing science education, served as the venue for the Awards Program.
A Scientific Review Committee comprised of science and engineering leaders reviewed each project, interacted with coordinators and students, and ensured compliance with the requirements of ISEF — the International Science and Engineering Fair, which is the world's largest international STEM research competition for high school students. The committee members included: Dr. Samantha Bell, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and SRC Chair; Dr. Hanae Haouari, Professor of Chemistry at NJCU; Dr. Meriem Bendaoud, IRB Chair and Associate Professor of Biology at NJCU; Dr. Kimberly Palestis, Assistant Vice President of Nursing at Jersey City Medical Center; Hal Izzo, Distribution Manager and Engineer at PSE&G; and Kwaku Gyekye, Director of Population Health & Medicine at Jersey City Medical Center.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the energy and brilliance these young people bring to the table. Their ideas have the potential to shape our world, and we’re proud to support this program that nurtures their growth,” said Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center. “Today reminds us that education is more than curriculum, assessments, and policy; it is about fostering a love for exploration, discovery, and challenge. It sparks the curiosity that drives students to seek answers and solutions to our world's most profound questions and problems,” Hoffman said.
"The passion and innovation on display today reaffirm our commitment to STEM education as a cornerstone of innovation and a pathway to empower future leaders. This annual showcase exemplifies how curiosity and determination can drive solutions to today’s challenges and shape a brighter tomorrow," said Michael Prilutsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital.
This year, for the first time in the 67-year-old competition, the four Platinum winners were all girls. They’ll represent Hudson County at the world’s largest international STEM research competition for high school students Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus Ohio in May:
Srikirti Padmanabhan, Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, The Efficacy of Lycopene: A Cancer Therapy Evaluated through its Binding Energy to Oncoproteins
Lehansa Marambage, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Using Deep Learning and Natural Language Processing to Detect and Optimize 911 Stroke Cases
Meghana Addanki, Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Efficient Energy Harvesting from Natural Piezoelectric Materials: Fabrication of ZnO-Modified Eggshell Membrane and Cotton-Based Piezoelectric Generator
Mythili Kota, Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Engineering a Novel Electrochemical Biosensor Using a Self-Healing ZnO Quantum Dot Matrix and MIP Technology for Lysozyme
Their groundbreaking projects highlight the power of education and the boundless potential of young women in science. The four Hudson County students will join nearly 2,000 finalists from over 60 countries, regions, and territories.
“The dedication and creativity of every student who participated this year is inspiring. These young scientists remind us that innovation knows no bounds, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where their ideas take them,” said Dana Klar, Chief of Staff, RWJBarnabas Health Northeast Region. Klar also served as Director for the STEM Showcase
“The collective efforts of educators, families, and the broader community in supporting students in reaching new heights in science and engineering is outstanding. It’s a privilege to witness the impact of their hard work again this year,” said Ivory Williams, Vice President of STEM Education at Liberty Science Center. Williams served as the Showcase Coordinator again this year.
Registration for the 2026 Hudson County STEM Showcase will open in the fall of 2025.
About Jersey City Medical Center
Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital is Healing, Enhancing, and Investing in Hudson County. It is a comprehensive full-service acute-care 348-bed teaching hospital. A not-for-profit hospital, the Medical Center is a state-designated Level II Regional Trauma Center with over 120,000 admissions and 100,000 Emergency Department visits annually. The hospital specialty services include women’s health, orthopedics, heart and vascular care, and behavioral health. JCMC is the only full-service heart hospital in Hudson County, offering access to outstanding cardiologists and sophisticated and advanced treatments, such as open cardiac surgery and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). RWJBarnabas Health and Jersey City Medical Center offer comprehensive, advanced oncology services in Hudson County in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Jersey City Medical Center is an American Heart Association Gold Plus and DNV certified thrombectomy-capable Primary Stroke Center. It is a regional comprehensive cardiac center, a perinatal intensive care center, a regional level 3 neonatal intensive care unit for critically ill newborns, and home to the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical program in Hudson County. JCMC, a provider of Advanced Life Support for Hudson County, runs 911 Medical Call Screening for Hudson County and operates one of the state’s busiest EMS systems.
About Liberty Science Center
Liberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs, and teacher-development programs. Before COVID-19, more than 250,000 students visited the Science Center each year, and tens of thousands more participated in the Center's off-site and online programs. Welcoming more than 750,000 visitors annually, LSC is the largest interactive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.
Contact:
Contact: Stacie Newton
Mobile: 201-424-9678
E-Mail: Stacie.Newton@rwjbh.org