Foxborough High Senior Named Semifinalist in Massachusetts’ Intel Science Talent Search

Editor’s note: The following Foxborough High School Teaching and Learning Highlight was submitted for publication by Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amy Berdos.

One of two Teaching and Learning Highlights at the April 1st School Committee meeting included Foxborough High School senior Aheli Chattopadhayay.

Chattopadhayay was recognized for becoming a semifinalist in Massachusetts’ Intel Science Talent Search. The talent search is one of the nation’s most prestigious science research competitions for high school seniors.

She was one of 300 students from across the country and one of five from Massachusetts.  Aheli’s research on Engineering Nanoscale Energy Storage Devices from C. aegagropila Algae Cellulose Diuspersed in Graphene took her virtually around the world. 

Thanks to technology she was able to contact researchers and scientists on both the national and international level.  At the international level she first reached out to scientists in Sweden who had begun to study how algae and paper could be used to power environmentally friendly batteries.   

She gave thanks to the many that have helped make her research successful which included professors at both the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and Brown University in Rhode Island. She explained the many steps involved with her research in trying to find a sustainable energy in order to create an earth friendly biodegradable battery.

For example, one step was to extract cellulose from algae, which required a special kind of microscope. This microscope was graciously made available to her by a professor at Brown University. 

He not only taught her how to use the microscope but gave her access to the lab in order to conduct her research. When Chattopadhayay was asked about what lies ahead in the near future in regards to plans for higher education, she said there is no shortage of choices. 

The FHS senior has already been accepted include Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Brown, and Duke University.