Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District

The POBJFKHS Independent Research program is one of the largest, most successful competition-based Independent Research programs in the Northeast. It is a developmental program open to all students in grades 9-12. Students learn the fundamentals of Research as 9^th graders. While exploring areas of their own personal interest, students learn how to read and annotate university-level journals, communicate with professionals in the field, write scientific essays, and learn how to effectively manage their time.  These are all skills that will help them in all future studies, and beyond. As 10^th graders, students work in teams to develop research projects that they design and execute, in school, under the supervision of Research teachers. Students submit and present their findings to a number of regional and national competitions. As 11^th graders, students transition to personal projects that can be done in university settings, or within the school’s, depending on their field of interest. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, Biology, Chemistry, Behavioral Science, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, and Nano-Technology.  These students continue their research over the summer and submit their findings in the fall, as 12^th graders, to the highly prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search, and INTEL Science and Engineering Fair, just to name a few.  Graduates of the POB Independent Research program credit their experiences in high school with paving the path for great success in college and beyond.

Some of the competitions our students participate in are: