Northport VPK-8 School is please to announce that Northstar student Michael Gorbach has been awarded fourth place in the Junior division of the 60th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair this April in the Medicine and Health category. Michael’s project entitled “FIR=LIFE” was recognized with a first place award in the school’s science fair in January, a first place award in the Treasure Coast Regional Stem Science and Engineering Fair in February as well as the nomination to be one of the fourteen delegates representing St. Lucie County students at the 60th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair in Lakeland, Florida.
Michael Gorbach’s scientific work was based on wound healing time with an interest in decreasing medical costs and disability length of treating and healing wounds. After completing a literature search on wound maturation and radiation types and their effects on body tissues, he designed and completed an experiment to test the effects of infrared radiation on wound healing speeds. Practicing excellent scientific ethics, he decided to work with earthworms as an invertebrate organism rather than exposing humans to any potential pain or harm. He performed a controlled experiment with multiple trials where the worms in the investigational group were exposed to the infrared treatments and a control group of worms that did not receive the treatment. Observations of the wounds and measurement of regeneration length were carefully recorded in his log book. His data analysis included several statistical methods and numerous graphs. Based on the data obtained, Michael Gorbach concluded that infrared radiation exposure does speed wound healing and regeneration processes.
Michael Gorbach is on the Northstar team at Northport VPK-8 School which offers an advanced curriculum with opportunities to earn high school credits. The middle grades placement on the Northstar team is an excellent addition to the academic selection offered at Northport VPK-8 School and it is noteworthy that the advanced curriculum has achieved solid academic results with a focus on leadership.
