A Newtown Student Is A Woman Of Innovation

By Laurie Borst

“The Bacterial Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Using Pseudomonas Grown on BioSep Beads” is the title of Maricate Conlon’s current research paper. Maricate, a senior at Newtown High School, has been gaining attention at science fairs for the past two years.

At the UConn Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, held March 4 and 5, Maricate’s poster presentation on the isolation of Pseudomonas garnered first place and a $100 prize.

Not bad, considering Maricate had not taken part in a science fair before last year.

“I knew they existed, but I didn’t know how rewarding it would be,” she said. “Meeting scientists, getting suggestions and feedback from them was great.”

This all started when Maricate was a junior. She had a course conflict, wanting to double up on science. She spoke with biology teacher Frank LaBanca, who offered her the opportunity to take his applied science research class. The class is structured so students can work around their scheduled classes to research their topics.

“Applied science is great opportunity for anyone motivated to delve deeper into science,” Maricate said. “It is one of the gems of Newtown High School. It’s one of the few courses where you really get hands-on experience and work with people who truly love what you love.”

Maricate’s research last year, titled “The Impact of Chitin on Heavy Metal Contaminated Wastewater and Soil” earned the top spot for Connecticut to the US Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition. Chitin is a substance found in the exoskeletons, or outer shells, of insects and crustaceans that can absorb heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.

That research was also presented at last year’s Connecticut Science Fair held at Quinnipiac University. As a finalist there, Maricate was invited to the Connecticut Technology Council’s Women of Innovation Awards Dinner.

When Maricate first considered a research topic, she was interested in biology and diseases. As she investigated possible topics, information she found led to environmental science, especially water issues.

“I remembered my fourth grade teacher at Middle Gate, Mrs Sellner,” she explained. “Her husband worked with the World Health Foundation and he came in and talked to us about a purification project in Samsamkenan, Ghana.”

The use of living organisms for bioremediation is a growing field of research. Maricate chose to investigate the ability of Pseudomonas, a bacterium, to remove contaminants from water through its metabolic processes.

Maricate’s research continues. She is now into Phase 2, working with Dr Ruth Gyure, a biology professor at Western Connecticut State University. Dr Gyure has helped Maricate procure BioSep beads, a multilayered substance that provides more surface area for Pseudomonas to grow on. Water samples will be collected and the beads added to them in the lab.

The water samples will be tested prior to the start of remediation to determine the concentration of PCBs. The samples will be tested regularly to ascertain the amount of PCBs removed.

“It’s fun to see it come together at the end,” Maricate added.

Maricate’s science role models are no surprise. Mr LaBanca and Dr Gyure have had a strong influence on the young woman. So has Jennifer Good, a Newtown resident and president and CEO of Penwest Pharmaceuticals. Ms Good received the Small Business Innovation and Leadership Award at the Women of Innovation Dinner.

Maricate has been accepted to Lafayette College in Easton, Penn. She is not sure of her major yet, but is interested in geology, environmental and geological science, or environmental engineering.

But Maricate does not spend all her time in the lab. She swam for the NHS Girls Swim Team. She swims with the Wilton Wahoos National Team. She organized a swim fundraiser, donating the monies to World Health Foundation. She is also a member of the Guidance Honors Association and the National Honor Society.

For the past two years, Maricate has served as the student chair for Lead Out Loud, a leadership conference for girls. She was helped this year by fellow students Sally Tabler, Dana Gnerre, and Sarah Parker.

Maricate said that during her sophomore year, she was looking for leadership roles but could not find a conference nearby. She got her mother involved and they found Suzie Galler, of the Esteemed Woman Foundation, who helped them organize Lead Out Loud for southwestern Connecticut.

Female athletes and women from science, the arts and media were brought together, including Dale Allen, who wrote a play on women in society.

“It was so much fun. I’m sad I won’t be able to work on it next year,” Maricate lamented. “It was great to bring all those women together. It was an inspiring, empowering day.”