Skokie High School Students Shine in Jerusalem Science Contest

Walder Science recently completed its 20th annual Jerusalem Science Contest—an international competition that invites upperclassmen from Jewish high schools to study a college-level scientific topic and its related Judaic sources.

This year, 70 high school juniors and seniors from around the world studied molecular biology and its relevance to Judaism. Eight finalists presented their research in Chicago in March, with over 120 people in attendance. Eleven students from Chicago Jewish high schools completed the competition, including seven from Skokie. Over the last two decades, nearly 1,000 students have participated from five countries.

Mrs. Elizabeth Walder, Co-Founder of Walder Science shared, "Dr. Joseph Walder and I established Walder Science as an innovative leader in science education for the Chicago Orthodox community. Its mission is to ignite a student’s curiosity and nurture a passion for scientific exploration through 21st century learning experiences, taught through a Jewish lens. The Jerusalem Science Contest was born out of this mission."

Dina Romanoff, Director of DEEP, a program of Walder Science added, "Both evenings were beautiful and inspirational. The participants, along with their families and friends all walked away so delighted and proud to be part of such a special program."

Walder Science extends a hearty Mazal Tov to all the participants who completed the contest, and the 2021 Skokie participants and winners:

Miriam Cheruff (Lubavitch Girls High School), Toibeh Sarah Gersten (Ida Crown Jewish Academy), Shimon Herman (Fasman Yeshiva), Amitai Kakon (Ida Crown Jewish Academy), Liba Posner (Lubavitch Girls High School), Shira Worch (Beis Yaakov High School), and Rina Yahav (Ida Crown Jewish Academy).

The participants found the experience to be both enriching and inspirational. Finalist Golda Schuster said, "I am looking into becoming a biomedical engineer in the future, and my research on DNA robots just added to that excitement. Learning about how biological organisms can coexist with technology gave me firsthand experience of what I may encounter as a biomedical engineer.”

The top 5 winners were awarded a trip to Israel. Participants enjoyed a one-of-a-kind tour of Israel focused on science and Torah, visiting organizations and meeting with people at the forefront of STEM research and innovation. Rabbi Heschel Weiner, Walder Science Director Emeritus, led the tour.

To learn more and to register for the 2022/5783 Jerusalem Science Contest, visit www.walderlab.org/jerusalem.