Trying to Keep the Doctor Away Earns Kristina Kozak Top Prize at Stoughton High Science Fair

The saying goes “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but Stoughton High junior Kristina Kozak sought a more scientific answer.

The AP Chemistry student tested the “effectiveness of remedies on bacterial infections,” finding that hydrogen peroxide worked best. She determined that garlic, lemon, mouthwash and facial cleanser were also effective.

Her project, “Something a Day Keeps the Doctor Away, but What?” was the first place grand award winner in the 53rd Annual Stoughton High School Science Fair, held Wednesday at the school.

Kozak was surprised by the results of her project, originally hypothesizing that green tea would work best. But, she was pleasantly surprised by the results of the Science Fair.

“I didn’t expect it, but this is something I’m really interested in because I do plan on going to med school, and this is something that I thought is really interesting and helpful, so it’s really nice to see that my results were helpful,” Kozak said.

The first, second and third place winners in the individual and group project divisions are eligible to partake in the South Shore Regional Science Fair at Bridgewater State University on March 12.

Watch a video of Kozak explaining her project in the media gallery. Check back with Stoughton Patch on Friday for a full list of winners and a photo gallery from the event.