Briana Cowles of Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology was named one of four International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) trip winners at the 64th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF).

 Cowles won for her cellular and molecular biology project titled “Optimizing 3D Cellular Scaffolds Using Collagen and Gelatin” and she is taught by Amanda Baskett. Cowles will advance to ISEF in Pittsburgh May 13-18, where she will compete with winners from every scientifically advanced country in the world.

Each competitor advances from school, local and regional fairs before being invited to compete in the GSEF in Athens. “The projects that make it to the state fair are brilliant in their creativity and scientific advancement. Some of this research is of publishable quality,” said Christine Burgoyne, science fair director and public service associate at the Department of Academic Special Programs at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

“It’s pretty easy in this day and age to dwell on headlines about declining schools and poor science literacy, but just talking to these students for a few minutes can make you realize that all is not lost,” said Jeffrey Dean, GSEF judge and associate director of UGA’s Institute of Bioinformatics.

The Department of Academic Special Programs at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education has been organizing the event since 2007, and more than 200 science professionals from throughout the state judge over 700 projects. For more information about the GSEF, visit http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/gsef or email gsef@georgiacenter.uga.edu.