Photo Showcase

State Highs Physics Research Symposium

Byline photo of Nora Digman

Nora Digman, Staff Writer • June 8, 2026

On May 29, the Physics Research Symposium took place, with seniors Spencer Stevenson-Peck and Aaron Le’s presentation taking place during fifth lunch. “So our presentation was about the hybrid micro layers of various materials, and then we’re seeing if these could be like an alternative to the normal industry practice of chemical vapor deposition,” Le explained when asked what the Symposium was about.
(Nora Digman)

Stevenson-Peck and Le continue their presentation explaining the various things they did for the symposium. They also explain why they wanted a Symposium in the first place. “So our class is like an independent contract or independent study contract, and in that contract, I think we have to present, and then we’re just like, since ABE has a symposium, we’d like to have one too, given that we’ve spent so much time and effort on our projects. So, yeah, that’s where the symposium came through.” Stevenson-Peck said.
(Nora Digman)

Pictured are Le and Stevenson-Peck explaining their improvements and future work that they hope to do on their project. Behind them sit other presenters going in future blocks. They also explain some constraints they have when testing due to the constraints of funding and resources.

Stevenson-Peck and Le both got into physics because of their teacher and mentor Mr. White. “Mr. White was always there when we had any questions or needed any kind of support, any materials, any physics consultations,” Stevenson-Peck said.
(Nora Digman)

Le and Stevenson-Peck both are interested in going into STEM fields once they graduate, with Stevenson-Peck wanting to go into fields similar to their part in the symposium, while Le wants to expand elsewhere. Stevenson-Peck will be attending Penn State and Le MIT.
(Nora Digman)

Senior Olivia Shen waits while getting her slideshow set up for the first presentation of the physics research symposium.
(Nora Digman)

Shen explains her research questions for her part of the symposium, with future presenters sitting behind her, preparing to present later, while offering silent support.
(Nora Digman)

Shen reads off one of her slides with her peers sitting around her. In the corner, part of her slide is shown, which is also in front of her, so she can read off it. The audience members pay close attention while some eat their lunch.
(Nora Digman)

Shen stands in the center, finishing off her presentation with her slide behind her for audience members to see. Behind her sit the other presenters who will present in separate lunches with audience members sitting in rows in front of her.
(Nora Digman)

Shen explains what her presentation is about: “It’s about investigating how temperature impacts how polyurethane foam compresses under a constant load.” She also says she wants to go into things more unrelated to her presentation, “Nothing related to applied physics, I want to be improving access to financial resources in some capacity, whether that’s as a policymaker or working with start-ups in venture capital law,” Shen said. She also plans to attend Northwestern University to study economics and data science.
(Nora Digman)

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