IB SCIENCE IN ACTION

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May 29, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

IB Biology students showcase independent research projects that mirror the depth, analysis and presentation style of university-level scientific inquiry.

 

Scientific inquiry, experimentation and real-world application were on full display as IB Biology students recently presented their Internal Assessments (IAs), a major component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.

The IB Biology IA is an independent research investigation that gives students the opportunity to explore a biological topic of their choosing within the IB curriculum. Unlike traditional exams, the assessment emphasizes critical thinking, experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication — skills that closely mirror the expectations of post-secondary research.

Under the guidance of IB Biology teacher Laura Elwood NDP’10, students spent two weeks conducting independent investigations before transforming their formal research papers into professional scientific posters and presentations.

“Students completed a two-week research project on a topic of their choosing within the IB curriculum,” said Elwood. “After writing their papers, they synthesized their research into posters and presented their methods, data and conclusions. They also explained how their findings connect to real-world applications and discussed possible next steps to expand their projects.”

The breadth and sophistication of this year’s projects (see project list below) reflected both creativity and scientific rigor. Students explored topics ranging from photosynthesis, enzyme activity and osmosis to UV radiation, obesity correlations and cellular structure analysis. Several projects required students to apply advanced laboratory techniques, analyze complex datasets and evaluate limitations in their methodologies — work that often resembles introductory university-level scientific research.

Among the investigations were studies examining the effect of salt concentrations on lentil growth and potato osmosis, how light color impacts photosynthesis and lettuce growth, the relationship between temperature and enzyme activity and the effects of external stressors on reaction speed. Other students explored health-related topics such as sleep and appetite, obesity and colorectal cancer correlations and UV radiation’s effect on skin cancer rates.

The IA process challenges students not only to conduct meaningful scientific investigations, but also to think critically about how scientific research connects to larger real-world issues. In addition to presenting their findings, students discussed the practical applications of their work and proposed future directions for continued study.

"The presentations highlighted the core values of the IB program: inquiry, independent learning and global-minded problem solving," added Elwood. "Through these projects, students developed skills in research, communication and analytical thinking that will serve them well in university and beyond."

STUDENTS AND RESEARCH PROJECTS: 

Josephine Atallah: The Effect of Different NaCl Concentrations on Lentil Growth

Sebastian Asmar: How Moving a Light Source Away from Elodea Impacts Photosynthesis

Gabrielle Brook: The Effect of External Stressors on Reaction Speed

Rodrigo Encinas: Light Color vs. Photosynthesis

Hanna Gappy: How UV Radiation Affects Skin Cancer Rates

Maya Hajjar: Galactose Slows Lactase Activity More Than Copper(II) Sulfate

Gemma Hofley (Not Pictured): The Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Different Concentrations of Catalase

Isabella Kaminskas: The Effect of UV Light on pH and Structural Degradation

Antonella Kaminskas: How Does Sleep Affect Appetite?

Daniel Kim: Increasing Lead(II) Nitrate Concentration Significantly Inhibits Catalase Activity on Hydrogen Peroxide

Tomasz Kapusniak: The Effect of pH on Amylase Activity

Sofia Neubauer: Investigating the Effects of Salt Concentration on Potato Osmosis

Adiv Patel: The Correlation Between Adult Obesity and Colorectal Cancer

Cameron Pennell: The Effect of NaCl on the Activity of Catalase from Bovine Liver Measured by Foam Height During the Decomposition of H₂O₂

Joshua Powers: The Growth Rate of Nannochloropsis Increases When Exposed to Temperatures up to 28 Degrees Celsius

Emma Shorter: The Effect of Lemon Juice on Potato Catalase Activity

Chloe Smith: The Effect of Light Color on Lettuce Growth

Emily Stanczak: The Impact of Different Substances on Enzyme Activity in Bovine Catalase

Lillian Stolzenfeld: Salt Stress on Lolium perenne (Rye Grass)

Eva Thomas: Temperature and Its Effect on Lipase

Zara Tiberia: How Does Lactase Cause Glucose Production in Lactose?

Reese Vanhecke: Temperature Controls Lactase Activity in Milk

Rocco Wisniewski: The Effects of Differing Ethanol Concentrations on the Cellular Structure and Nuclei Visibility of Green Onion Roots

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.