Westhampton Beach Students, Alumnus Publish Research Pieces

Two Westhampton Beach seniors and a 2022 alumnus have recently had their research work published in a respectable scientific journal and popular automotive magazine.

Senior Jack Schultz and graduate Griffin Scheurer co-wrote a paleontology paper publicized in the science journal MethodsX, and senior Carter Padavan had an article he authored on electric vehicles printed in the September issue of the Long Island Auto Body Repairmen’s Association News.

Padavan, whose article is titled “Will Electric Vehicles Affect Independent Auto Body and Repair Shops?” was inspired by his research on electric cars that he conducted for an AP Research class he took as a junior, but said he’s been a car enthusiast as long as he can remember.

“I have been watching car videos and have been fascinated with everything about them — from style, interior, exteriors, engine parts, you name it,” Padavan said.

He began his more in-depth investigation over the summer on the effects of electric vehicles on the economy, workforce, supply chain, the environment and other factors, and how that compared to internal combustion cars. Ultimately, he said, he wanted to understand how the addition of electric vehicles affects auto body and auto repair shops as well as any people or business connected with those industries.

“While there are definitely pros to electric vehicles, before we hail electric vehicles as the savior of our environment from greenhouse gases, a lot more discussion needs to happen,” Padavan said. “I also learned that when you change one thing in our economy, there is a ripple effect with people and businesses that need to be considered.”

The senior said the publication process was a grueling one.

“It took a long time to get somebody to take a 16-year-old seriously,” he said. “It was not an easy thing to accomplish, but eventually I got somebody to give me a minute and read it. Fortunately for me, they were impressed, and printed it without making any adjustments to the copy I submitted.”

Padavan said he was thrilled to finally see the published product. He now intends to continue his research into electric vehicles, hoping to apply his knowledge in college, where he plans to study business and technology.

“It’s almost indescribable to see something that you dedicated your time to, researched and wrote appreciated and accepted by so many people who belong to the car community, and even those not associated with the car community have told me they felt impressed and educated by it,” Padavan said. “I hope it raises people’s curiosity, interests and awareness for electric vehicles on what they can and cannot do.”

When not conducting research, Padavan participates in his school’s Youth-to-Youth Club.

“To be published while in high school is an incredible accomplishment,” said High School Principal Dr. Christopher Herr. “We cannot be more proud. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Jack, Griffin and Carter.”

Scheurer, who studies animal sciences at Arizona State College, paired up with Schultz to begin working on their paper seven months prior to it being accepted and published by MethodsX.

“It was interesting to learn about the publication process,” Schultz said. “And it’s pretty incredible to be published as a high school student.”

According to the website sciencedirect.com, MethodsX is “a multidisciplinary, open access, peer-reviewed journal, which publishes detailed but digestible articles that describe methodological advances.”

The pair’s findings lay out the methodology for the dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification. They were inspired to conduct research and write the paper following dinosaur dig trips they took to Wyoming and Montana as part of the district’s paleontology program.

“Jack and Griffin took their research interests, sparked by Mr. Rob Coleman’s paleontology program at Westhampton Beach Middle School, and turned it into a valuable contribution to the scientific community,” said Dr. Diana Gobler, a high school biology, science research and AP Research: STEM and biotechnology teacher. “They are highly motivated students with an incessant work ethic. Publishing in a peer-reviewed scientific journal as a high school student is an astounding accomplishment, and I am incredibly proud of them both.”

Aside from his dinosaur fossil research, Schultz, who aims to study molecular biochemistry in college, is working with leading scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory as part of the lab’s Student Partnerships for Advanced Research and Knowledge Program. His investigation focuses on the elemental analysis of kelp to see if climate change has an effect on higher carbon dioxide levels.

“The district is incredibly proud of these students and their recent publications,” Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Probst added. “They have harnessed their passion and intellect to produce writing that can now have a lasting impact on others.”