We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of our students at the 2026 Hudson County STEM Showcase. Their innovative research project earned both a Silver Medal in the Senior Division and the prestigious National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “Taking the Pulse of the Planet” Award.
The team developed a low-cost, real-time pollen monitoring system that leverages machine learning to detect and classify airborne pollen from microscope images. By integrating PM2.5 environmental data with a mathematical model, the system calculates a real-time allergenic risk score based on pollen type and surrounding conditions.
This project addresses a critical public health need by making localized, real-time allergen monitoring more accessible and accurate, offering meaningful insights into environmental health risks for communities.
Building on this success, the students plan to continue advancing their work in artificial intelligence and engineering, with the goal of refining this system and applying similar technologies to solve other real-world environmental challenges.
We congratulate our students on this remarkable accomplishment and commend their dedication to scientific innovation and community impact.
