Industry News

Establishing a commitment to the education and enrichment of science students on Long Island, New York, WAC Lighting President Shelley Wald has announced that the company will sponsor The Research Association’s Annual Invitational Science Fair for the next five years.  WAC Lighting is a global designer and manufacturer of track, recessed, undercabinet, rail,  and decorative lighting, as well as step lights.

According to Tai Wang, Co-Founder and Vice President of WAC Lighting, “WAC Lighting is honored to sponsor the Invitational Science Fair.  We believe investing in today’s science students will help develop tomorrow’s business and science leaders.”

The Fair, which will be called the “WAC Lighting Foundation Invitational Science Fair,” is held every April. The event features eight major categories with winners selected from projects performed by high school seniors and underclass students. Awards and scholarships will be presented to winners of First, Second and Third Places, as well as honorable mentions.  The categories include:  Environmental Science, Prototype Engineering; Biochemistry; General Biology; Behavioral Science; Chemistry; Physical Science; and Computer Science.

Each year, more than 400 students come together in this science fair to present their research experience to esteemed judges from universities, hospitals, private practices and businesses located throughout the New York Metropolitan area.  For 14 years, the symposium has provided students with goals and opportunities as they spend many months completing their research in preparation for the fair.

Participating students have spent months, or even years, in university labs exploring the nature of cancer or inexpensive ways to produce alternative fuels. Everything under the sun is open for exploration, from astronomy to biotechnology, from basic research and theoretical studies, to projects focused on the practical.

About The Research Association

The Research Association is a consortium of thirteen Long Island, NY high schools represented by 13 research teachers dedicated to the importance of science.  This group of teachers advises their students that science research is an active gateway into the understanding of the true nature of science.  The members of the Research Association understand that our future leaders in science, technology and business begin to focus their skills in the challenging classrooms of today.

Participating students have gone on to pursue advanced studies at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Stony Brook University, Harvard, Yale University, Brown University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, the University of Rochester and many other top universities.

Judges include over 120 academicians and professionals; many are affiliated with Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Columbia University, Long Island University, New York University, North Shore University Hospital-LIJ Medical Center, Wiell Cornell Medical College, Hofstra University, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and other prestigious institutions.