SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS BY STUDENTS: OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS STORIES

This publication presents the results of two interdisciplinary science research projects conducted by senior students at Meridian Lyceum, Vilnius, Lithuania, which were recognized at national and international science competitions (VILIPO, Lithuania; GENIUS Olympiad, USA). The project work, "Chestnut Saponins for Sustainable Organic Detergents," investigated the potential of saponins extracted from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) seeds as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional dishwashing detergents. The study employed biological model organisms—Daphnia pulex and Elodea canadensis—to assess the ecological safety of saponins by monitoring heart rate fluctuations and chloroplast movement. The cleaning efficiency of saponin solutions was also tested against commercial detergents. The project work, "Plant Signaling and Behavior on Different Music and Sounds," explored how various acoustic stimuli—including classical and folk music, hard rock and heavy metal, and stressful war and emergency alarm sounds—affect plant growth, physiology, and photosynthetic processes in Ocimum basilicum (Thai basil). Using smart garden systems and fluorometric analysis, students measured changes in chlorophyll fluorescence, root development, stomatal conductance, and biomass. The results showed that war sounds caused stress-like responses in plants, reducing photosynthesis and potentially contributing to higher atmospheric CO₂ levels. These projects demonstrate the capacity of secondary school students to conduct complex, research-driven investigations that intersect biology, environmental science, and ecology. They also emphasize the role of educators in mentoring student research and underscore the value of integrating national curricula with international education frameworks to foster scientific thinking, ecological awareness, and academic excellence among youth. Keywords: science education, project activities, chestnut saponins, natural dishwashing detergent, war sounds, chlorophyll fluorescence, plant physiological responses