Science researcher and high-school junior Lauren Ejiaga’s interest in environmental science delves into global warming and climate change on Earth. Her research looked at how chlorofluorocarbons or other pollutants deplete protective natural gas particles in the atmosphere. Specifically, Ejiaga found that ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation (one of three wavelengths of radiation) is the most devastating and will continue to worsen unless humans lessen their carbon footprint. All living organisms depend on sunlight to be healthy and grow, but too much unfiltered sunlight can be harmful, even deadly.

Ejiaga was the first DoD STEM Talent Award winner in 2019 when she was in eighth grade. She first applied in seventh grade and credits that experience with helping her submit a much stronger application the next year. She would like younger scientists to know that “it’s okay for things to not go your way at first. Even in the scientific process, your hypothesis won’t always be supported!”