Teen Awarded $10K for Research on Sea Turtle Tumors

An 18-year-old high school student won $10,000 for his research on the spread of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in green sea turtles in Kāneʻohe Bay, Hawaii. His investigation linked the disease to invasive algae absorbing nitrogen-rich wastewater from cesspools, which then produces arginine, a trigger for FP. His findings highlight the urgent need to replace cesspools with proper wastewater treatment facilities to protect marine ecosystems.