By: Jess Dinh, Haddonfield Memorial High School

This paper examines the issue of period poverty and the pressing need for policy reform to support women and girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Many individuals from these backgrounds face difficulties affording basic menstrual products such as pads and tampons, while also lacking access to proper sanitation facilities and menstrual health education. The analysis focuses on three critical areas: taxation, education, and stigmatization. High taxes on menstrual products exacerbate financial barriers, while inadequate education on menstrual health perpetuates ignorance and limited support. Additionally, cultural stigmas surrounding menstruation contribute to shame and silence, further complicating efforts to address the issue. Research, including studies on the mental health impacts of period poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been implemented to show the significant psychological and social consequences of this issue. The paper calls for governments to take action by reducing taxes on menstrual products, enhancing menstrual health education, and actively combating stigmatization in order to effectively address period poverty on a global scale.

By:Ayman Sareshwala, Gems Founders School - Al Barsha

This article explores the relationship between social media and mental health in the youth. It also focuses on how social media increases anxiety and depression. Three major negative effects of social media which are cyberbullying, deprived sleep and social comparision. It is concluded that social media does indeed have a considerable negative on the mental health of youth.

By: Juliette Carson, High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering @ CCNY

This paper seeks to identify and understand the neuroimmunological impacts of Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) on neurologic degeneration, effect on proper functioning of the immune system and the conditions’ effects on the body on a molecular level.By doing extensive research, I found that Long COVID and ME/CFS have more overlap than just mutually affecting each other, but the very nature of the conditions are very similar and have similar effects on the body. This paper will seek to explain SARS-CoV-2 infections and ME/CFS, their neurological, immune and molecular effects.

By: Aleena Bacorro, Winsor School

Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is typically caused by exposure to asbestos. Despite the proven carcinogenic effects of asbestos, many countries still produce, export, and/or import asbestos. In this review, I studied Kazakhstan, one of the world's largest asbestos producers, to better understand why a nation continues to be a part of the global asbestos production industry, and, why the asbestos industry continues to thrive. In order to do so, I read articles, analyzed death rates, and investigated economic trends. Eventually, I learned that the asbestos industry places countries in a vicious cycle where, despite the negative effects of manufacturing asbestos, nations may find that the economic advantages of continuing to export the substance outweigh the costs. The industry has trapped governments into investing in a product that, if left unchecked, can cause a mesothelioma epidemic in communities that do not yet have the means to treat it.