The Lagoa Secondary School won the 4th place in the annual contest of the 6th National Science Fair - the 20th Contest for Young Scientists and Researchers - which took place at the Electricity Museum in Lisbon from May 31 to June 2.

Of a total of 95 projects in competition, Lagoa Secondary School won the 4th place with their project designated as "Alcohol Consumption and Smoking: Developing a Biomonitoring Programme for Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects" which was also selected to represent Portugal at Intel ISEF - International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, from May 12 to 17, 2013.

The participation in the National Fair was supported by the Government of the Azores; the project was developed by Lagoa Secondary School and coordinated by teacher Alexandra Seara with support professors Armindo Rodrigues and Patrícia Garcia from the Department of Biology of the University of the Azores.

The study was conducted by 12ºA students in the class of Biology and was represented in the competition by students Alexandra Rocha, Carolina Rocha and Maria Joana Frazão. "Alcohol Consumption and Smoking: Developing a Biomonitoring Programme for Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects" consisted in the study of a biomonitoring programme of the effects of two common habits among the Portuguese population on human health: alcohol consumption and smoking.

The Contest for Young Scientists and Researchers has been developed by the Portuguese Youth Foundation since 1992 with the aim of promoting ideals of cooperation and exchange among young scientists and researchers as well as of encouraging the emergence of young talents in the areas of Science, Technology, Research and Innovation.
 
Moreover, this contest intends to encourage a healthy competitive spirit among youngsters through the development of innovative scientific projects/works in the context of regular educational processes.

The 6th National Science Fair featured 95 projects selected from different scientific areas, involving 235 students and 59 teachers from 42 schools across the country.