When Ravenscroft student Arabella Solomon ’33 got water stuck in her iPad, a YouTube search for a solution sparked an idea that eventually led to one of North Carolina’s highest science fair honors. 

That moment of curiosity quickly turned into a bigger question: Could sound waves be used to solve real-world environmental problems?

That question led Solomon to the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair (NCSEF), where she earned the Exemplary Award, the state's highest honor in the Physics and Mathematics category.

Solomon is believed to be among the first students in Ravenscroft history to earn an Exemplary Award at NCSEF.

A fan of Taylor Swift, Solomon titled her project, “Shake It Off: Using Sound Frequencies to Clear Microplastics from NC Waterways”.

While the experiment did not use music itself, Solomon creatively framed different sound ranges as "Eras," including the "Tech Era," "AI Era," and "Ultrasound Era." She doesn't want the connection to the pop star to distract from the seriousness of her research.

"I think you should be able to be yourself and still be a scientist," Solomon said.

Working independently and adhering to International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) guidelines, Solomon designed a series of experiments to test how sound waves influence the behavior of microplastic particles in water. She conducted more than 400 meticulous measurements, tracking how effectively particles clustered and settled across different frequencies. Her findings showed that higher-frequency sound, particularly ultrasound, significantly accelerated particle aggregation and improved water clarity, while lower frequencies produced more gradual effects. Through repeated trials and careful measurement, Solomon's work demonstrated a level of rigor and reproducibility rarely seen at the Lower School level.

She hopes her research could one day contribute to reducing microplastic pollution and even harness sound pollution from data centers as a potential environmental tool.

Solomon's impact extends beyond her own project. In 2023, after realizing that science fairs existed in other school divisions, she advocated for the creation of a Lower School science fair. Today, the Lower School Science Fair has grown into a thriving program.

Earlier this year, Solomon won first place at both the Ravenscroft Science Fair and the NCSEF Region 3A competition, where she also received a special award from One Water. She hopes her work encourages more girls to explore mathematics and physics. And, of course, she also hopes Swift sees her project one day.