Sen. Beebe-Center hosts Grand Award Winner for the Maine State Science Fair at the State House

Posted: April 11, 2024 | Senator Beebe-Center

AUGUSTA ­­— On Wednesday, Sen. Pinny Beebe-Center, D-Rockland, hosted Joshua Placides of Oceanside High School in Rockland, a Grand Award Winner at the 2024 Maine State Science Fair.

“It was a privilege to have Joshua come to Augusta to be recognized for his achievements in the Senate Chamber,” said Sen. Beebe-Center. “Joshua is a bright young man with an even brighter future ahead of him. I can’t wait to hear about all that he will accomplish, because so far his work has been nothing short of impressive.”

Joshua’s project looked at the problem of antibiotic resistance. Joshua analyzed over a thousand bacterial genomes. Through his analysis, he discovered antibiotic resistance genes that were likely acquired through horizontal gene transfer from bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria.

Joshua Placides (left) with Sen. Beebe-Center (right)