08/21/2026
Research Team - River Shaw đź‘Ź
RESEARCH STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: RIVER SHAW
This week, I want to introduce one of our Piggott High School Research students, River Shaw!
River is an incredibly smart and mechanically minded student with a strong interest in materials science, engineering, and how things work. This year, he is putting that interest to work with his research project:
“Reducing the Grind: Investigating Lubricant Additives and Steel Wear”
Research Question:
How does the concentration of a lubricant additive affect friction and wear in steel?
River will investigate how different concentrations of lubricant additives affect friction and wear on steel. His research has real-world applications in agriculture, automotive and diesel mechanics, manufacturing, heavy equipment, industrial maintenance, and engineering, industries that are especially relevant right here in our community.
Estimated Project Need: $800–$1,000
To conduct a strong, competition-level study, River will need specialized equipment and consumable materials, including a bearing/friction testing apparatus, steel bearings and test pieces, multiple types of lubricants and additives, precision measuring equipment, replacement testing materials, and additional laboratory supplies.
We are looking for local businesses, industries, organizations, and individuals who would like to sponsor River and help make this research possible.
And sponsorship doesn’t have to mean writing a check! In-kind donations are incredibly valuable. If your business has lubricants, oil additives, bearings, steel materials, machining capabilities, testing equipment, tools, or professional expertise that could contribute to his project, we would love to partner with you.
Our goal with the PHS Research Program is not simply to complete projects for a grade. We want our students conducting meaningful research, developing career-ready skills, connecting with professionals, and building projects capable of advancing through science fair competition.
River has the mechanical mindset and ability to do something really impressive with this opportunity. Now we want to make sure he has the equipment and resources to see just how far he can take it.
Interested in sponsoring River, donating materials, or serving as an industry mentor? Please reach out to research instructor Hannah Poole.
