About Me
I am Howard (Haoxuan) Liu, a senior at Middlesex School, Concord, MA. Feel free to call me Howie!
I made this webpage to share some of my most meaningful activities, projects, and life experiences.
Beyond School Network in Zambia
I am the co-founder of Beyond School Network, a student non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational support for children in underserved communities. We raised more than 40k dollars through charity runs, sales, and concerts. We are currently working with Eco Village, an NGO in Zambia, to volunteer and bring resources to Zambia every summer.
Yingcai Research Mentorship Program and MSEF
I was selected for the Yingcai Research Mentorship Program, where I spent a year researching the synthesis and application of zeolite molecular sieves. I presented my results at the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair.
Independent research on molecular sieves: Assessing the Ability of Composite Molecular Sieve on Glass Fiber Carrier in Adsorbing Volatile Organic Compounds
Extended Research on Molecular Sieves
After the Yingcai Research Mentorship Program, I kept in touch with my mentor and had the opportunity to continue my work in his lab. I contributed to his research on low-acid-site zeolites, which was published in the Chemical Engineering Journal. Meanwhile, I created custom zeolite masks for workers using the molecular sieves I made, and I donated them to workers at my dad’s workplace, other interested factories in Mexico, NYC, and smaller shops close to my school in Concord.
Published paper (SCI Zone 1, 5th author): Pilot-scale rotor device with low acid-site zeolite for rapid adsorption–desorption of polymerizable VOCs.
UCIxGATI BEAM Summer Program
Literature review: A Review on the Synthesis and Application of Sustainable Molecular Sieves in Capturing VOCs
During the summer of 2024, I spent a few weeks on UC Irvine’s campus, working in Dr. Siwy’s lab on a project focused on the Utilization of Nanopore Systems for Phage Detection and Classification. Inspired by the link between nanopores and molecular sieves, I explored the history, application, and future of sustainable, green zeolites and wrote a literature review.
Hurricane Island
With two other sustainability officers at Middlesex, we visited Hurricane Island, a small, rocky island in the Gulf of Maine. We worked with Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, a nonprofit that runs marine research and outdoor education programs. We practiced sustainability initiatives essential to the island, such as sustainable lobstering. We applied our experiences and insights to draft the Sustainability Mission Statement for Middlesex School.
Outdoors
The outdoors has always been a crucial part of who I am. Nature helps me learn my place and teaches me the responsibility to protect it and enjoy it. I’ve climbed Mont Blanc, traveled 2,400 kilometers along the Yellow River, and hiked across the Gobi Desert and Mongolia’s Grassland. Next summer, my family and friends plan to hike Mount Kilimanjaro.
Golf and Soccer
I love sports because my brain’s logic section takes a backseat to my instincts. Also, I’ve made some of my closest friends through playing soccer and golf. I transitioned from club soccer to golf when I injured by knee in freshmen year.
Photography
