High school student dives in

Jamie Yohn becomes 1st high school student to work on submarine

Tyrone Walker
The Post and Courier

Jamie Yohn, a senior at Academic Magnet High School, is the only high school student permitted to work on the H.L. Hunley alongside scientists who are refurbishing the Civil War submarine in North Charleston.

Jamie Yohn knows far more than the average teenager about the efficiency of varying types of hydroxides.

The high school senior picked up a few extra chemistry lessons this summer when she became the first high school student to do an internship at the lab preserving the Confederate H.L. Hunley submarine.

Yohn, who attends Academic Magnet High School, was responsible for an experiment that investigated which type of hydroxide — sodium, potassium or lithium — worked the best at removing chlorine from 24 of the Hunley's rivets.

The outcome of her research could impact the way scientists approach preserving the submarine's metal artifacts, said Stéphanie Cretté, a research scientist with the Clemson Conservation Center who was Yohn's mentor. If Yohn finds that one of the hydroxides seems better than the one they are using and further testing affirms Yohn's findings, scientists could switch to the alternative substance, she said.

"It will influence the Hunley project," Cretté said.

Yohn is in the process of analyzing her experiment results and compiling a report that will show her findings. She's using the project as the basis for her senior thesis, a requirement for graduation at the high-achieving magnet school. The thesis is due in December.

Scientists worked with Yohn to design an experiment that would be on her level. Had she been older, the experiment would have increased in difficulty. Although the submarine's other interns were college undergraduate and graduate students, that didn't seem to bother researchers.

"We didn't hesitate," Cretté said. "We are happy to have more hands helping."

Yohn had to immerse herself in research to prepare for the experience. She took a chemistry class as a sophomore, but the class didn't cover what she needed to know to fully understand how to work on the Hunley. She read scientific articles and conserva- tion journals and "made good friends" with a college chemistry textbook.

Yohn made a few mistakes at the

beginning, but as time passed, she began to understand the science behind the experiment, Cretté said.

She initially made the connection to the Hunley through her grandfather. She mentioned to him in passing that she was interested in pursuing a thesis that involved underwater archaeology and conservation. Her grandfather flies model airplanes at the same place that the head conservator for the submarine does.

She spent most of her summer at the lab learning, measuring, weighing and testing samples of solution. She liked the combination of history and science so much that she said she plans to pursue archaeology and conservation abroad in college.

"I really liked being here and what we've been doing," she said.

Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.