Women win top honors at Intel science competition

The Intel Foundation on May 15 announced top winners of the world's largest pre-college science fair, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), a program of Society for Science & the Public. Tara Adiseshan, 14, of Charlottesville, Va.; Li Boynton, 17, of Houston; and Olivia Schwob, 16, of Boston were selected from 1,563 young scientists from 56 countries, regions and territories for their commitment to innovation and science. Each received a $50,000 scholarship from the Intel Foundation.

• Tara Adiseshan identified and classified the evolutionary relationships between sweat bees and the nematodes (microscopic worms) that live inside them. Tara was able to prove that because the two have such ecologically intimate relationships, they also have an evolutionary relationship. That is to say, if one species evolves, the other will follow.
• Li Boynton developed a biosensor from bioluminescent bacteria (a living organism that gives off light) to detect the presence of contaminants in public water. Li’s biosensor is cheaper and easier to use than current biosensors, and she hopes it can be used in developing countries to reduce water toxicity.
• Olivia Schwob isolated a gene that can be used to improve the intelligence of a worm. The results could help us better understand how humans learn and even prevent, treat and cure mental disabilities in the future.

“The real end point of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is to elevate the recognition of achievement of the younger generation in academic and learning exercises,” said Intel chairman Craig Barrett. “I hope that more young people will look at these students and realize they can be recognized for using their brains. You don’t have to be a quarterback, a basketball player or a baseball player to be recognized by your peers and the public.”

In addition to the three $50,000 top winners, more than 500 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair participants received scholarships and prizes for their groundbreaking work. Intel awards included 19 "Best of Category" winners who each received a $5,000 Intel scholarship and a new laptop powered by the Intel Core2 Duo processor. Intel also awarded a $1,000 grant to the 19 “Best of Category” winners’ schools and the Intel ISEF-affiliated fair they represent. For more information on each of these and other winners, visit www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/events/isef2009.

Intel’s commitment to education extends far beyond the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Over the past decade alone, the company has invested more than $1 billion, and its employees have donated more than 2.5 million hours toward improving education in 50 countries. To learn more about the Intel Education Initiative, visit www.intel.com/education.

Society for Science & the Public (SSP), a non-profit organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, owns and has administered the International Science and Engineering Fair since its inception in 1950. Elizabeth Marincola, president of Society for Science & the Public said, “The work of these talented students and the other finalists at the Intel ISEF inspire all of us by their dedication to inquiry-based research. We celebrate the passion and remarkable achievements of Li, Olivia and Tara. We are encouraged by their intelligence, imagination and the depth of their work, and the hope it gives us for the future of our planet and our society.”

Finalists are selected annually from more than 550 International Science and Engineering Fair-affiliated fairs around the world. Their projects are then evaluated onsite by 900 judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each judge typically with a Ph.D. or the equivalent of six years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines. A full list of 2009 finalists is available at www.societyforscience.org.

The following lists the 19 Best of Category winners, from which the top three are chosen:

Category		First		Last		City		State/Country
Animal Sciences		Tara		Adiseshan		Charlottesville		VA
Behavioral and Social Sciences		Olivia		Schwob		Boston		MA
Biochemistry		Anartya		Mandal		Brighton		MA
Cellular and Molecular Biology		Ronit		Abramson		San Diego		CA
Chemistry		Preya		Shah		Setauket		NY
Computer Science		Kevin		Ellis		Vancouver		WA
Earth and Planetary Science		Marley		Iredale		Sequim		WA
Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical		Alexander		Kendrick		Los Alamos		NM
Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering		Scott		Skirlo		Fairfax		VA
Energy and Transportation		Ryan		Alexander		Plano		TX
Environmental Management		Eliza		McNitt		Greenwich		CT
Environmental Science		Li		Boynton		Houston		TX
Mathematical Sciences		Eric		Larson		Eugene		OR
Medicine and Health		Asoka		Rajendra		Sterling		VA
Microbiology		I-Ching		Tseng		Taichung City		Taiwan, Chinese Taipei
Physics and Astronomy		Nilesh		Tripuraneni		Fresno		CA
Plant Sciences		Mark		Chonofsky		Lexington		MA
Team Projects - Life Sciences		Shaunak		Bakshi		Manhasset		NY
Team Projects - Life Sciences		Peter		Massey		Manhasset		NY
Team Projects - Physical Sciences		Erika		DeBenedictis		Albuquerque		NM
Team Projects - Physical Sciences		Haochen		Hong		Albuquerque		NM
Team Projects - Physical Sciences		Duanni		Huang		Albuquerque		NM

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