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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Two FCPS Students Named Intel Science Talent Search Finalists

Two students from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are among 40 students nationwide who have been named finalists in the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search.  The FCPS students and their projects are:

• Narendra Tallapragada of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST): Determining the Dielectric Function for Crystalline Solids From the "Bottom Up", Using Atomic, Ionic, and Molecular Properties
• Alexander Kim of TJHSST:  Morphological and Molecular Phylogeography of a Giant American River Prawn, Macrobrachium carcinus

The Intel Science Talent Search challenges students to select and investigate scientific questions and develop the skills necessary to solve the problems of tomorrow. The finalists’ independent research projects include topics such as human-seeking robots, revitalizing ecosystems affected by wildfires, implications of gender on stem cell transplants, climate change, and potential cures for Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

Each finalist has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship and a new laptop computer.  In March, finalists will compete in a weeklong institute in Washington D.C.,  with 38 other finalists from around the country for the top prize, a $100,000 scholarship.  A full list of 2009 finalists can be found at www.societyforscience.org.

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Note:  For more information, contact the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach at 571-423-1200.