SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH
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Press Room
Intel Corporation
2200 Mission College Blvd. P.O. Box 58119 Santa Clara, CA 95052-8119
SHANNON BABB OF UTAH NAMED TOP HIGH SCHOOL SCIENTIST Young Science Innovators Awarded $530,000 at Intel Science Talent Search WASHINGTON, D.C., March 14, 2006 - Intel Corporation today awarded Shannon Babb of Highland, Utah top honors and a $100,000 scholarship in the Intel Science Talent Search. Babb, the competition's first Utah winner, will take her place among esteemed alumni that include six Nobel Laureates, three National Medal of Science winners, 10 MacArthur Foundation Fellows and two Fields Medalists. With a rare ability to combine research and remediation in environmental science, Babb, 18, of American Fork High School, conducted a six-month study to identify water quality problems in the Spanish Fork River. Babb, who started researching water quality at age 13, analyzed the chemical and physical properties along the river drainage system. She concluded that humans, through urban and agricultural factors, have a negative effect on the water quality of the river. She contends that the water quality problem can be resolved with a combination of restructuring and educating the public that household chemicals should not be poured down storm drains. Yi Sun, 17, of The Harker School in San Jose, Calif., received second-place honors and a $75,000 scholarship. Sun discovered new geometric properties of random walks, a mathematical theory with applications to computer algorithms and polymers. Yuan "Chelsea" Zhang, 17, of Montgomery Blair High School in Rockville, Md., received third-place honors and a $50,000 scholarship. Zhang researched the molecular genetic mechanisms behind heart disease. Specifically, Zhang implicated CX3CL1 molecules as contributing to plaque build-up in the arteries. This knowledge can lead to the development of new medicines for atherosclerosis. Sponsored by Intel since 1998, the STS is America's oldest and most prestigious high school science competition and is part of the company's $100 million annual commitment to improving education around the world. Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, a long-time advocate for improving science and math education, praised the contributions these young scientists are poised to make. "The talent represented at Intel STS is a dramatic illustration that investing in science and math education will pay great dividends for the future of American innovation," Barrett said. "The seed of the next big scientific discovery could very well be planted in this room tonight."
Rounding Out the Top 10
Judging The 40 finalists completed the final phase of the competition, including extensive interviews by the judging panel over the past week. The judging panel is chaired by Dr. Andrew Yeager, director of blood and marrow transplant programs at the Arizona Cancer Center and professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of Arizona.
Background Through education programs such as the Intel STS, Intel works to inspire and educate children in communities around the world in the areas of science, mathematics and engineering. For more information, visit www.intel.com/education. Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom. -- 30 -- Intel, the Intel logo, and Intel Centrino are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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