Jack Andraka of Crownsville, Md. Wins Top Prize at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS The world’s largest high school science research competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public, announced its top winners in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jack Andraka of Crownsville, Md. received the Gordon E. Moore Award, a $75,000 prize named in honor of the Intel co-founder, retired chairman and CEO.

Two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards winners – Nicholas Schiefer of Pickering, Ontario, Canada and Ari Dyckovsky of Leesburg, Va. – each received prizes of $50,000 from the Intel Foundation. PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 18, 2012 – Jack Andraka, 15, of Crownsville, Md. was awarded first place for his new method to detect pancreatic cancer at this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public. Based on diabetic test paper, Jack created a simple dip-stick sensor to test blood or urine to determine whether or not a patient has early-stage pancreatic cancer. His study resulted in over 90 percent accuracy and showed his patent-pending sensor to be 28 times faster, 28 times less expensive and over 100 times more sensitive than current tests. Jack received the Gordon E. Moore Award, named in honor of Intel co-founder and retired chairman and CEO of $75,000.

Two students, Nicholas Schiefer, 17, of Pickering, Ontario, Canada and Ari Dyckovsky, 18, of Leesburg, Va., each received the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000.

Nicholas studied what he calls “microsearch,” or the ability to search the fastest-growing information medium: small amounts of content, such as tweets and Facebook status updates. Through his research, Nicholas hopes to improve search engines’ capabilities, which will in turn improve access to information.

Ari investigated the science of quantum teleportation. He found that once atoms are linked through a process called “entanglement,” information from one atom will just appear in another atom when the quantum state of the first atom is destroyed. Using this method, organizations requiring high levels of data security, such as the National Security Administration, could send an encrypted message without running the risk of interception because the information would not travel to its new location; it would simply appear there.

“We support the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we know that math and science are imperative to future global growth,” said Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the Intel Foundation. “This competition encourages millions of students to engage their skills for innovation and develop promising solutions for global challenges.”

This year, more than 1,500 young scientists were chosen to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. They were selected from 446 affiliate fairs in approximately 70 countries, regions and territories. In addition to the winners mentioned above, more than 400 finalists received awards and prizes for their groundbreaking work. Awards included 17 “Best of Category” winners who each received a $5,000 prize. The Intel Foundation also awarded a $1,000 grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent.

The following lists the 17 Best of Category winners, from which the top three were chosen:

Category First Last City State/Country Animal Sciences Lucy Hritzo Holland Pa. Behavioral and Social Sciences Benjamin Kornick Roslyn Heights N.Y. Biochemistry Rebecca Alford Commack N.Y. Cellular and Molecular Biology Raghav Tripathi Portland Ore. Chemistry Raghavendra Ramachanderan Bengaluru India Computer Science Nicholas Schiefer Pickering, Ontario Canada Earth and Planetary Sciences Mofeed Sawan London, Ontario Canada Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical Assiya Kussainova Karaganda, Karagandy Kazakhstan Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering Ryota Ishizuka Cos Cob Conn. Energy and Transportation Shyamal Buch Folsom Calif. Environmental Management Adam Noble Lakefield, Ontario Canada Environmental Sciences Naomi Shah Portland Ore. Mathematical Sciences Aishwarya Vardhana Beaverton Ore. Medicine and Health Jack Andraka Crownsville Md. Microbiology Felix Angelov Skokie Ill. Physics and Astronomy Ari Dyckovsky Leesburg Va. Plant Sciences Huihui Fan Staten Island N.Y.

Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit membership 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, as the National Science Fair.

“We congratulate Jack, Nicholas, and Ari on their success here at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair,” said Elizabeth Marincola, president of Society for Science & the Public. “They and all the other finalists here this week further demonstrate how a background of STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] education creates the breeding ground for creativity and ingenuity that will help solve the pressing issues of the future.”

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair includes some of the most promising rising student entrepreneurs, innovators and scientists from around the world. Finalists are selected annually from hundreds of affiliated fairs. Their projects are then evaluated onsite by more than 1,200 judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each with a Ph.D. or the equivalent of 6 years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines.

A full listing of finalists is available in the event program (beginning on page 57). The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2012 is funded jointly by Intel and the Intel Foundation with additional awards and support from dozens of other corporate, academic, governmental and science-focused organizations.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 18, 2012 – Intel Corporation and Society for Science & the Public today announced the winners of the world’s largest high school science research competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Jack Andraka, center, of Crownsville, Md. received the top award, named for Intel founder Gordon Moore, of $75,000. Ari Dyckovsky of Leesburg, Va. (left) and Nicholas Schiefer of Pickering, Ontario, Canada (right) each took home an Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000. PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 18, 2012 – Intel Corporation and Society for Science & the Public today announced the winners of the world’s largest high school science research competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Jack Andraka, center, of Crownsville, Md. received the top award, named for Intel founder Gordon Moore, of $75,000. Ari Dyckovsky of Leesburg, Va. (left) and Nicholas Schiefer of Pickering, Ontario, Canada (right) each took home an Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000.

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