58th Annual STS (1998–1999)
Finalists
Sirisha Venkata Kalicheti

Sirisha Venkata Kalicheti, 17, of Chantilly, submitted an ecology research project to the Intel Science Talent Search, analyzing heavy metal ion concentration in the Potomac River's Gunston Cove and its effect on the aquatic ecosystem. Her three-year ongoing investigation measures heavy-metal releases from a waste treatment facility and monitors bioaccumulation of those ions in fish found downstream. Her results show that even though tested specimens (provided by an ecological monitoring team at George Mason University) had ion concentrations well below state and national limits, they clearly showed signs of serious stress. Sirisha believes this suggests the need for a new protocol in determining water quality standards. Sirisha is class treasurer and president of the French Club at Chantilly High School and has earned varsity letters in tennis, track, and orchestra. Awards in science competitions include grand prize at the Virginia State Science Fair and second prize in the Environmental Science at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. A native of India and the daughter of Venkateswarlu and Subhashini Kalicheti, she hopes to attend Brown University and plans a career in neurosurgery.

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