60th Annual STS (2000–2001)
Finalists
Michael Theprathan Hasper

FLORIDA
Michael Theprathan Hasper, 17, of Tallahassee, studied violin bridges for his Intel Science Talent Search project in physics. As a violin soloist and the concertmaster of the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestra, he became interested in violin components and their acoustical functions-especially the bridge, the thin curved structure that elevates the violin's strings. For his experiment, he devised an automatic bowing device from a windshield wiper motor and tested the properties of eleven bridges that he made of wood, metal or other materials. Michael concludes that no single bridge created the best sound for each of the four violin strings. He speculates that the ideal bridge might be created from a composite material of spotted-maple and fiberglass using the Stradivarius design. At Maclay School, Michael is president of the science and technology club. He has won numerous math, music, sailing and science competitions, including a Grand Award and First Place Physics at the Intel ISEF. The son of Wolfgang and Dr. Pacharee Hasper, he enjoys monitoring and tracking hurricanes. He hopes to study physics, geophysics and aerospace engineering at one of the country's leading universities.