2001 Winners

On March 12, 2001 Intel Corporation and Society for Science & the Public awarded the top 10 college scholarship awards for the Intel Science Talent Search (STS) at a black-tie banquet in Washington, D.C.

Mariangela Lisanti, Connecticut
First Place: $100,000

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Mariangela Lisanti, 17, of Westport, submitted a physics entry that is expected to advance the growing field of molecular electronics ¾ the use of single atoms or molecules to fabricate electronic devices. To better understand electron transport in these tiny nanostructures, Mariangela conducted independent research at Yale. She developed a new measurement apparatus allowing for data acquisition at the unprecedented rate of 86 million points per 24 hours. Her results include observations never previously reported, and her measurement technique is expected to be applicable to a wide range of studies. Mariangela is first in her class of 264 at Staples High School, captain of the math team, founder and captain of the school's first engineering team and concertmaster of the chamber and symphonic orchestras. Fluent in both Italian and Spanish, she has received numerous awards in language as well as science competitions, and has been named a Governor's Scholar, the highest academic distinction in the state of Connecticut. She is the daughter of Anthony and Anna Lisanti and plans to study physics or engineering at the college level.

Nathaniel Jay Craig, California
Second Place: $75,000

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Nathaniel Jay Craig, 18, of Sacramento, studied the fundamental connection between equilibrium and dynamic properties in supercooled polymeric liquids for his Intel Science Talent Search project in physics. He related the properties by deriving an expression for the fragility index, which is a dynamic property, in terms of entropy and heat capacity, which are macroscopic equilibrium properties. Nate believes the study resolves a long-standing weakness of the Adam-Gibbs model-an entropy theory of supercooled polymeric liquids-by obtaining a new equation for the so-called critical entropy. Nate, who earned perfect SAT scores, has a varsity letter in cross country at Mira Loma High School and is captain of the school's Science Bowl team, which has made two national appearances. A 2nd degree black belt in karate, he is founder of the Arcade Creek Restoration Project, a riparian ecology group. Nate's many honors include being named "Rickoid of the Year" at the Research Science Institute. He is also listed as second author of a paper on the dynamics of supercooled polymeric liquids submitted to Science. The son of Barry and Diane Craig, Nate plans to attend Harvard, earn a Ph.D., and teach and do research.

Gabriel Drew Carroll, California
Third Place: $50,000

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Gabriel Drew Carroll, 18, of Oakland, submitted a mathematics project that studies partially ordered sets, called posets, to the Intel Science Talent Search. Gabriel used a standard geometrical object, called the simplicial complex, to study posets. A poset is a set for which some of its elements are larger than others, but not any two elements need be comparable. The width of a poset is a measure of how far the poset is from having any pair of elements that are comparable to each other. Gabriel shows a connection between the topological complexity of the geometric object, as encoded by a set of functions, and the width of the corresponding poset. Gabriel is first in his class of 283 at Oakland Technical High School where he is president of the math club. He enjoys piano, debate, poetry, and computer programming and has won numerous math awards including a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 1998 and a silver medal at the same competition in 1999. The son of Dr. Allen and Diana Carroll, he earned a perfect 1600 on his SATs and plans to further his mathematics studies in college.

Alan Mark Dunn, Maryland
Fourth Place: $25,000

Alan Mark Dunn, 17, of Potomac, studied ways to optimize five encryption algorithms-software recipes used to encrypt data-for his computer sciences entry in the Intel Science Talent Search. The algorithms are being considered for the federal government's Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which will replace the aging Data Encryption Standard (DES). Encryption is a critical tool for maintaining the privacy and anonymity of electronic communications. Alan used two different strategies to optimize the five algorithms using part of the G4 processor of a Macintosh computer. Each strategy was successful to some degree, increasing the speed of most algorithms by 200 to 400 percent. Alan attends Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, is active in the math and robotics clubs, and he enjoys guitar and karate. An activist in a grass-roots superhighway campaign, he believes that "as a scientist, one has a civic duty to be involved in the public decision-making process." The son of Dr. Mitchell Dunn and Dr. Susan Lacks, Alan is co-author of a paper for the Fifteenth European Meeting on Cybernetics and Systems Research. He hopes to study computer science or engineering at MIT.

Michael Theprathan Hasper, Florida
Fifth Place: $25,000

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.

Vinod Easwaran Nambudiri, New York
Sixth Place: $25,000

Vinod Easwaran Nambudiri, 17, of Rye Brook, studied a way to help teenagers sleep better for his behavioral and social sciences entry in the Intel Science Talent Search. For six nights, he exposed light to the backs of the knees of ten adolescents as they slept using a "light pad," which resembles a small heating pad. After exposure, he measured the teens' test-taking ability and sleepiness. He had hypothesized that the light exposure would lead to an increase in REM sleep. Instead, he showed that the effect was decreased slow wave sleep, and he suggests that this decrease is strongly associated with the subjects' increased speed on several standard cognitive tasks and reduced sleepiness. First in his class at Blind Brook High School, Vinod is editor of the school newspaper, captain of the math team, co-captain of mock trial, president of both the student senate and the Model U.N. and plays trumpet in the school band. He enjoys photography and traveling and is fluent in Malayalam. The son of Easwaran and Dr. Draupathi Nambudiri, Vinod hopes to study medicine and biological sciences at Harvard preparing for a career in medical research.

Johanna Beth Waldman, New York
Seventh Place: $20,000

Johanna Beth Waldman, 17, of Roslyn, focused on factors affecting student cheating behaviors for her Intel Science Talent Search project in behavioral and social sciences. In conducting her study, Johanna used four questionnaires-including one she created and tested herself, and two that she modified. These were distributed to 224 students (ages 15-17) at a privately run summer program at UCLA. Johanna reports that although half of her subjects expressed disapproval of cheating, more than 90% admitted to practicing some cheating behaviors. Her data analysis suggests that academic pressure (parental, peers, self) and goal orientation (learning or grades) are two of the most influential factors. First in a class of 212 at Roslyn High School in Roslyn Heights, Johanna edits the school paper, is president of Model Congress, and forensics debate captain. She has qualified for New York State Championship Tournaments in forensics, received the Wellesley Book Award, and the Xerox Award for Humanities and Social Sciences. Johanna hopes to attend Stanford, and plans a career in experimental psychology or medical research. She is the daughter of Neal and Julie Waldman.

Hans Christiansen Lee, California
Eighth Place: $20,000

Hans Christiansen Lee, 17, of Carmel, submitted an engineering project to the Intel Science Talent Search. Using computer modeling and a go-kart powered by two independently controlled electric motors, Hans designed, built and tested a differential torque control system (DTCS) to improve a car's handling when traction is poor or during radical steering maneuvers. The algorithm he developed estimates the vehicle's lateral acceleration, compares it to the measured lateral acceleration and calculates if the vehicle is out of control. If it is, corrective differential torque is applied to the rear wheels to keep the vehicle under control. Hans' test vehicle skidded 45 percent less when using DTCS. He believes using DTCS in production cars would save lives. Hans plays first trumpet in the orchestra at York School in Monterey and is captain of the hockey team and Junior Engineering Technical Society team. He is an Eagle Scout and founder of an engineering consulting company, Lee Innovations. His many honors include several ISEF awards and a Rensselaer Medal. The son of Michael and Linda Lee, Hans plans to study electrical engineering and computer science at MIT to prepare for a career in research.

Robert Adam Horch, Texas
Ninth Place: $20,000

Robert Adam Horch, 17, of Weatherford, performed research on ultra-thin films for his chemistry entry in the Intel Science Talent Search-a project inspired by an earlier experiment gone awry. Adam designed and constructed a new type of electrochemical cell to synthesize polymerized nanocomposites-precisely oriented arrays of molecules. He believes that his new fabrication method allows him to synthesize a ceramic-metallic alloy with a purity and strength unprecedented for its class. Adam's research was inspired by a previous experiment's unintended result-the presence of a thin metallic film, which had formed when a broken stirring rod caused his electroplating solution to remain unstirred over the weekend. When he was a sophomore, Adam designed and built his own 1.5 million-volt Tesla Coil, which he continues to improve. Adam volunteers at the Fort Worth Zoo and is founder and president of the robotics club at Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science in Denton. He has received numerous awards for volunteerism, band and math. The son of Thomas and Frances Horch, he hopes to earn a combination M.D./Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Rice University.

David Nejad Khalil, New York
Tenth Place: $20,000

David Nejad Khalil, 17, of Great Neck, studied human brain functions for his medicine and health Intel Science Talent Search entry. David examined the neural events that are involved when a person perceives an ambiguous figure-a line drawing that can be perceived as two distinctly different images. He appears to have discovered a network of brain areas that are active during the alternative perceptual interpretations, and he has found evidence of cortical mapping with some areas associated with these perspectives. Two summers ago David helped adapt a $10 accelerometer to measure postural sway, the ability to balance, among elderly patients. Commercial monitors cost up to $100,000. The year before, he designed and built an alarm to protect sleepwalkers. At Great Neck North High School, David heads the debate and forensics team, the Hebrew Culture Club and the computer club. He writes for the school's political science and the foreign language magazines and is an editor of the yearbook. In his spare time, David is a computer consultant. The son of John and Manejeh Khalil, David hopes to study neurobiology at Harvard in preparation for a career in biomedical engineering.