61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Wenyi Cai

ILLINOIS
Wenyi Cai, 17, of Naperville, submitted an engineering project to the Intel Science Talent Search that may influence the direction of internal combustion engine research. Knowledge of fuel spray behavior is key to increasing engine efficiency and reducing emission of pollutants. Conducted at Argonne National Laboratory, her project examined data gathered near the fuel injection nozzle using a new type of X-ray. She then used mathematical modeling to enhance the results. A paper documenting her work is being submitted to the journal Nature, with Wenyi as first author. A second paper based on her findings has already been submitted to a publication of the Society of Automotive Engineering. At Naperville Central High School, Wenyi writes for the school paper, participates on student council and is a mock trial lawyer. On her own initiative, she presented her state senator with a funding plan to increase science research in public schools. Born in the People's Republic of China, Wenyi hopes to attend Harvard. The daughter of Dr. Yigang Cai and Xiaochun Lin, she has won multiple awards in journalism and science and is a reigning badminton champion.