61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Kevin Yang

ILLINOIS
Kevin Yang, 16, of Naperville, worked on a theoretical problem in biophysical chemistry for his Intel Science Talent Search project and, in the process, may have resolved a 15-year debate on how intrinsically curved DNA migrates in a gel. Kevin's research, analytical and computational work was conducted at Boston College during the six-week Research Science Institute at MIT, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education. A paper including his findings was submitted to Proceedings of the National Academy, USA in December 2001, with Kevin listed as the second of three authors. At Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, he is president of the honorary math society, captain of the Olympiad team, violinist in the symphonic orchestra, a volunteer tutor and editor of Real Science, an interactive multimedia publication. Fluent in Mandarin and French, Kevin has received numerous honors and awards in science and math competitions at the state, regional and national levels. The son of Dr. Jan-Chin and Margaret Yang, he plans to study chemistry and biochemistry at Yale and hopes to become a college professor.