63rd Annual STS (2003-2004)
Finalists
Rachael Theresa Collier

IOWA
Rachael Theresa Collier, 17, of Burlington, examined the toxicity of transgenic Bt corn pollen and limestone road dust on monarch butterfly larvae for her environmental science project for the Intel Science Talent Search. Monarch larvae feed solely on leaves of the common milkweed, which grows between gravel roads and cornfields. Prior research on the effect on monarch larvae of consuming Bt corn pollen produced conflicting results, and Rachael found no prior studies on the effect of limestone dust. She believes her research shows that Bt corn pollen is not toxic to monarch larvae, but that limestone dust deposited on leaves at naturally occurring levels results in significant larvae mortality, identifying the need for habitat preservation. Rachael is president of the National Honor Society, co-captain of the cross-country track team and participates in mock trial at Mediapolis High School. The recipient of numerous honors, she spent last summer in Peru as a Borlaug-Ruan World Food Prize International Intern doing potato tuber moth research. The daughter of Phillip and Lynette Collier, Rachael plans to attend the University of Iowa and become an environmental engineer or a researcher.