66th Annual STS (2006-2007)
Finalists
Yin Yin Wu

KENTUCKY
Yin Yin Wu, 18, of Louisville, submitted a chemistry project to the Intel Science Talent Search that examined mechanisms of proton transport in simple synthetic crystals that may lead to a better understanding of proton transport in fuel cells. Using a quantum mechanical simulation technique and Metropolis Monte Carlo calculations, Yin modeled two hypotheses for proton transport within water chains that were surrounded by molecular walls of histidine residue. Her research suggests that protons are transported through a combination of two mechanisms, the Grotthus relay mechanism, in which protons are transported along a chain of water molecules, and the shuttle mechanism, which involves channel walls in proton movement. Yin, first in her class of 175 at Atherton High School, received the Yale Book award for her achievements in writing. A senior Girl Scout, she enjoys tennis, swimming, ping pong, ice skating and knitting. She is a counselor for the Louisville Girls Leadership Summit, and was born in China. Yin is the daughter of Ming Shan Wu and Dr. Lu Ye. She plans to attend Harvard or MIT, pursue a doctorate and expand her current research.