VOA标准英语2014--Intel Awards Top Prizes to Young Scientists 英特尔奖最高奖项颁给青年科学家

 

Intel Awards Top Prizes to Young Scientists 英特尔奖最高奖项颁给青年科学家

The United States may not be at the top of the world’s rankings when it comes to test results for high school students, but that does not mean they are without talent.

That was evident this month when Washington hosted the finalists in an annual competition for young scientists, sponsored by a foundation set up by technology company Intel.

One year ago, 1,794 American high school students submitted research projects to the Intel Science Talent Search. The top 40 students came to Washington to compete for the top prize of $100,000.

Each of them presented a solution to a single difficult problem - from cancer and mathematics to ecology.

New ways to answer old questions

Kevin Lee, from Irvine, California, developed a mathematical model for correlating electrical signals from the heart with cardiac arrhythmia, which he hopes will contribute to better understanding of this sometimes fatal condition.

“If we can design a drug that’s better and that’s based on improved understanding on what’s going on in the heart,"  he explained, "then we can reduce side effects and make better drugs,” he said.

Kevin went on to win the second prize of $75,000.

17-year-old senior Angela Kong, from San Jose, California, looked at so-called cancer stem cells that successfully evade¹ treatment. She said she wanted to discover the underlying² mechanisms³ that cause them to go inactive. That understanding would allow scientists to better target them with current drugs. She added, "In terms of long-term implications, [we could] potentially target breast cancer better.”

Some competitors chose to focus on the social sciences.

Zarin Rahman, from Brookings, South Dakota, wanted to find a new way to quantify the effects of self-induced stressors. “I specifically looked at how teenagers use their cell phones and their computers and how that had a negative effect on their performance in school,” she said.

Zarin won 7th place in the competition and received $25,000.

The top prize went to Eric Chen, from San Diego, who received $100,000 for his research about a new class of drugs for better control of influenza⁴ during pandemics.

Launching pad for future scientists

The Science Talent Search began in 1942, as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. It is the oldest and most prestigious⁵ high school science competition in the U.S. The Intel Foundation took over sponsorship in 1998, gradually increasing the awards fund. It reached $1.25 million this year.

The foundation's Executive Director, Wendy Hawkins, said it was a good investment. “We depend on the next generation of innovators, the people who will design new devices, the new techniques, the new scientific discoveries and we need to foster that kind of creativity and innovation,” said Hawkins. 

Indeed, she said, many finalists have gone on to win even bigger awards.

 

“Eight of them have become Nobel laureates, a number have become senior members of the National Institutes of Health, the national academies of science, we have MacArthur Genius awards and we even have one Academy Award winner for best actress,” she said with a laugh.

1 evade   

vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避

参考例句：

• He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。
• You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人，你怎么能对这个问题不置可否？

2 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

3 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

5 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。