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Environmental toxicology and chemistry exploration recognized at Intel ISEF

20 October 2004

Have I stated the problem? Do I have a strong experimental design? Have I clearly stated my methods, results and conclusions? Are my references formatted properly? Should I choose a green or blue border to compliment the background?

Nearly two million high school students from around the globe likely asked themselves these or similar questions as they prepared their science projects in hopes of competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF).

Nearly 1,300 finalists from more than 40 nations competed this year at the Intel ISEF held 9-15 May 2004 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore. The Intel ISEF is the world's largest pre-college science fair and is considered by many educators to be one of the most edifying science education programs.

The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) has been involved with the Intel ISEF for eleven years. Each year SETAC presents awards for outstanding projects in environmental toxicology and chemistry. The winners receive monetary awards of $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place. Three honorable mentions receive a SETAC student membership. All winners receive a certificate of recognition from SETAC.

Winners of the SETAC award are selected based on the relevance of the research to environmental toxicology and chemistry, potential contributions to the science of environmental toxicology and chemistry, the student's grasp of the scope and importance of the project, usage of scientific thought and methodology, thoroughness of the research, and originality of the project. This year's winners are as follows:

First Award of $500

"Troubled Waters: A Six Month Longitudinal Water Quality Study of the Spanish Fork River Drainage System and Remediation Strategies;" Shannon Lisa Babb, 16, American Fork High School, American Fork, Utah

Second Award of $250

"Theory and Practice on Ecological Restoration in Small Shallow Eutrophic Waters;" Chen Lin, 19, Wusong High School, Shanghai, China; Yi Zhang, 18, Wusong High School, Shanghai, China; Yajia Lu, 19, Wusong High School, Shanghai, China

Third Award of $100

"The Effects of Varied Concentrations of a Cooling Tower Water Treatment Chemical on the Population and Diversity of Soil Microbes;" Kevin Y.W. Luu, 16, Maryknoll High School, Honolulu, Hawaii; Vaseem Basilio Anwar, 17, Maryknoll High School, Honolulu, Hawaii

Student Membership in SETAC

"Testing and Development of a Treatment Cell to Remove Arsenic from Drinking Water;" Douglas Calvin Naftz, 17, Park City High School, Park City, Utah

"Biofiltration of Environmental Pollutants;" Megan Beth Cornelius, 17, Sunnyside Senior High School, Sunnyside, Washington

"The Effect of Residential and Agricultural Run-off on the Microbiology of a Hawaiian Ahupua'a, Phase III: Molecular Microbial Ecology of Water Systems;" Kiana Laieikawai Frank, 17, Kamehameha Secondary School, Honolulu, Hawaii

Visit www.intelisef2004.org for more information about the Intel ISEF.

Contact:
April Phillips
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Public Relations
850 469 1500 x 28
aprilp@setac.org