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What have you been doing since YSC?
I've continued with my research in the area of insects. Since YSC, I've presented my work in Singapore and England, as well as winning a first place award at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Colorado Springs, which included a $20,000 scholarship and a two-week trip to England to present my work. I've also won numerous smaller awards at local and regional science fairs.
When you're not studying, what do you like to do?
Any given day, I've most likely spent a surfeit of time writing, normally about three hours a day. I write essays, stories, and other things. I have a part-time job editing a publication that goes out to about 1,500 high school students in Pennsylvania, and I love every minute of it. In addition, I'm finishing up the core sciences (calculus, chemistry, physics, etc.) and trying to become as close to fluent in Spanish as possible without spending an extended amount of time in a Spanish-speaking country, which is impossible at this point. In addition, I skateboard to stay in shape.
How did participating in YSC affect you?
The far-reaching effects of participating in the Discovery Channel challenge are more extensive than the participants realize. Beyond who won and who lost, you gain a connection to Science Service and the prestige of having been a finalist in a very selective competition. I feel that the extra attention and subsequent awards I received made it a wonderfully lasting experience. It's a great experience for anyone interested in science competition.
What are your career goals?
Although nothing is set in stone at this point, given that I don't even know for certain where I'll be attending college, my hope is to enter the field of journalism and eventually be an editor or columnist for a major publication.
What's your favorite memory of YSC?
My favorite memory was probably the marine chemistry lab. We were trying to work, and the cameras were everywhere. We were tripping over wires and running past people shining lights in our eyes. It was great trying to dodge past all the media and still try to get something done. I feel that this really embodied YSC's fusion of media communication and scientific learning.
How did you first become interested in science?
I've always had a mind that needed to verify things for itself. I love observing things in the natural world. It started with watching insects in my backyard, then collecting ant farms and monitoring them. Most of my projects have grown from that, and entomology is still my favorite branch of science.
Who is your science hero and why?
It may surprise people that I'd pick someone who's still living: Dr. Edward O. Wilson, the renowned naturalist. No other single person has contributed so much to the exploration and study of social insects. His book The Insect Societies is the definitive work on the subject. He never let the relative obscurity of his field truncate his interest in entomology. He is also a professor emeritus at Harvard University.
What advice would you offer to someone hoping to participate in YSC?
When I found out that my younger brother, Daniel, was going to compete in 2002, I told him to be outgoing, to enjoy the experience, and to work well with his teammates by dividing up the tasks involved in the competitions.
