inteGIRLS staff understand how alienating it can feel to be the only girl or non-binary person in a physics classroom, math team or science club. The organization was founded with a purpose to create a community for girls and non-binary persons to interact with and support each other. Their goal is to foster and promote a passion for math and problem solving for all. Ultimately, they want to spark a sense of belonging for this small yet driven group of individuals. Their math competitions and logic puzzle hunts are team-based, designed to encourage participants to work together to solve difficult questions. Middle and high school students are instructed to register in groups of up to four, but if they happen to find themselves alone, inteGIRLS also has an online forum for participants looking for teammates.

Since April 2020, inteGIRLS has grown from a team of fewer than ten, all concentrated around Washington, D.C., to more than 120 volunteer staff members located throughout the globe. The organization now has 16 different chapters in cities like Detroit, Toronto and even Bangalore.

During the last year, receiving a STEM Action Grant from the Society helped inteGIRLS expand their reach. 鈥淭he grant helped us create a brand new, customized puzzle hunt platform,鈥� said Joy. 鈥淚t is also the main reason why inteGIRLS has been able to offer our math competition program to places around the world. The money was used to support our virtual events, allowing winners to receive prizes and other cool swag.鈥�

In total, inteGIRLS welcomed 1,300 middle school and 1,500 high school participants to their spring and fall puzzle hunts and fall math competition in 2020. 鈥淲hile it was difficult to manage having teams from almost every time zone, we loved being able to help and talk to girls from the other side of the world,鈥� Joy told the Society. 鈥淓ven better than our exponential growth as a team, inteGIRLS has been able to impact an incredibly diverse group of teens and exceeded our goal to increase our total participation numbers. Our other goal 鈥� to increase the total number of events offered 鈥� has also been achieved.鈥�

Joy is excited to continue growing inteGIRLs鈥� global reach. 鈥淓ven though college is incredibly busy, and my free time dwindles, the success of inteGIRLS and the message that inteGIRLS sends motivates me,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s a woman going to college at Caltech, one of the toughest STEM institutions in the world, I’m lucky to be able to look to inteGIRLS as a source of encouragement and community. [Starting] inteGIRLS has changed my life.鈥�

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Why is the sky blue? How much sleep do we need? What is consciousness?

Six of this year鈥檚 Broadcom MASTERS International delegates had questions they wanted answers to, and what better way to find them than using the scientific process? After all, it鈥檚 their scientific curiosity that connects them with one another. So even if they may be physically apart in this big world, they still have this community to lean upon. Learn more about these intrepid young scientists from around the globe, their projects, some of their favorite snacks and places to visit in their home countries below!

Camryn Bronson, 13
United States

Which chemical removes blood most effectively from tile?

Inspired by the television show Criminal Minds and intrigued by forensic work, Camryn tested five different chemicals to see which one removes blood the most effectively from tile. 鈥淭his was done by analyzing how bright the tile glows when sprayed with a substance known as luminol, which glows when in contact with blood,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 found that out of the five substances of bleach, laundry detergent, isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar and distilled water, white vinegar removed blood most effectively.鈥�

One interesting snack Camryn enjoys from the United States are Girl Scout Cookies. 鈥淚 like Thin Mints and Tagalongs.鈥� For those who are unfamiliar, Camryn elaborated, 鈥淭hin Mints are milk chocolate covered cookies with a crunchy slightly minty chocolate cookie center. Tagalongs are milk chocolate covered cookies with peanut butter flavoring inside.鈥�

Eoghan Farren, 14
Ireland

What are the carbon footprints of different diets?

Eoghan鈥檚 project was inspired by his sister, who is a vegan. He wanted to determine if 鈥�,鈥� a method to measure how far food has travelled before it reaches consumers, were significantly different in various diets. First, Eoghan designed a survey and then distributed it to collect responses. He then performed a statistical analysis on his data. 鈥淭he analysis involved the translation of the responses into a format that allowed different diets to be compared,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t showed that vegan diets had a higher food miles footprint than one of omnivorous diets.鈥�

If one of his Broadcom MASTERS International delegates were to visit his home country of Ireland, he recommends visiting any of the beautiful beaches in Donegal, the county where he lives. 鈥淭hey are stunning and some of the best beaches in the world,鈥� he endorsed.

Danielle 鈥淒ani鈥� Gibson, 14
Australia

Do native fruits have less sugar then non-indigenous fruits?

Danielle investigated fruits that are native to Australia to see if they have less sugar in them compared to non-indigenous fruits. 鈥淚 accomplished this by fermenting different samples of native Australian fruits and recording their weights after different periods of time during the day, and then once a day for a week,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 compared these results with ones from the previous year where I had tested the glucose content of common western fruits.鈥� Ultimately, Danielle found that native fruits had less sugar.

Danielle recommends her fellow delegates try 鈥淪nack Packs.鈥� 鈥淭hey are a Western Sydney street food that are based off of Turkish cuisine,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is chips with shaved beef on top, with a selection of sauces. It can also have cheese as well.鈥�

Helena 鈥淗el膷a鈥� Nimshausov谩, 13
Czech Republic

Are we consuming too much salt?

For Helena鈥檚 project, she kept track of how much salt she consumed per day in a two-week period to better understand why salt is both important for the human body, but also dangerous to consume too much of. Helena鈥檚 mom helped her record how much salt Helena ate with each meal. 鈥淚 calculated my average daily consumption and then compared my results with other statistics and recommendations,鈥� Helena explained. 鈥淭he results of my self-analysis made me happy because I kept to the recommended daily amount of salt.鈥�

Helena鈥檚 favorite street food from the Czech Republic is sausage in a roll. 鈥淚t鈥檚 similar to an American hot dog, but you don鈥檛 have to slice the roll lengthways.鈥� Instead, a long hole is made through the bread and then ketchup or mustard is placed inside with the sausage.

Rowan Parkinson, 14
Canada

Is listening to music while working a distraction?

鈥淚t is commonly believed that listening to music while working is a distraction and will negatively affect one鈥檚 ability to concentrate on a task,鈥� Rowan told the Society. 鈥淢y project explored whether binaural beats (a type of music) could instead be used to improve concentration.鈥� In Rowan鈥檚 experiment, 25 subjects were instructed to play a 48-tiled memory game before and after listening to 20 Hz binaural beats. While playing, they were also fitted with a Muse headset (a portable EEG device), which recorded their brainwave activity. Rowan compared their first and second memory test scores and analyzed their concentration indices as measured by the Muse headset. 鈥淢y results showed that 84% of subjects improved their memory test scores by an average of 24.3%, and 80% of subjects also improved their concentration indices by an average of 36.1%.鈥�

Beavertails are one of Rowan鈥檚 favorite foods from Canada. 鈥淭hey are pastries made of fried dough, stretched into the shape of a beaver鈥檚 tail and served with a choice of toppings including cinnamon, maple butter, chocolate hazelnut and more.鈥�

Aarush Suryanarayanan, 13
India

How does stellar metallicity vary with planetary mass?

Using data from NASA archives of all confirmed exoplanets, Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Aarush analyzed the metallicity-period-mass relationship of single planetary systems, multiplanetary systems and binary star systems. 鈥淎part from confirming aspects of our existing understanding of exoplanet properties, my research indicates the presence of at least two exceptions to a previously hypothesized low-mass planet mass-metallicity upper limit among other results,鈥� Aarush found. 鈥淭hese results will help scientists better understand planet formation and evolution.鈥�

鈥淎 trip to India is not complete without a selfie in front of the Taj Mahal,鈥� Aarush told his fellow delegates. 鈥淥ne of the seven wonders of the world, this monument is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra. The Taj Mahal, with its gardens, took 20 years to build!鈥�

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Hilary Chee, 14
Singapore

Witnessing the negative effects of air pollution in her native Singapore, Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Hilary wanted to do something about it using her science research skills. 鈥淚 aimed to create a versatile, low-cost and biodegradable filter that anyone could easily install on existing fans,鈥� she told the Society. 鈥淚 tested three plant materials: luffa gourd, corn silk and sugarcane bagasse. Luffa gourd was the most efficient after 5 minutes at 74.4% efficiency. Sugarcane bagasse and corn silk were around 50% effective. Repeatedly usage of the material also did not decrease filtration efficiency by a large percentage.鈥�

It is not often that one鈥檚 culture is recognized by the UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, but Singapore hawker culture gets to boast that title and it鈥檚 something Hilary is very proud of. 鈥淪ince Singapore is a melting pot of various cultures, we don鈥檛 have a specific tradition that all Singaporeans share, but our hawker centers are definitely one of the common spaces where our various cultures interact and overlap.鈥�

Ashley Katandawa, 13
Zimbabwe

Ashley designed a portable hammer mill. 鈥淭his machine can be used by small-scare gold miners to crush their ore,鈥� he explained. 鈥淧harmacists can use the mill to crush their medicines. It can also be used in the spice industries.鈥� The COVID-19 pandemic gave Ashley additional time to work on his prototype and perfect its functionality. He hopes to become an electrical engineer one day, as he wants to make work and life easier for people.

Victoria Falls in Ashley鈥檚 native country is a must-see, according to Ashley. As another one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Ashley strongly urges his fellow delegates to have this on their itineraries if given the opportunity to visit Zimbabwe.

Lucas Katz, 14
United States

For his engineering project, Lucas designed and constructed a spherical-motor that enables omnidirectional motion for robots, prosthetics and electric-vehicles, including electric-skateboards, electric-wheelchairs and autonomous self-driving cars. 鈥淭he spherical motor is designed to rotate in all directions and can also serve as a sphere-shaped wheel, enabling ultimate maneuverability and enhanced safety,鈥� he explained. 鈥淣ormal motors attach to a vehicle frame using an axle connected to a wheel that can only rotate in one direction.鈥�

A unique American food Lucas enjoys is deep dish pizza. 鈥淚t is similar to a traditional pizza, but with a two to three-inch layer of tomato sauce over the cheese,鈥� he described. 鈥淒ue to the thicker crust and sauce, each bite is biscuit-crisp, flowing with sauce over the mozzarella cheese.鈥�

Zhiqian 鈥淏aymax鈥� Miao, 14
China

Zhiqian built an automatic pet cage. 鈥淚t is made up of four main systems,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭here are  feeding, water, excrement cleaning and blue tooth systems.鈥� One of his main motivations for his invention was to make lives easier. Zhiqian鈥檚 prototype can look after small animals like rabbits or hamsters.

Zhiqian鈥檚 favorite food from his native China is Xiaolongbao, also known as soup dumplings. 鈥淚t literally means 鈥榣ittle basket bun鈥� and are traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, hence the name.鈥� He is also a fan of sweet glutinous rice dumplings.

Adam Naufal Mohd Faizal, 14
Malaysia

Adam built an autonomous grease trap maintenance system. Several observations he made about his local community motivated him to pursue this project. 鈥淓veryday, I am seeing more reports from the municipal authorities that our local environment is becoming more polluted,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are also local cleaning contractors that are getting diseases caused by unhygienic working conditions.鈥� All this spurred him to take scientific action, wanting to provide his community with an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to how things are currently done to maintain grease traps.

Nasi Lemak is a Malaysian dish Adam wanted to share with his Broadcom MASTERS International cohort. 鈥淚t represents the beauty of Malaysia in a simple and enjoyable way. Nasi Lemak consists of coconut rice served with a chili paste called sambal and boiled eggs. It is so delicious, I dare to guarantee if you are to visit and try it, you will become addicted.鈥�

Liang 鈥淟inky鈥� Siting, 14
Hong Kong

Liang devised a device to calculate the service life of water filters. 鈥淲hen the device detects that people are using the drinking fountain, the digital display sensor shows the life of filter,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen the filter needs to be serviced, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology will send a message to remind maintenance workers to replace it. There is also a sensor that will turn on to let people known to not to use the drinking fountain [until the filter has been replaced].鈥�

One of Liang鈥檚 favorite traditions is celebrating Lunar New Year. 鈥淲e hold a big banquet and invite friends and relatives to eat and watch the dragon dance team composed of children from every family.鈥�

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Excellence in Science and Technology Panel
Moderated by Joe Palca, Science Correspondent, National Public Radio

Featuring:

• Frances Arnold, Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018
• H. Robert Horvitz, David Koch Professor, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2002
• Roderic Pettigrew, Chief Executive Officer, Engineering Health; Executive Dean for Engineering Medicine, Texas A&M University; Vannevar Bush Award 2020
• Monika Schleier-Smith, Associate Professor, Physics Stanford University; MacArthur Fellow 2020

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Panel
Moderated by Maya Ajmera, President & CEO, 京东影业影视传媒; Publisher, Science News

Featuring:

• Omar Abudayyeh, Fellow, McGovern Institute; ISEF 2008
• Eden Full Goh, Founder & CEO, Mobot; ISEF 2007鈥�2008
• Michael Li, Founder at The Data Incubator and President for Data at Pragmatic Institute; ISEF 2003
• David Schlesinger, CEO & Co-founder, Mendelics; ISEF 1997

Social Innovation Panel, sponsored by Rise, an Initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust
Moderated by Cheryl Dorsey, President, Echoing Green

Featuring:

• Pelagia Majoni, Grace Hopper Award Winner; Haverford College; ISEF 2017
• Sahithi Pingali, Founder & CEO, WaterInsights; Stanford University; ISEF 2017
• Nathan Wang, Policy Entrepreneur, Johns Hopkins University; ISEF 2019
• Ryan Westcott, Founder & President Aeronautics Northwest; ISEF 2017鈥�2020

Women in STEM Panel, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
Moderated by Nancy Shute, Editor in Chief, Science News

Featuring:

• Dapo Ajayi, Vice President, Technical Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, Johnson & Johnson
• Heidi Williams, Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University; MacArthur Fellow 2015; 1999 ISEF alumna
• Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist, ESRI
• Huda Zoghbi, Professor, Baylor College of Medicine; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences 2017

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Sophia Baker, 14
United States

People began ordering a lot more takeout when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and because the food often comes in plastic containers, Sophia became concerned about increased pollution. For her project, she investigated the effect different main ingredients in bioplastic had on its durability and biodegradability. 鈥淯sing bioplastic for takeout container would help to improve ocean health and decrease carbon dioxide emissions,鈥� Sophia said. So, she made prototypes using tapioca and potato starch and found that both were more durable than Styrofoam and degraded faster.

If anyone from Sophia鈥檚 cohort of Broadcom MASTERS International delegates were to visit her home state of Arizona, she recommends visiting the Grand Canyon. 鈥淢any come from all over to see the sunrise and sunset, to take in the peaceful silence, fresh air and natural beauty,鈥� Sophia described. 鈥淣ative tribes such as the Navajo and Hopi have put great value on the Canyon, referring to it as a 鈥榩lace of emergence.鈥� Many are said to set sail through as part of their passage from this human life to their next afterlife destination.鈥�

Hanun Dzatirrajwa, 13
Indonesia

Hanun was interested in tracking and analyzing Twitter conversations about COVID-19. Using the hashtag 鈥�#covid19semarang,鈥� Hanun gathered data from the social media platform from March 2, 2020 to July 21, 2020. Her research found that users were discussing conversations on four main themes: 1) hesitancy to adopt the use of masks, 2) mobility of Semarang society, 3) discouraging community activities and 4) scarcity of personal protective equipment.

A unique Indonesian tradition that Hanun shared with her fellow delegates is a festival called Dugderan. 鈥淒ugderan welcome the holy month of Ramadan,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t is officially opened by the Governor and is enlivened with fireworks. During the festival, once can see Warak Ngendok, an imaginary creature that can only be found during Dugderan.鈥�

Mauricio 鈥淢au鈥� Licea, 13
Mexico

Climate change is something Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Mauricio cares greatly about. During the pandemic, many cities were reporting lower air pollution levels, but Mauricio wanted to verify that was indeed the case. 鈥淏y reviewing air pollution records before and during the pandemic, I analyzed what adjustments to daily life we have to make to save our planet,鈥� he told the Society. His research included strategies that could help keep pollutant levels low even when people resumed pre-pandemic activities.

Sharing a Mexican tradition with his fellow delegates, Mauricio discussed the importance of celebrating the Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. 鈥淎ltars containing candles, colored paper, fruits, breads, marigold flowers, photos of people who have already died, as well as their favorite foods are put up,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t is believed that on those days their souls are granted permission to visit their families and take away the aroma of those delicious dishes and drinks placed as a sign of the love that they still have.鈥�

Loulwa 鈥淟ulu鈥� Marzooqi, 13
Saudi Arabia

Seeing the toll COVID-19 had on the mortality of older people motivated Loulwa to study how bioinformatics could be used to screen natural compounds for their potential inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2. Her research showed that chicoric acid is one possible inhibitor. 鈥淭his offers promising insights to apply to further research in order to limit disease spread,鈥� Loulwa said. She hopes to continue studying other possible therapeutics for the novel coronavirus.

There are many interesting traditions and holidays in Saudi Arabia, but choosing just one to share with her Broadcom MASTERS International cohort, Loulwa picked Eid al Fitr. 鈥淓very year, the day after Ramadan is celebrated,鈥� she shared. 鈥淚t involves amazing cooking, feasting on delicious food, visiting family and friends, and most importantly, sharing gifts!鈥�

Eunchae Song, 12
South Korea

Handwashing is very important when it comes to preventing COVID-19 infection. People should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, but Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Eunchae wanted to take that a step further and designed an Arduino handwashing timer for 30 seconds. 鈥淲hen you put your hands in the sink, the clock begins a 30-second countdown,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚f you were to stop handwashing before the 30 seconds are up, a warning sound will alert you to continue.鈥� In the future, Eunchae hopes to make it easier for young children to access software like the one she used for her project.

Eunchae suggests visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in her hometown of Seoul. 鈥淚t is the palace where the king lived during the Joseon Dynasty,鈥� she said.鈥� Eunchae also shared interesting facts about the evolution of Hanbok, traditional Korean clothes. While people have worn them for nearly 1,600 years now, Hanbok have improved and more people wear them.

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Monique Ackermann, 13
Brazil

Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Monique鈥檚 project came out of an activity with electrical circuits from her science class. She studied daily electricity use and proposed a way to use the resource more consciously. 鈥淚 wanted to promote the sustainable and safe use of electricity, to minimize energy consumption and ensure the safety of electrical discharges,鈥� she said. To do so, Monique compared different energy conductors and also examined how to develop a device that protects children from electric shocks.

If a fellow delegate were to visit Monique鈥檚 home country of Brazil, going to Cristo Redentor (translated 鈥淐hrist the Redeemer鈥�), one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is a must. Visiting any of the beautiful beaches throughout Brazil would also be an activity Monique recommends.

Ver贸nica 鈥淰ero鈥� Adams-Su谩rez, 12
Puerto Rico

Ver贸nica鈥檚 research is about substituting part of the fine aggregate in concrete with shredded polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). PET is a lightweight plastic that is widely used for packaging, especially bottles or other packaging. 鈥淚 was inspired to do this project because I am very concerned about the amount of plastic on our beaches and natural resources,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭here is not a good way of disposing of plastic, an environmental problem. By replacing some of the fine aggregate in concrete, PET could be an alternative and at the same time reduce the amount of sand needed to prepare the concrete.鈥�

Related to Ver贸nica鈥檚 desire to preserve the natural world, the Vieques Bioluminescent Bay is a mandatory place to visit she says. 鈥淧uerto Rico has three of the world鈥檚 five bioluminescent water sources. It is an amazing experience to see the water glow with millions of single-celled microorganisms called dinoflagellates.鈥�

Ahmed Tarek Alframawy, 12
Egypt

Broadcom MASTERS International delegate Ahmed鈥檚 engineering project aims to make an integrated city that employs a smart system using a remote internet connection. He specifically looked at the possibility of using solar energy and was concerned with making sure people with special needs could navigate easily. There are three components to Ahmed鈥檚 proposed city: the smart home, which includes temperature and light sensors; the smart road, which includes motion sensors and the smart gate, designed for security purposes.

鈥淲hat drives me to be a scientific researcher is my passion to solve problems,鈥� Ahmed expressed. 鈥淚 can help my country with what I have learned.鈥� If a fellow delegate were to visit Egypt for just a day, he highly recommends going to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Chia-Tse 鈥淎lex鈥� Hung, 13
Taiwan

Chia-Tse wanted to solve the problem of inconvenient transportation in mountainous regions, so he explored the feasibility of using wind-powered cable cars. He also believed this would alleviate some of the world鈥檚 energy demands. According to Chia-Tse, 鈥淪cience exists to improve our lives. That鈥檚 why I did this research and I hope my designs will be useful.鈥�

One of the landmarks in Chia-Tse鈥檚 native Taiwan is the Taipei 101. Previously classified as the world鈥檚 tallest building from 2004 to 2009, he says his fellow Broadcom MASTERS International delegates shouldn鈥檛 skip out on it should they visit Taiwan.

Niamh Loughran, 13
Northern Ireland

Niamh got the idea for her project when she was taking out her recycling bin. 鈥淚t was very light, but full, and made me think there must be a better way of dealing with recyclable waste,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 realized that if this waste could be compacted prior to collection, it would greatly reduce the collection cycle completed by the bin lorries, thus reducing traffic congestion on roads and reducing the CO₂ emissions emitted by these lorries.鈥� So, she set out to build a waste compacting prototype and found that her design could reduce the volume of waste by almost 75%.

Sharing an aspect of Northern Ireland culture with us, Niamh discussed the tradition of Gaelic games. 鈥淕aelic sports include football, which is a bit like rugby and hurling or camogie (the girls鈥� version of hurling) which is the fastest field sport in the world,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭hese sports are played in our local towns and villages all over the country. It is considered the national games in Ireland and on All-Ireland final day, when the best two county teams play, there are over 80,000 spectators watching in the national stadium, Croke Park. Not bad for amateur players!鈥�

Snigtha Mohanraj, 13
United States

Snigtha鈥檚 project investigates the usage of three different natural coagulants (Nirmali seeds, Shrimp shells, and Cassava peels) for removing microplastics from water. 鈥淭hese inexpensive, nontoxic, and efficient natural coagulants agglomerate with the microplastics, and these formed aggregates can be easily filtered out to remove the microplastics,鈥� she explained. Her results indicate Cassava peels are a great coagulant, working more effectively than the others she tested.

When asked about an American destination her fellow delegates must visit, Snigtha recommended Yosemite National Park. 鈥淚t is a breathtaking place, you鈥檙e surrounded by beautiful nature on all sides. I went to Yosemite in both the summer and winter, giving me different views of the waterfalls, towering sequoia trees, mountains and wildlife.鈥�

Joaqu铆n 鈥淛oaco鈥� Paulo Soravilla, 13
Uruguay

Joaqu铆n wanted to find a way to recycle paper that would otherwise be discarded. 鈥淚n our class, we began to create ecological books,鈥� Joaqu铆n said. 鈥淭hen we saw an opportunity to recycle the paper that we were throwing away, like paper clippings and sheets of notebooks.鈥� The process, Joaqu铆n explained, is very simple鈥攊t requires just water, a blender and molds to give the 鈥渘ew鈥� paper shape. Next, Joaqu铆n is working on creating a device to press the recycled paper.

In Joaqu铆n鈥檚 home country of Uruguay, there are deposits of agates and amethysts. 鈥淭hey are semi-precious stones, highly valued throughout the world and known for the positive energy they transmit and their natural beauty,鈥� he described to his fellow delegates. For Joaqu铆n, they are a must-see for anyone who visits.

Benjamin 鈥淏en鈥� Stow, 12
South Africa

For Benjamin鈥檚 project, he studied making renewable fuel out of a succulent plant called Portulacaria afra (Spekboom) using the anaerobic digestion process. 鈥淭he global climate crisis has resulted in the urgent need to find renewable sources of energy,鈥� he noted. 鈥淚 have a deep commitment to finding ways to make the world a better place and to reduce the impact of humans on the planet.鈥� For further research, Benjamin would like to compare Portulacaria afra鈥檚 ability to produce biogas to ordinary kitchen waste鈥檚 ability.

Given an opportunity to visit South Africa, Benjamin insists his fellow delegates should make plans to see the country鈥檚 incredible wildlife. 鈥淲e are blessed to have the Big 5 [game animals] living in the wild, at our door step,鈥� he shared. 鈥淚 would be proud to show them off to anyone.鈥�

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James Less taught high school science in Ohio for seven years prior to moving to Florida in 2018. Now as a middle school science teacher, one of his main goals is to organize and implement a successful annual, student-based science fair. So far, he has tripled the number of science fair judges at his school, providing students with more opportunities to present and receive feedback. Before James was a STEM Research Grant recipient, he only had one Vernier LabQuest data logger at his disposal. The battery for it no longer held a charge, since James had obtained it nearly a decade ago. It was not functional for remote field investigations and presented many logistical challenges when multiple students needed to collect data for their science experiments at the same time.

With the STEM Research Grant, James purchased a set of eight Vernier STREAM devices, each with two sets of probes鈥攑H and temperature. 鈥淭here is great statewide interest in water quality issues in southwest Florida,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he equipment put our students on the forefront of several local initiatives to undertake field studies that complement those of local colleges and universities.鈥�

James鈥� students can now undertake more advanced and timely STEM research projects with the additional sensors and probes. They have been able to do things like:

• Investigate water quality of a local canal before and after Hurricane Sally
• Collect weather data as part of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment program鈥� Urban Heat Island Effect-Surface Temperature field campaign
• Analyze the pH of different substances.

鈥淓ven with the challenges posed by the pandemic this past year, my students demonstrated great fortitude in conducting their research and participating in the Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Engineering Fair,鈥� he told the Society. James鈥� school has primarily operated in person since the public health emergency began, with the option for students to choose distance learning as well. In either case, the equipment was available to all his students who relied on outdoor data collection for their research projects. 鈥淣ot only were my students successful with the affiliated regional science competition, but six students were nominated for the prestigious, national Broadcom MASTERS competition.鈥�

One particular student project stood out to James. 鈥淎n eighth-grade student used the Vernier STREAM device with a Vernier GoDirect weather meter, camera, iPad and kite for a unique and ingenious science research project,鈥� said James. 鈥淪he investigated the change in meteorological conditions鈥攖emperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure鈥攆rom ground level to various altitudes. She also connected a camera to the kite to take aerial photographs. At our local fair, she received special awards and recognition from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Environmental Protection Agency!鈥�

For James鈥� students, we know their accomplishments thus far are just the start of their research journeys and the Society is proud to be able to support such promising young scientists with the STEM Research Grant program.

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• Walter Gilbert, Ph.D. (STS 1949), who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1980
• Sheldon Glashow, Ph.D. (STS 1950), who won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1979
• Roald Hoffmann, Ph.D. (STS 1955), who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1981
• Frank Wilczek, PhD. (STS 1967), who won the Nobel Prize in physics in 2004

These notable figures in science joined Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of 京东影业影视传媒 and Publisher of聽Science News, for a lively discussion, and participated in small-group conversations with the Regeneron STS finalists. They shared how STS impacted their lives, their thoughts on winning the Nobel Prize and advice for the young scientists in attendance.

For these Nobel laureates and alumni panelists, competing in STS marked the beginning of their illustrious careers. Frank Wilczek remembered how he became more self-assured from the experience. 鈥淚t’s very important for young people to build confidence. One of the most important assets a scientist can have is bravery,鈥� he added. Walter Gilbert fondly recounted a strong sense of belonging once he met other students in the competition. 鈥淭here are other people, at the same age, deeply involved in science, but most of us had only a few people like ourselves in high school and suddenly you discover this other world.鈥�

The STS alumni panelists and this year鈥檚 cohort of finalists have and will continue to have a positive impact in the world. They strive to contribute to the ever-growing body of scientific knowledge. Winning the Nobel Prize can be seen as the ultimate culmination of that goal, but the laureates cautioned against placing too much focus on attaining the award. For Frank Wilczek, 鈥淚t was a result of being in the right place at the right time.鈥� Roald Hoffman echoed that thought saying, 鈥淵ou cannot legitimately aspire to do it. It鈥檚 a chance event, at the highest level. Just have some faith in yourself, and choose whatever you think is good or fun, or some combination of those, and the Nobel Prize may or may not materialize at the end.鈥�

The Nobelists were unanimous in encouraging the finalists to investigate subjects beyond science in their studies. 鈥淚n general, the arts and humanities offer so much more about life than science does,鈥� Roald Hoffman, who writes poetry, told the students. 鈥淚 wised up in graduate school and recognized what I was missing,鈥� said Sheldon Glashow as he recalled taking a course in Japanese music. Frank urged the young researchers to not fall into the trap of being too focused on any particular subject. 鈥淟ook around and go explore. My advice is to cast a wide net and then select.鈥� Walter Gilbert, who is also an artist, agreed: 鈥淚t’s good to take courses that are not in the sciences just as it’s good to take courses across the sciences. The more broadly you educate yourself about the world, the easier it is to find just the things you’re really interested in.鈥�

Besides generously giving their time to the finalists, sharing their insights into science and life, the Nobel laureates also had gifts for the students. They each received a signed tie or scarf from , an Amazon gift card for the documentary, a signed copy of Roald Hoffman鈥檚 most recent book of poetry, , and a signed copy of Frank Wilczek鈥檚 book, .

In the 80-year history of STS, 13 alumni have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Who knows, maybe a finalist (or more!) in this year鈥檚 class will end up being among them in the near future.

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Dr. Schor鈥檚 winning STS project looked at the effects of aldehydes on the chlorophyll content of Euglena gracilis. 鈥淎ldehydes were very prominent constituents of car exhaust and Euglena gracilis is an organism that people still today think of as being at the interface between plants and animals,鈥� she explained.

As an STS finalist, Dr. Schor remembers meeting other science-focused high school students who were also talented in music, poetry and art. 鈥淧eople brought out instruments that they had shoved in their suitcases,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚t was totally fun. The notion that you could be a credible scientist 鈥� good enough to make it in a competition like [STS] 鈥� and still have outside interests was very exciting to me.鈥� After spending a rewarding week in Washington, D.C., making friends and meeting notable figures in science, winning wasn鈥檛 top of mind for Dr. Schor. 鈥淚 just thought, what’s the difference whether you win a prize or not,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd then when they called my name, I felt like I wasn’t really there. It was almost as if I was watching this happen to someone else. It was truly remarkable.鈥�  

Dr. Schor went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University, her Doctor of Philosophy degree in medical biochemistry from Rockefeller University and then her Doctor of Medicine degree from Cornell University Medical College. She pursued residency training in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and child neurology at the Longwood Area-Harvard Neurology Program. Before becoming the deputy director of NINDS at NIH, Dr. Schor held faculty posts at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Rochester.

Reflecting on her career, Dr. Schor says she has seen access to the fields of science grow for women, but there is still work to be done. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e made enormous strides,鈥� noted Dr. Schor. 鈥淲e have raised the consciousness of people who in the past were not necessarily negative or antagonistic, but just didn鈥檛 think about it or it just didn鈥檛 occur to them as an issue. The likelihood that a young woman interested in science is going to be welcomed has improved.鈥�

The types of positions females in STEM end up having are still an area of concern for Dr. Schor. 鈥淚 do think women are still very much stereotyped and almost typecast in roles,鈥� she expressed. 鈥淭hey overwhelmingly have roles in teaching, public relations or community relations and much less frequently in corporate decision-making, finance or research. We鈥檝e opened the door. We鈥檝e gotten into the room and now we have to have access to every single table that鈥檚 in that room. We鈥檙e not quite there yet.鈥�

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Like the rest of the world, in 2020, the organization faced the challenge of shifting their in-person STEM-based trips to remote STEM learning opportunities. With a $2,500 STEM Action Grant from the 京东影业影视传媒, Venture Outdoors distributed STEM kits and developed experiments to go along with them for students in the fourth and fifth grades.

The organization鈥檚 Youth Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Education project serves inner-city youth from low-income households and reaches 180 to 200 students per year. 鈥淚n order to continue to address the needs of our children, we pivoted over 50 lesson plans to a virtual and/or remote learning experience, leading to more than 150 live virtual lessons with youth in 2020,鈥� said , Venture Outdoors鈥� Youth Program Manager. The funding Venture Outdoors received as a Society STEM Action grantee allowed the organization to expand their reach, enabling them to hold two kit giveaway events in the last year. They distributed 20 STEM kits and 30 Explorer kits to students in the community, including at South Hills Interfaith Movement, a community learning hub in Bethel Park, and Phillips Recreation Center in Pittsburgh.

The Explorer kits contained materials for younger students to learn more about their surrounding environments, while the STEM kits included resources for six different science experiments with accompanying videos. Students who received the STEM kits conducted topical, hands-on activities dealing with water, light, structures in nature, seed planting, air resistance and weather. 鈥淥ne student at Phillips Recreation Center was very excited to receive his kit鈥攈e and his younger sister made it only a few steps before looking at all the materials,鈥� Lora told the Society.

These kits and virtual lessons offered through Venture Outdoors are keeping students engaged in STEM despite obstacles brought on by the public health crisis. 鈥淣ow more than ever, we are facing challenges that require critical and creative solutions. By equipping and challenging students in nature-based STEM experiments, students can increase science literacy and develop problem-solving skills to overcome problems that we now face,鈥� Lora noted. 鈥淚n addition, connecting students to the outdoors allows them to build engaging relationships with the outdoors, a critical component to their wellbeing.鈥�

While they hope to be able to host in-person events soon, Venture Outdoors will continue to look for ways to virtually support youth interested in STEM, nurture their creativity and assist them in developing critical thinking skills.

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