Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009 - (Page 14)

rsenic. It’s the stuff of lore, the poison of politicians and popes. And it was in the dirt in my schoolyard. For my seventh grade science fair project, I collected and studied soil samples from local schools to determine if arsenic was present. Arsenic, contained in herbicides that had once been used on the sugar plantations in my home state of Hawaii, remains in the soil long after it has been sprayed on the plants. A group expected to complete the challenge within the allotted time and achieve meaningful results. We were to diagnose a case of avian flu and devise a treatment plan, as well as hold a press conference to inform the community. My role was the team’s epidemiologist, and I had to predict how many people became infected and how many survived. It was hard work, but also very exciting. We won the group challenge, and the prize was Predicting the Next Pandemic by Nolan Kamitaki I wondered if the arsenic was adversely affecting students, so I decided to continue my research for the eighth grade science fair. This time, I collected hair samples from students, and found that although there was arsenic in the soil, it was not in their hair so the students were not absorbing it. My project won first place in the junior division at the Hawaii State Science Fair. Something in the Air Because my project had done well at the state science fair, I entered it into the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. I was one of 40 finalists chosen to compete in a series of individual and team challenges at the DCYSC in Washington, DC. The theme of the challenge was Disease Detectives. I had always been fascinated with diseases—their spread and cures—and the group challenge was called “Avian Flu: Something in the Air.” We worked in eight teams of five students each. I had to work very closely with students I had just met if our a two-week summer camp at the National Zoo. I was so grateful for the experience that I barely thought about my chances of winning the individual competition. When the 40 contestants and their families and friends gathered in the auditorium for the final results, I heard Judge Jake mention my hometown and call my name. I was elated. I had been named Top Young Scientist, winner of a $20,000 college scholarship to a college of my choice. I felt inspired by my success, and also by the work our team had done. I began to think about designing a computer simulation of the avian flu, aimed at minimizing its spread. If I wanted to do it for my ninth grade science fair project, I had to work fast. I had about three months to complete it. Through the DCYSC host organization, I contacted Dr. Robert Glass, a simulation expert at the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico who had helped design the Avian Flu Challenge. I told Dr. Glass my plan. He was very supportive, and we began an e-mail dialogue. He provided me with background information that became the formative foundation of my work. But I realized that I would have to learn a lot about computer programming in order to design a computer simulation of an epidemic. On the advice of my science teacher, I sought a mentor in Dr. Sevki Erdogan, a computer scientist at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. With the help of both Dr. Glass and Dr. Erdogan, I constructed a model of an epidemic simulation to analyze the effectiveness of varying medical responses. I spent the entire three weeks of Christmas vacation, as well as my spare time during the week and all of January/February 009 Nolan Kamitaki (foreground) at the 006 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. 14 imagine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009

Imagine Magazine - John Hopkins - January/February 2009
Contents
Letters
Big Problems
In My Own Words
Witness to a Pandemic
An Ounce of Prevention
Of Math and Measles
Predicting the Next Pandemic
Medicine, Medicine Everywhere
Food Matters
Looking for a Challenge? Try Summer College!
CTY: The Real Deal
Hot Topic
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Middle Ground
One Step Ahead
Exploring Career Options
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Sudoku
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009