Students Recognized for Scientific Achievement in D.C.

Hawken Middle School students, Alec L. and Atreya R., first-place winners of the Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Awards Program in the 7-9 grade category, were recognized for their achievement at a gala awards weekend in Washington D.C. held June 8-12. The two students combined creativity with scientific knowledge to produce "Visible-Light Photocatalysis: A Cleaner Way of Life," an environmentally friendly project that could make the world a safer and better place in 20 years. Alec and Atreya, coached by their computer science teacher Patricia Jewell, proposed modifying and further developing a process known as photocatalysis to reduce pollution in both air and water. The process, which would use visible light rays to "clean" the environment, would be detoxifying and could reduce the spread of infectious bacteria, such as SARS, in hospitals and other public facilities. In Washington D.C., the students displayed and demonstrated their winning ideas to scientists and reporters at a science showcase, were interviewed on television, and also taped a public service announcement about science. Alec and Atreya met with Senator DeWine`s aide and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, and received a personal tour of Capitol Hill given by two of Tubbs-Jones` aides. At the gala awards banquet, students were formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments and were congratulates in a videotaped message sent by Hillary Clinton. In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, Alec and Atreya will each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE US Savings Bond. For the national phase of the competition, the regional winning teams created working websites to convey their ideas. To view Alec and Atreya`s web site, visit http://dev.nsta.org/evwebs/1952/.