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| Illinois Junior Science
and Humanities Symposium
2003 in Review
The 25th Annual Illinois Junior Science & Humanities Symposium was held on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale March 23-25, 2003. The program is made possible through the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, The Academy of Applied Science, and the College of Science at SIUC.
Almost 150 SIUC faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students, as well as student organizations, Illinois JSHS alumni, and external agencies volunteered their time and resources in assistance of the program.
Participating campus programs, units, and student organizations included: Admissions Welcome Center, Aerospace Studies (AFROTC), Army Military Science (ROTC), Big Muddy Film Festival, Center for Advanced Friction Studies, Center for Archaeological Investigations, College of Agriculture, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, Collegiate FFA, Fisheries & Illinois Aquaculture Center, GenAg 311A, Housing Programming Office, Library Affairs, Microbiology Student Organization (MSO), Office of Intramural Recreational Sports, Saluki Athletics, SIU Alumni Association, SIU School of Medicine, Student Center, University Bookstore, Vice Chancellor for Research, Zoology Club, and Zoology Graduate Student Association.
Outside program support was provided by Illinois Academy of Science, Illinois State Police Southern Illinois Forensic Science Centre, Marine Corps Recruiting Sub Station, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Nova Biomimetics, Saluki Bookstore, 710 Bookstore, University Mall, and U.S. Army Recruiting Station.
Twenty teachers, 3 alumni, 5 guests, and 67 students (95 total) attended the 2003 Illinois JSHS program, representing 21 schools from 15 counties across the state (8 Northern, 7 Central, 6 Southern) and one school from Florida. This year's participating schools included:
- Alton High School, Alton, IL
- Carbondale Community High School, Carbondale, IL
- Delavan High School, Delavan, IL
- Edwardsville High School, Edwardsville, IL
- Elverado High School, Elkville, IL
- Freeburg Community High School, Freeburg, IL
- Grant Park High School, Grant Park, IL
- Hinsdale South High School, Darien, IL
- J.M. Tate High School, Cantonment, FL
- Kankakee High School, Kankakee, IL
- Lockport Township High School, Lockport, IL
- MacArthur Douglas High School, Decatur, IL
- Macomb Senior High School, Macomb, IL
- Marissa High School, Marissa, IL
- Midland High School, Varna, IL
- Mt. Pulaski High School, Mt. Pulaski, IL
- Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL
- Normal Community High School, Normal, IL
- Ottawa High School, Ottawa, IL
- St. Bede Academy, Peru, IL
- University High School, Normal, IL
- Villa Grove High School, Villa Grove, IL
The keynote presentation, "Night Vision Technology (or What It's Like to See The World Through Infrared Eyes)," was delivered by Mark A. Massie, President & Chief Scientist, Nova Biomimetics. Mark is a 1973 alum of the California JSHS and National JSHS.
Illinois JSHS alumni Karen Gustafson, Mark A. McCully, and CPT Rick Mohr shared in an alumni panel presentation at the banquet at Giant City Lodge. Karen (Illinois JSHS '79) is a Project Manager at Monsanto Protein Technologies, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO. Mark (Illinois JSHS '89, National 1st Place Finalist, '89) is Assistant Vice president at Certified Angus Beef LLC in Wooster, OH. CPT Mohr (Illinois JSHS '90) is serving with the U.S. Army in Savannah, GA. Four current SIUC students who are Illinois JSHS alumni also attended the banquet: Theo Phillips (Illinois JSHS '00, '01, '02), Eve Poynter (Illinois JSHS '98; SIUC '02, Zoology), Phillip Szymcek (Illinois JSHS '00), and Bruce Ulrich (Illinois JSHS '00, '01, '02).
Young scientists and their teachers visited the laboratories of SIUC researchers to participate in hands-on activities and learn about ongoing efforts in zooarchaeology, phytoremediation, animal cloning and reproduction, aquatic toxicology, lasers, and more.
The event is one of 48 such symposia conducted nationwide. All seven finalists from the IJSHS research paper presentations were extended the opportunity of expense-paid trips to participate in the 41st National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, April 30-May 4, 2003, in Colorado Springs, CO, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Colorado science and technology community. However, due to scheduling conflicts, only Nadia, Arun, and Brian were able to attend the National JSHS. The seven finalists (in alphabetical order), their schools, their sponsoring teachers, and the titles of their papers are:
- Vivek Agrawal, Hinsdale South High School, Mr. George McGuire, "Least-Vulnerability Analysis: Modeling Terrorist Movement Within Buildings"
- Nadia Ali, Carbondale Community High School, Mrs. Judy Martinko, "Chemotaxis of Dechlorosoma sullium Strain PS Towards Decreasing Concentrations of Perchlorate"
- Jessica Arnold, Edwardsville High School, Ms. Alesa Rehmann, "The Effect of Simulated Herbivory on Inflorescence, Achene, and Basal Rosette Production in Boltonia decurrens, an Endangered Species"
- Dhruvatej Boddupalli, Naperville North High School, Mrs. Maxine C. Wilverding/Dr. Inder P. Batra (University of Illinois at Chicago), "Silicon Atomic Chains: First-principles Study of Atomic and Electronic Structure"
- Grant Lewis, Delavan High School, Mrs. Mary Kay Wonders/Mr. Richard Lessen, "Ethanol in Small Engines"
- Arun Thottumkara, Macomb Senior High School, Mr. Thomas Johnson/Dr. T.K. Vinod (Western Illinois University), "Oxidation of Benzyl Ethers to Benzoate Esters Using a Novel Hypervalent Iodine Reagent"
- Brian Zargham, Carbondale Community High School, Mrs. Judy Martinko, "Mamba: Adaptive Text Entry Device for Mobile Computing"
All presenters received Illinois JSHS medals at the banquet at Giant City State Lodge.
Arun Thottumkara of Macomb Senior High School won the regional competition and received a $4,000 undergraduate tuition scholarship from the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He presented his paper and competed at the National JSHS in Colorado Springs, CO, winning 1st place in Chemistry and Physics and an additional $16,000 undergraduate tuition scholarship from the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force! In addition, Arun receives an expense-paid trip to the London International Youth Science Forum , an exchange program bringing together over 400 participants from 60 nations, July 24 - August 6. Congratulations, Arun!! View photos of Illinois delegation at National JSHS in Colorado Springs.
Mr. Thomas Johnson, Arun's sponsoring teacher, will receive a $500 Faculty Award, honoring his contributions to advancing student participation in research.
Congratulations, Arun and Mr. Johnson!
The second place finalist, Brian Zargham of Carbondale Community High School, was the recipient of an SIUC Academic Scholarship, valued at up to $4,500, to major in science at SIUC. Brian also presented his paper, "Mamba: Adaptive Text Entry Device for Mobile Computing" in the noncompetitive session at the National JSHS. Congratulations, Brian!
Stephen Gnidovec, a senior at St. Bede Academy in Peru, won 1st place in the Illinois JSHS Poster Session with "Chemical Technology in Potable Water." His teacher is Br. Luke McLachlan. Congratulations, Stephen!
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