15-Year-Old Scientist Creates Machine Learning Software Tool to Detect Cancer-Causing Gene Mutations

Nathan Han of Boston Wins US$75,000 Top Prize at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

• The world’s largest high school science research competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public, announced its top winners in Los Angeles.
• Nathan Han of Boston received the Gordon E. Moore Award, a US$75,000 prize named in honor of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist.
• Four Malaysian students recognized for chemistry and environmental projects. 
• Two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards winners – Lennart Kleinwort of Germany and Shannon Lee of Singapore – each received prizes of US$50,000 from the Intel Foundation.

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2014 – Nathan Han, 15, of Boston was awarded first place for developing a machine learning software tool to study mutations of a gene linked to breast cancer at this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public.

Using data from publicly available databases, Han examined detailed characteristics of multiple mutations of the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene in order to “teach” his software to differentiate between mutations that cause disease and those that do not. His tool exhibits an 81 percent accuracy rate and could be used to more accurately identify cancer threats from BRCA1 gene mutations. Han received the Gordon E. Moore Award of US$75,000, named in honor of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist.

From Malaysia, Faye Jong-Sow Fei from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Batu Lintang, Kuching, Sarawak received a First Award of US$3,000 in the Environmental Management Category for her project entitled ‘Bio-Waste Materials as Eco-Friendly Mordant in Fabric Dye Process’. She has also won the Top Winner of the Best of Category with prizes consisting of US$5,000 cash and US$1,000 cash for her school and the affiliated fair she represents. In addition, Faye Jong walked away with an all-expense-paid trip to attend the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Warsaw, Poland this August.

Nurul Najiha Binti Mohd Roslan and Nur Hanis Suriani Binti Mohd Zaini of Mara Junior Science College Terendak, Melaka were awarded a Third Place Award  of US$1,000 for the Environmental Sciences category and First Place Award of US$500.00 for the Special Award category from Drexel Smart House for their ‘New Discovery of Eco Plyfibre via Pineapple Leaf and Recyclable Plastic for Future Sustainability’. Furthermore, Meor Zulhilmi Syahir Ahmad Shohailee from the Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin Science Secondary Boarding School Pulau Pinang was given a Certificate of Honorable Mention from American Chemical Society for his chemistry project ‘Carbonized Pineapple Peel (CPP) Waste as Low Cost Adsorbent for Acid and Reactive Dyes Removal.’

Lennart Kleinwort, 15, of Germany received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of US$50,000. Kleinwort developed a new mathematical tool for smartphones and tablets that brings capabilities to hand-held devices that previously required more sophisticated and expensive computing tools. His app allows users to hand draw curves, lines and geometric figures on the touch screen and watch the system render them into shapes and equations that can then be manipulated at will.

Shannon Xinjing Lee, 17, of Singapore received the other Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of US$50,000 for developing a novel electrocatalyst that may be used for batteries of the future. Researchers have been looking for ways to make rechargeable zinc-air batteries practical, as they would be safer, lighter in weight, and have six times the energy density of lithium ion batteries, making them ideal for hybrid vehicles. Lee found that her activated carbon catalyst, which she made entirely from carbonized Chinese eggplant, greatly out-performed a more sophisticated commercial catalyst in stability and longevity tests and will be environmentally friendly and inexpensive to produce.

 “The world needs more scientists, makers and entrepreneurs to create jobs, drive economic growth and solve pressing global challenges,” said Prakash Mallya, Country Manager, Intel Malaysia and Singapore. “Intel believes that young people are the key to innovation, and we hope that these winners inspire more students to get involved in science, technology, engineering and math, the foundation for creativity.”

This year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair featured more than 1,700 young scientists selected from 435 affiliate fairs in more than 70 countries, regions and territories. In addition to the top winners, more than 500 finalists received awards and prizes for their innovative research, including 17 "Best of Category" winners, who each received a US$5,000 prize. The Intel Foundation also awarded a US$1,000 grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent. Additionally, the Intel Foundation presented a select number of students with experiential awards, including the new 11-day trip to China to attend the country’s largest national science competition, speak with researchers at Intel’s lab in Shanghai, and visit the Panda Research Base in Chengdu.


The following lists the 17 Best of Category winners, from which the top three were chosen:  

Category	First	Last	City	State/Country
Animal Sciences	Daksh	Dua	Delhi	India
	Abhishek	Verma
Behavioral and Social Sciences	Michelle	Marquez	Midlothian	Virginia
Biochemistry	Ken	Aizawa	Jericho	New York
Cellular and Molecular Biology	Joshua	Meier	Hackensack	New Jersey
Chemistry	Tai Hei	Chan	Hong Kong	China
	Er Hai	Fang
Computer Science	Yue	Yao	Shanghai	China
Earth Science	Yu-Hsin	Chen	Taipei City	Chinese Taipei
Energy and Transportation	Shannon	Lee	Singapore	Singapore
Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical	Sarah	Galvin	Tempe	Arizona
Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering	Harry	Paul	Port Washington	New York
Environmental Management	Faye	Jong	Kuching	Malaysia
Environmental Sciences	Perry	Algappan	Houston	Texas
Mathematical Science	Lennart	Kleinwort	Wurzburg	Germany
Medicine and Health Sciences	Nathan	Han	Boston	Massachusetts
Microbiology	Logan	Collins	Boulder	Colorado
Physics and Astronomy	John	Caddell	Pebble Beach	California
Plant Sciences	Yi-Hsuan	Huang	Taipei City	Chinese Taipei

Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, has owned and administered the competition since its inception in 1950 as the National Science Fair.

“In congratulating Nathan, Lennart, and Shannon, we join with Intel in seeing great hope in their research, and that of all of our Intel ISEF finalists,” said Rick Bates, interim CEO and chief advancement officer of Society for Science & the Public. “Not only are they working to discover solutions for society’s challenges, they importantly serve as an inspiration for younger students and encourage them to become involved in the amazing world of hands-on science and engineering.”

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair honors the world’s most promising student entrepreneurs, innovators and scientists. Finalists are selected annually from hundreds of affiliated fairs. Their projects are then evaluated onsite by more than 1,200 judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each with a Ph.D. or the equivalent of six years of related professional experience in one of the scientific disciplines.

A full listing of finalists is available in the event program. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2014 is funded jointly by Intel and the Intel Foundation with additional awards and support from dozens of other corporate, academic, governmental and science-focused organizations. This year, more than US$5 million was awarded.

To learn more about Society for Science & the Public, visit www.societyforscience.org.