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Google Science Fair 2016: #howcanwe make things better with science?
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Posted by Olivia Hallisey, 2015 Grand Prize winner, Google Science Fair
(Cross-posted from the
Google for Education blog
.)
Editor's note:
The
2016 Google Science Fair
opens for submissions today. Together with LEGO Education, National Geographic, Scientific American and Virgin Galactic, we’re inviting all young explorers and innovators to make something better through science and engineering. To learn more about the competition, how to enter, prize details and more, visit the
site
, and
follow along on Google+
and
Twitter
.
In this post,
2015 Grand Prize winner, Olivia Hallisey
, joins us to reflect back on her own experience with Google Science Fair.
I remember the day I first heard about the Google Science Fair last year. I was sitting in my 10th grade science class when my teacher asked us: “What will you try?” I loved the invitation—and the challenge—that the Google Science Fair offered. It was a chance to use science to do something that could really make a difference in the world.
I had always been curious and interested in science, and knew I wanted to submit a project, but didn’t really know exactly where to begin. I asked my teacher for his advice on selecting a research topic. He encouraged me to choose something that I felt passionate about, or something that outraged me, and told me to look at the world around me for inspiration. So I did. At that time, the Ebola crisis was all over the news. It was a devastating situation and I wanted to help be a part of the solution. I had found my project.
With the outbreak spreading so quickly, I decided that I wanted to find a way to diagnose the virus earlier so that treatment could be delivered as quickly as possible to those who were affected. I read online about silk’s amazing storage and stabilizing properties, and wondered if I could use silk to transport antibodies that could test for the virus. After many failed attempts (and cutting up lots of cocoons) I finally succeeded in creating a temperature-independent, portable, and inexpensive diagnostic test that could detect the Ebola virus in under 30 minutes. I was really excited that my research could help contribute to saving lives, and I was proud to be selected as the Grand Prize winner a few months later.
As the 2016 Google Science Fair launches today, I wanted to share a few tips from my own experience: First, as my teacher once guided me to do, look at the world around you for ideas. If you’re stuck, try the
Make Better Generator
to find something that excites or inspires you. Second, find a mentor who’s interested in the same things as you. There are a lot of
helpful ideas
on the GSF site to get you started. And finally, don’t get discouraged—often what first appears like failure can teach you so much more.
I urge other teenagers like me to take this opportunity to find a way to make the world around them better. Every one of us, no matter our age or background, can make a difference—and as young people, we’re not always so afraid to try things that adults think will fail. But change doesn’t happen overnight, and it often starts with a question. So look at the world around you and challenge yourself to make something better.
Science isn’t just a subject—it’s a way to make things better. So I hope you’ll join the
conversation
and
enter the Google Science Fair this year
. Our world is waiting to see what you come up with!
Young people who are changing the world through science
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Posted by Andrea Cohan, Google Science Fair Program Manager
(Cross-posted from the
Google for Education Blog
)
Sometimes the biggest discoveries are made by the youngest scientists. They’re curious and not afraid to ask, and it’s this spirit of exploration that leads them to try, and then try again. Thousands of these inquisitive young minds from around the world submitted projects for this year’s
Google Science Fair
, and today we’re thrilled to
announce the 20 Global Finalists
whose bright ideas could change the world.
From purifying water with corn cobs to transporting Ebola antibodies through silk; extracting water from air or quickly transporting vaccines to areas in need, these students have all tried inventive, unconventional things to help solve challenges they see around them. And did we mention that they’re all 18 or younger?
We’ll be highlighting each of the impressive 20 finalist projects over the next 20 days in the
Spotlight on a Young Scientist
series on the Google for Education blog
to share more about these inspirational young people and what inspires them.
Then on September 21st, these students will join us in Mountain View to present their projects to
a panel of notable international scientists and scholars
, eligible for a $50,000 scholarship and
other incredible prizes
from our partners at LEGO Education, National Geographic, Scientific American and Virgin Galactic.
Congratulations to our finalists and everyone who submitted projects for this year’s Science Fair. Thank you for being curious and brave enough to try to change the world through science.
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