USA Science and Engineering Festival: The Blog
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1st Prize Winner: Zachary KatkoVideo: “Superluminal Communication”
Age : 17
School: Dansville High School, Dansville, Michigan
What are your favorite subjects?
Science and Social Studies mainly, though I also enjoy English.
Can you tell us what inspired you to make this video?
Firstly, my engagingly ruminative English teacher, Ms. Pauline Lee. She introduced me specifically to the Kavli Video contest. Secondly, I drew inspiration from numerous captivating science shows (eg. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, How The Universe Works, Brink, or of course Bill Nye The Science Guy). I love the great translators of science, and I drew extensively from them in my video. Thirdly, I drew inspiration from years running a game with my friends; my very own sophisticated Science Fiction simulation of sorts, a universe where imagining up a completely original technology or idea gave them an incredible edge, and gave me the inspiration to research rigorously into the feasibility of even the most otherworldly tech. Of course, none of the inspiration would have come to be without the motivation of my parents and teachers.
What do you want to study in college?
Physics (Theoretical), Psychology (Neurosciences), Philosophy, Evolutionary Biology, Political Science, English.
What kind of career do you want to pursue?
I want to work in a scientific career where I can apply my abstract mind, any of the fields above I have great interest in working in.
2nd Prize WinnersCurtis and Thomas Nishimoto
Video: “Up, Up, and Away : Fact or Fiction?”
Ages: 14
School: St. John Regional Catholic School, Frederick, MD
What are your favorite subjects?
Curtis: science and social studies
Thomas: science, social studies, and language arts
Can you tell us what inspired you to make this video?
In movies there are many instances where balloons are used to lift things. We liked the movie Up and wondered if balloons could really lift a house.
What do you want to study in college?
Curtis: science
Thomas: engineering
What kind of career do you want to pursue?
Curtis: science and film making
Thomas: engineering and film making
3rd Prize WinnerTim Eddy
Video: “A-Z of Zombies”
Age :16
School: Southern Cross K-12 , Lennox Head, NSW, Australia
What are your favorite subjects?
Physics and English.
Can you tell us what inspired you to make this video?
My friends and I were working on a script for a short zombie movie and then I found this competition. I thought we could make a really cool zombie movie while teaching the audience the actual science behind zombies.
What do you want to study in college?
I am very interested in physics and maths so perhaps engineering but I also really love film-making.
What kind of career do you want to pursue?
Maybe engineering or film.
People’s Choice Winner (tie)Maya Rugama
Video: “Universal Translator”
Age: 14
School: Edison Computech Middle School, Fresno, CA.
What are your favorite subjects?
My favorite subject is tied between science and English.
Can you tell us what inspired you to make this video?
I was inspired to make this video because I wanted to do something different for my quarter three
What do you want to study in college?
I hope to study science during my college years.
What kind of career do you want to pursue?
When I grow up I hope to become a family practitioner and specialize in dermatology.
People’s Choice Winner (tie)Jonathan Lee
Video: ” Love and Intelligence”
Age: 16
School: Ocean View High School, Huntington Beach, CA
What are your favorite subjects?
I do not have a favorite subject because I enjoy every single one of my classes. The reason, although seemingly cliché, is because every class teaches me something and will aid me in some way in the future. For example, English has helped with my script writing, Math has led me to be more methodical and precise with my actions, Art has taught me a new perspective on creativity, and History explains why things are the way they are. Knowledge is extremely important and interesting!
Can you tell us what inspired you to make this video?
I was inspired by the controversy of science. Things like the nuclear energy, particle smashing, bio-weapons, space mining, space debris, and cloning interest me because of the debate they instigate. Nuclear energy may produce clean and efficient energy but can also produce catastrophic results similar to Chernobyl and the Japanese crisis. What is the right answer; what is the best approach?
I wanted to chooses something controversial, but at the same time understandable. I did not want to create a video that only a small minority could understand; I wanted to create something that was universal. That is why I chose Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Love.
What do you want to study in college?
I want to go into film, television and broadcasting, or business.
