Science Education News (SEN) Journal 2017 Volume 66 Number 4 December 2017 | Page 7

ASSOCIATION NEWS
2017 STANSW Young Scientist ISEF

By Stuart Garth
Young Scientist team have best ever
performance
in awards and scholarships at ISEF, the largest secondary
school science fair in the world. 1778 students from 78 countries
participated at ISEF 2017, with 440 (24.7%) winning Grand
Awards, presented to 1st to 4th placegetters in each of the
twenty-two categories.
The STANSW Young Scientist ISEF team performed outstandingly
at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
(ISEF) held in Los Angeles, May 14-19. The all-girls team came
home with USD $6,500 prize-money between them, three major
global media reports, a few thousand pins and hosts of memories
that they will cherish forever. STANSW has been sending teams
to ISEF, the ‘Olympics’ of school science and engineering fairs
since 1999, and this has been their best-ever performance.
Last year was the Young Scientist team’s previous best
performance with four 4th place Grand Award prizes and one
Special Award. This year, the all-girls team raised the bar even
higher, receiving one Special Award, one 4th place Grand Award,
two 3rd place Grand Awards and one 1st place Grand Award.
The 1st place Grand Award went to Macinley Butson (far left) from
The Illawarra Grammar School for her radiation shielding device
for breast screening patients. This was the first time an Australian
student has ever won a 1st place Grand Award, and she won
her award in the category of Translational Medical Science.
Macinley also received the honour of having an asteroid named
after her, a privilege only given to 1st and 2nd placegetters at
ISEF, winners of the US Science Talent Search Competition or
world-renowned celebrities who have been recognised for their
life-long achievements in their particular field.
The 3rd place Grand Award winners were Rebekah Kang (third
from left) from PLC Sydney and Mary-Anne Poyitt (far right)
from Redeemer Baptist School. Rebekah used a combination
of magnetite and feathers to attract and absorb the oil in
environmental oil spills and Mary-Anne conducted an extensive
native plant and topographical survey to determine the best way
of regenerating vegetation in riparian corridors. Jade Moxey
(third from right) from Sapphire Coast Anglican School