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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 29 May 2007 SUBJECT: Good Hope School Intel Science Team Represent the Virgin Islands in New Mexico and a Student Returns Home With an International Biomedical Award!
Leah Guthrie, an 11th grader at The Good Hope School won a second place award and $1,000 from The States United for Biomedical Research (SUBR) at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Albuquerque, New Mexico on her project "Hypoglycemic Effects of Tecoma stans on Sheep as a Model for Type II Diabetes". Science Service, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced awards at the 2007 Intel ISEF Special Awards Ceremony in Albuquerque, New Mexico May 15. Seven students from The Good Hope School and two advisors traveled to New Mexico to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The Intel ISEF is the world's largest pre-college celebration of science. Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF brings together over 1,500 students from more than 40 nations to compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: a $50,000 college scholarship. Other representation at the fair included: China, Australia, Europe, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ireland, Germany, and Korea. Puerto Rico and St. Croix are the sole Caribbean representatives. SUBR awards are for the top biomedical projects that best demonstrate the goal of advancing human and/or veterinary medicine. SUBR is a network of nonprofit associations who have joined forces to promote health through science and education, to promote public understanding and increase appreciation of the values of biomedical research, including humane care and use of research animals, and provide access to accurate information about biomedical research and it's benefits. The purpose of Ms. Guthrie's project was to find an alternative to injecting insulin for Type II Diabetics. There is a high rate of diabetes among African-Americans and Hispanics, and Ms. Guthrie knew that Ginger Thomas in tea has been used as a traditional remedy in the islands for Diabetes. She worked with Dr. Robert Godfrey at UVI to test her idea that Ginger Thomas would lower blood sugar on sheep. She would like to continue this study and hopes that eventually her work will result in an affordable method to treat diabetes in humans. This was Ms. Guthrie's second year attending Intel's ISEF, which she earned the right to compete in by winning the top prize at The Good Hope School's Intel-affiliated science fair last March, the only Intel-affiliated science fair in the Virgin Islands. Under the auspices of Ms. Jane Coles, Good Hope Science Department Chair and Regional Director of Intel, this is the sixth year that The Good Hope School has participated in the Intel ISEF competition, part of the GHS science program made possible by a grant from the Edouard Foundation. Joining Ms. Guthrie in Albuquerque this year were Mary Cromwell '08, with a project entitled Finding an efficient Method to Prevent the Spread of Wildfire with Minimal Environmental Damage, which explored possible environmentally friendly ways to stop wild fires including using hay barrels soaked in commercial fire retardants; Tina Wattley '09 and Zahra Jackson '09 with Does Salinity Matter?, a project to determine the best conditions for restoring mangroves in the Virgin Islands; and observers who received honorable mentions at Good Hope's fair, Cerella Gonzalez '10, Ashlee Douglas '10, and Stephanie Thompson '08. Ms. Gonzalez, a first time participant, commented about the experience: "It's amazing! It is so great to meet people from different countries around the world, and fascinating to experience the higher levels of scientific thinking."
Left to right: Amanda Sackey, Middle School Science Teacher; Leah Guthrie '08, awarded a 2nd place prize; Mary Cromwell '08; Tina Wattley '09; Zahra Jackson '09; Stephanie Thompson '08; Ashlee Douglas '10; Cerella Gonzalez '10; and Jane Coles, Science Department Chair at GHS. |
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