CBC Scholars Judge at the CPS Student Science Fair
Nine CBC Scholars volunteered as judges at the 61st Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Student Science Fair (SSF) held on March 24-27, 2011 at the Museum of Science and Industry. This annual event is designed to stimulate scientific interests among Chicago-area youth, to emphasize the value of original research, and to connect gifted CPS seniors with college scholarships. Each year approximately 300 individuals from a variety of Chicago-based academic, scientific, and business institutions serve as volunteer judges, providing expertise, advice, and encouragement to the Science Fair participants.
SSF organizers heartily welcomed the CBC Scholars to judge student projects in biomedical research areas such as Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Behavioral, Health and Environmental Sciences. The participating CBC Scholars — Qiyan Mao, Sam Nalle, Bryan Singer and Erin White from UChicago, Sevim Yildiz Arslan, Matthew Curtis and Lila Gollogly from UIC, and Lou Dore and Adam Pah from NU — were each responsible for judging up to 8 posters. Notably, UChicago CBC Scholar Erin White had the privilege of judging the poster of Lane Tech’s Saad Khan, whose project “Intracellular Signaling of Fox01 in the PI3K/AKT Pathway: Pathogenesis of Skeletal Muscular Atrophy” was one of the four top-scoring SSF winners. Saad will be heading to Los Angeles to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in May.
Terry Mazany, the interim CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, was on hand to address the SSF participants and judges. Terry is also President and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust and serves on the CBC External Advisory Board.
The fact that nine (out of 14 total) CBC Scholars volunteered their time and energy at this truly remarkable event demonstrates the CBC’s commitment to promote science education and scientific exchange within the Chicago-area community.
The MSI, ComEd, Excelon, Motorola, Takeda and Wolfram Research Companies were among the key sponsors of the 2011 SSF.
PHOTOS: The Fair opens with the ‘Big Bang’ (left). CBC Scholar Erin White (right) at Saad Khan’s poster (center top). CBC Scholar Sam Nalle (right) judging another project (center bottom). Terry Mazany addressing the SSF participants. (Photos: CBC)