By Cindy J. Roth
The Intel Science Talent Search is one of the nation's most prestigious high-school research contests, which seeks out young students who have the potential to be the next generation of leading researchers and scientists.
"I was very thrilled, excited and happy," said Kennedy High School Science Chairman Bob Keltos about Wagner's finalist status. "They [Wagner and his Kennedy science research mentor Barbie Frank] put so much effort in. It's really nice to see the hard work was rewarded."
Wagner's research focused on new auxin-resistant mutations of Arabidopsis thaliana. Put simply, Wagner studied the effects of the plant hormone auxin on plant growth and development, and his results suggest that he found a new plant gene.
The humble Kennedy senior -- who is also valedictorian, president of the school's Yorker community-service and science-research clubs, secretary of the math team, and a member of the Key Club, band and cross-country and track teams -- said he was excited to be named a finalist, but the experience proved a little overwhelming.
Wagner's science honors also include a third-place award in Polytechnic University's Rube Goldberg Competition for a machine that added chocolate syrup and sprinkles to ice cream.
Keltos, Frank and Kennedy Principal Lorraine Poppe only had praise for Wagner, who they expect will have unlimited future opportunities in the science arena.
"He was our top-notch student," said Frank. "He's absolutely incredible. There was not a single topic he couldn't handle with ease."
Through the district's science-research program, Wagner worked on his project for a year. He estimates that he spent five hours a week during the school day, in addition to two days after school and 20 to 30 hours a week over the summer working with Dr. Lawrence Hobbie at Adelphi University in the laboratory to solidify his findings. Wagner said his hard work was worth it, and if he gets to term the new gene strain, he already has a name.
"AXR8," said Wagner enthusiastically, "for auxin resistant eight."
Wagner, who will attend Duke University next fall and plans to be a doctor or science researcher, said his parents supported his project immensely, and they deserve a thank you.
"My parents had a lot to do with this," said Wagner. "They drove me to Adelphi before I had my license and just supported me. I would stay up to 3 a.m. researching articles, and they would have to deal with my unhappiness and crankiness the next morning."
Even though Wagner has reached the Intel finalist stage, he continues working with Hobbie at Adelphi on additional projects, which Frank said is admirable and shows Wagner's intense interest in science research.
"He's done with Intel and done with the paper, and he still goes to Adelphi..." said Frank. "It's just fabulous."
The Intel Science Talent Search will announce its top prize winners March 11 in Washington, D.C. and give away $530,000 in scholarships.
SH: Changing curriculum
Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District's one Intel finalist and four semi-finalists come in a transition year for Central's science-research program. This fall, the district began phasing in multi-year improvements in the program to keep students competitive with other Long Island districts in contests like the Intel Science Talent Search and the Siemens/Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition.
Freshmen who elect to take part in the new Authentic Science Research Program receive an extra period of science laboratory each six-day cycle to prepare them and to establish the habits of serious science researchers. Also built into their schedule will be more student-teacher, one-on-one time through which students begin work on individual projects of their choosing.
Sophomore year, science researchers attend a class that provides them with a college atmosphere. They also receive an extra individual period of research lab every 12 days to review their projects with their teachers. By the time the students are seniors, they will have had three years of mentoring with district science teachers and with researchers in hospitals, laboratories and universities.
"The new program focuses the kids and gives them more time to focus on research," said David Kommor, Authentic Science Research Program mentor at Mepham. "Our kids who become involved in science research are involved in a million other things, and they need a specific time to do research because they are overextended."
Both Keltos and Mepham High School Science Chairwoman Laura Maitland said the number of students recognized over the years in the district has been sporadic, which led school officials to rethink the research program.
The new Authentic Science Research Program provides for more organization in research and development over a three-year, long-term project, which puts students in a position to identify and explore science topics and refine what they are truly interested in as they are molded to be excellent scientists.
Both the new and the old science research curricula will be offered in the district so that students who cannot fully commit to the authentic program do not lose the opportunity to expand their science horizons.
"If we just did authentic, you're cutting out a whole host of students who want to be researchers," said Lorri Lee Geraci, Mepham research mentor. "The two programs provide children with a choice of the amount of work they will do, so if they have other interests, they can do the old program. Both programs will work hand in hand."
Enhancements to the research program also include the district's expanded relationship with Cold Spring Harbor DNA Laboratories. Previously, only Advanced Placement biology students visited Cold Spring Harbor to conduct their labs. Now, the district's partnership with the lab begins in middle school.
"This opens students up to developing more research skills earlier," said Keltos. "They'll have the opportunity to see an actual working research laboratory, which very few ninth- and 10th-graders get to do."
Not only does the new program open doors for science-minded students, but it enlightens the eyes and minds of the district's science mentors, as well.
"I learn so much from them, and it makes coming here exciting and fresh, and I never know what their going to come up with," said Kommor. "The program can change a kid's life. You never know who might become a famous researcher or find a cure for a disease."
