By Hector Flores
The contest winners were announced at a Washington, D.C., press conference held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Becker's project dealt with the potential development of a process that would convert proteins and peptides -- chemicals found in meat, fish, chicken and legumes -- into industrial and commercially important chemicals.
"When we process these meats, a lot of the left-over parts [of animals that are not eaten] are simply thrown away," Becker said. "This is a multi-billion-pound waste, and instead of throwing out these leftovers, we can utilize them [to make] valuable chemicals using a process that is environmentally friendly."
Becker added that this "friendly" process would avoid toxic or energy-taxing processes that are currently in use.
Becker first stumbled on his unique recycling idea when he was accepted into a research program at Michigan State University. The program was held last summer, and Becker was one of 28 students accepted.
At the university, students were given a description of the different lab groups available, and Becker decided on biochemistry. "I have always loved biology and chemistry," he said. "In high school, I started with an interest in biology, biochemistry, and now I'm into organic chemistry. Biology and physics always look at a problem that is either too big or too small, but chemistry, in general, is just the right size for me to grasp the interactions in the world and in our environment."
Becker's biochemistry/organic chemistry lab comprised a professor and graduate and post-graduate students. There Becker met his research partner, Ishan Roy.
According to Becker, the lab had three ongoing projects, and he and Roy found themselves working on one of them. They looked at a new way of synthesizing industrial and commercial chemicals by using proteins and peptides.
Becker got his idea from the work of the lab group before his, which achieved a conversion of lactic acid to propylene-glycol, a chemical found in anti-freeze. "This chemical could also be converted into polyester or adhesives, which are million-dollar chemical industries," Becker said. "This chemical could also be used as a substitute for ethylene glycol," a chemical found in nylon and almost all plastics.
"The fact that they were able to use this lactic acid to create an important chemical made us decide to look at other ways of creating needed chemicals by using chemicals found in biological waste."
Becker intends to use his prize winnings to fund his college education, and will pursue his studies in organic chemistry. And thanks to his placement in the science contest, he can now begin looking into some of the country's most prestigious colleges.
"I just started looking into colleges," he said. "I also started talking to people who have won this contest before, and they told me that this award just raised the bar for me. I have been told that 45 percent of the winners are accepted into MIT and another 45 percent are accepted into Harvard. If that is the case, I am starting to look into higher-level colleges."
