By Hector Flores
³I was in calculus class, and I was called to the principal¹s office,² Goehring said. ³I went to Mrs. [Carol] Smyth¹s office and she showed me Newsday¹s list of Intel semifinalists, and my name was on the list.²
Goehring and Dorfman are part of Clarke¹s Science Research program. For his entry, Goehring designed a jet engine and conducted a computer simulation to test thrust output and stress, while Dorfman studied body image and the effects social and cultural pressures have on one¹s self image.
Smyth, assistant principal and research teacher, was happy with her students¹ achievement, and said that they came up with their own research topics and conducted their research independently. ³They do their projects on their own ...,² she said. ³It¹s good for them to come up with their own project ideas, and we encourage it.²
Goehring¹s project was inspired by his fascination with German ³flying bombs² ' rockets ' used in World War II. ³These rockets gave birth to the modern jet engines, and I wanted to design my own,² he said.
Dorfman¹s topic selection was motivated by a friend¹s bout with anorexia. ³I had an idea of doing a project examining body image,² she said. ³I compared high school students with college students, and we looked at how body image was affected by parent, peer and personal influences.²
No one was more proud of the students¹ hard work and dedication than their parents. ³I feel absolutely wonderful,² said Svetlana, Goehring¹s mother. ³He has only been in the country for four years and has accomplished so much. When he first came from Russia he only knew the basics, but he has learned the rest here. He has always been fascinated with knowing everything, and his mind is always working.²
According to George, Goehring¹s stepfather, in the last couple of months it was not uncommon for him to see his son working on the computer until 4 a.m. ³He would spend hours on the computer,² George said. ³He designed a rocket and did all the work himself. He even installed a 3D program in his computer to help him with his simulation.²
Dorfman¹s parents said her achievement was a culmination of years of work. ³She has been working on this project since her freshman year,² said Robin, her mother. ³It was hard work, including many hours of after-school and summer research. I know the caliber of students who win these awards, and I thank her advisor, Dr. Smyth, for helping her throughout the process.²
Each of the semifinalists receives $1,000 for their research. In addition, the high schools the students attend are awarded $1,000 for each semifinalist they produce. The award is intended for the high schools to further their education programs in science, math and engineering. Intel finalists will be announced Jan. 25.
The Intel Science Talent Search was created to encourage high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional ability in science, math and engineering to participate in an individual research project. Over the years Intel has become the most prestigious high school science competition in the country, with the broad support of the academic and scientific communities. Many past Intel participants have gone on to distinguished careers; six have won the Nobel Prize.
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