
Stories by Laura Vanderkam


Simon DeDeo: For a Lifetime of Scientific Curiosity, the Sky's the Limit

David Fleishhacker: From Paleontology to the Humanities to Afghanistan

Michael First: Computing Chemistry, Then Psychiatry
Writing a computer program made him a 1974 Westinghouse finalist. Now he practices psychiatry, using data to drive diagnoses--including that of an accused September 11, 2001, attack planner...

Helen Wiersma: Fighting Weeds--And Mental Illness
A 2000 Intel Science Talent Search finalist's interest in science was sparked on her family's cattle ranch. Now she's studying for a PhD in biochemistry while managing bipolar disorder

Katharine Duderstadt: From the Peace Corps to a PhD
A 1985 Westinghouse finalist studied climate change, and now teaches high school physics

Robert Duncan: From Scrubbing Smokestacks to Superfluids in Space
A 1978 Westinghouse finalist studied physics, and now administers research at his home state's university

Kraig Derstler: Digging Up Dinosaurs Is in His Bones
A Westinghouse finalist's childhood fascination with fossils turns into a career in paleontology

Carmela Amato-Wierda: So Long, Solar
A 1984 Westinghouse finalist went from studying materials science to watching how others learn about matter

Tamir Druz: From Risking Check in Chess to Checking Risk in Energy Futures
A 1989 Westinghouse finalist studied how elite players choose moves, now he advises companies on how to think about the price of power

Joseph Demer: In Plane Sight
A 1973 Westinghouse finalist built a moon launcher, but today he operates closer to the ground as an eye surgeon--and he flies his own plane

Haig Donabedian: Finding a Medical Niche
A 1967 Westinghouse finalist's project focused on ecology and crayfish, but his career aspirations led him to treat HIV/AIDS

Richard Gott: From Crystal Structures to Time Travel
A 1965 Westinghouse finalist used geometry to figure out how metals act at a molecular level, and now studies clusters of galaxies

An Intel finalist finds a way to build better bridges

A high schooler who studied stem cells meets Pres. Obama the day he loosens stem cell regs

Regrowth after wildfires, and space elevators: More from the Intel STS

Intel finalist tackles the cellulosic ethanol problem

Jessica Boklan: A Last-Minute Math Project, Then Back to Medicine
A 1986 Westinghouse finalist works to come up with better treatments for devastating childhood cancers

That Splenda you're drinking will be in our water supply for awhile
