Lab-sponsored science fair winners awarded at international and state competitions

A senior sweepstakes winner of the 2010 Tri-Valley Science & Engineering Fair (TVSEF) sponsored by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in March has won an award at the 61st Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). The Intel Fair was held in San Jose, Calif., May 9-14.

In addition, two junior sweepstakes winners competed successfully in a team project at the annual California State Science Fair held in Los Angeles, May 17-18.

Rahul Doraiswami, an 11th grade student from Pleasanton's Foothill High School, placed fourth in the health and medicine division for his project, "Cancer Diagnosis Using Metabolic Fingerprint Analysis." The project uses a diagnostic tool called an artificial neural network (ANN) that mimics the brain and can learn how to spot the symptoms of prostate cancer.

Doraiswami was judged at the Intel competition against 1,600 teens from more than 50 countries. This was his first time competing at the national level.

The annual Intel ISEF is the world's largest pre-college celebration of science. Students compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips, and the grand prize - a $50,000 college scholarship.

Steven Wang and Paul Epperson, eighth grade students from Livermore Valley Charter School won second place for their team project, "Creating an Energy Efficient Solar Powered Water Desalination Apparatus," at the 59th annual California State Science Fair. Their project engineered a solar-powered apparatus that desalinates saltwater to provide drinking water and won in the environmental engineering category. This year, 960 participants from 394 schools throughout the state competed for awards.

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducted its 14th annual Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair March 30-April 2, in Livermore. The fair is geared for students in grades 7 through 12 from Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Sunol. Students compete for cash and other prizes, as well as a chance to represent the TVSEF at the next level of competition - either the Intel ISEF or the California State Science Fair.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (www.llnl.gov) is a national security laboratory that develops science and engineering technology and provides innovative solutions to our nation's most important challenges. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.