Blair ties for most finalists in Intel science competition

Seniors Melis Anahtar and Gordon Su were finalists in the 2004 Intel Science Talent Search (STS). Blair tied for the most finalists with two high schools in New York, Byram Hills and Half Hollow Hills.

The STS is one of the most renowned science competitions for high-schoolers.

Anahtar and Su were among 40 finalists selected from 14 states and Washington, D.C., and were chosen from 300 semifinalists. They will compete for scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 in Washington, D.C., between March 11 and 16.

Anahtar's project, "Microfluidic Device for Rapid Isolation of Pure Leukocyte Populations," involved a machine that isolates white blood cells from blood while maintaining their characteristics. The device was the culmination of two summers of work at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Su worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., for his project, entitled "The Effects of Economic Globalization on Income Inequality in Post-Mao China." He developed equations to study the impact of globalization on the inequality between different provinces and populations in China. Su plans to pursue economics in college.

Thirteen Blazers were named semifinalists this year. Blair had more semifinalists than any high school in the nation except for Stuyvesant High School in New York. MCPS had a total of 15 semifinalists in the competition, a substantial portion of the 23 semifinalists from Maryland.

For the full list of Blair's semifinalists and their projects, visit http://silverchips.mbhs.edu

Additional reporting by Branden Buehler