This cache is part of an occasional series about Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The cache is not located at the posted coordinates, though you can assume N45 and W122.
Since 1942, the Science Talent Search has awarded scholarships to high school seniors who do original research. Fifteen previous winners have received Nobel Prizes, including Susan Solomon who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. Previous winners have also earned numerous other prestigious scientific awards.
Quite a few young women have won the coveted first place in this national competition. I am very impressed with the quality and variety of first-place prize-winning scientific projects that these young women have completed which include:
- An investigation of increasing the oil content of algae to create an economically viable source of biofuel
- A study of the water quality of six environmentally impaired local streams with high E. coli and phosphate contamination levels, which led to the design of an inexpensive filter to remove phosphorus from the water
- A genetics project on the expression and function of two genes isolated from a lymphoma cancer-cell line
- The building of an accurate Raman spectra system out of a laser, a digital camera, a variety of lenses and a prism-like object to disperse light which makes relatively accurate wavelength measurements for a fraction of the cost of commercial systems
- A brain injury study that involved manipulating cells called astrocytes to promote neuron repair
- Identification of small molecules that could be useful as targeted treatment for infections caused by Candida albicans
- Designing and building a device to measure single-atom conductance across a nanowire
- A mathematics project based on matchmaking theory which has applications not only to dating but also to matching organ donors with recipients or medical students to residencies
- A study titled “Inferring the Neutron Star Maximum Mass and Lower Mass Gap in Neutron Star-Balck Hole Systems with Spin” that was published in The Astrophysical Journal
- Analysis of the chemical and physical properties along the river drainage system of a local river
- Development of a smart-phone based pulmonary function analyzer that can be used by people all over the world with parts that cost only about $35
- Creating a simple tool that uses satellite images and other available data to forecast crop yields in the upcoming season; the tool successfully forecasted crop yields for every country in Africa
- Mathematical modeling to determine the existence and probably locations of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) that may have been missed by the Kepler Space Telescope
Now for the puzzle:
Jamie Rubin
Shannon Babb – Christine Ye
Irene Chen
Paige Brown
Ana Humphrey
Maya Varma – Mariangela Lisanti
Yunseo Choi
Lillian Kay Peterson
Mary Masterman – Sara Volz
Indrani Das
The container is smaller than a fist so I chose to call it micro rather than small.