Senior Allen Shen Leads Team to Gold Medal in Global Science Competition
Allen and his team finished among the top 25 high school teams at year’s iGEM Competition, which featured a total of 360 teams from 43 different countries.
Boston, Mass.-- As senior Allen Shen sat in the Hynes Convention Center, a nervous excitement moved through him. He felt confident that his team had proved its theory, and he knew the team spent hundreds of hours over the last eight months on its experimentation and presentation. He hoped the judges would be impressed with his work and place his team in the top echelon of the competition.
Finally, the judges unveiled the gold medal teams. Allen quickly scanned the list and there he saw his team - Shanghai High School.
Finally, the judges unveiled the gold medal teams. Allen quickly scanned the list and there he saw his team - Shanghai High School.
“I was very excited. I prepared for this project since last April. I achieved my best in that moment,” said Allen.
Allen led a team of 10 high school students in the Giant Jamboree of the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) held in Boston earlier this month. Allen and his team finished among the top 25 high school teams in this year’s competition. The Jamboree featured a total of 360 teams from 43 different countries. More than 30,000 students have participated since the competition’s inception in 2004.
His team’s project titled “Dr. Thermometer: RNA Thermometer for Temperature Indicator with Color Display” focused on a new application of RNA – using it to provide a precise temperature for vaccines in transitto ensure vaccines are not rendered ineffective due to temperature fluctuations. The group sought to prove that RNA could be used in this manner to indicatecritical temperature changes much quicker. The team constructed a label which changes color if the RNA indicates even a minimal rise in temperature.
“Our project looked at using RNA in a way. There are other temperature indicators out there but they may take several days [to register temperature changes]. Ours is more precise and will only take about an hour.”
Last spring, Allen sought a summer opportunity for him to explore this interest further. He discovered an online course on RNA being taught by a professor from Fudan University. As part of this course, participants discussed the iGEM competition and would vie for a spot to a summer program at the Chinese Academy of Science.
Aligning the course work with the iGEM competition, participants in the course discussed problems in China that could be solved through biology. They settled on a discussion about the challenge of transporting vaccines safely over long distances and the public health crisis this challenged caused.
After completing the course, Allen earned an invitation to the Chinese Academy of Science where the students worked all summer to design experiments to test its theory, and effectively were trying out for a spot on the team. After months of tweaking and some moments of frustration, the team finally perfected its design and proved its theory.
Before the team adjourned for the summer, there was one final task – electing a captain for the fall competition. For the team, Allen was an easy choice.
After creating a wiki and preparing their presentation through the fall, the team presented their project earlier this month.
“Allen is one of those students who does not need to be motivated by grades or the promise of an accolade; he is driven by curiosity. He asks great questions to enhance his knowledge. Quite simply, he takes full ownership over the entire learning process,” said Mr. Brian Palm, Assistant Head of School, who teaches Allen’s AP Environmental Science course.
Allen is in the midst of the college application process. While he is still figuring out the school, he is set with a major. He plans to study biomedical engineering.
“I’d like to be a biomedical engineer and solve people’s problems.”
Allen plans to enter the competition next year with another team in the collegiate division. While he has many topics he’d like to study, one thing is for sure. Allen will deliver a viable solution to an important problem.
Become a Man of Action at Catholic Memorial
CM prepares students for the rigors of college and beyond. While here, boys embark on service-learning opportunities, leadership development, and character formation programs inspiring them to become confident, courageous young men motivated to do good in the world.
List of 1 items.
-
Catholic Memorial
Catholic Memorial
235 Baker StreetWest Roxbury, MA 02132P. (617) 469-8000F. (617) 977-5689
About Us
Catholic Memorial, the Christian Brothers School of Boston, prepares boys for college, manhood and a world full of unknown challenges, ambiguity and complex problems and the importance of relationships.
