Friday, April 28, 2006

Today was the first day of student research presentations. The supported categories included environmental sciences, life sciences, and medicine and health/behavioral sciences. Naturally at breakfast that morning, the atmosphere was less festive as many students shook with nervousness.

Presentations began promptly at 9:00 and lasted throughout the day until 4:00, with a break for lunch in between. I chose to attend the medicine and health sessions out of general interest and was thoroughly impressed by the efforts and devotion of my colleagues to research. After each presenter finished his or her talk, the judges would retaliate with a brutal question-and-answer session, heavily criticizing certain aspects of the student's project or drilling the students for answers. When lunch struck, many of the students were relieved that it was over; they could finally relax and enjoy the rest of their vacation. For many others, however, the danger was merely getting nearer.

After the presentation session ended, student delegates were free to do as they wished until 6:30. While a few friends and I played ultimate frisbee, many others stayed in the lobby of the hotel, fighting with time to get some studying done for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, which were right around the corner. In fact, the first AP test was to be administered the day after JSHS ended! Of course, on one side my own conscience was urging me to join the others and study, but on the other hand, I wanted to enjoy this vacation as a means to get away from the hustle-bustle of a school environment.

Intel Science Talent Search reunion at JSHS. (Photo by Nirmish Singla)

We listened to more talks during dinner, the keynote address of which was delivered by a distinguished assistant professor of the Humans and Automation Lab (Aeronautics and Astronautics division) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After the speech, I watched Wedding Crashers with some friends and called it a night.