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16 Year-Old Noel Turner from Satellite High School Naps Top Prize in Science Competition
During 10th Annual Ying Science Competition at the Orlando Science Center
Orlando, FL - (April 27, 2008) – Noel Turner, a 16 year-old Junior at Satellite High School in Brevard County, bested four other finalists for the top prize in the 10th Annual Dr. Nelson Ying Student Science Competition at the Orlando Science Center. His entry, "Bridge Over Troubled Neurons," earned $5,000 and a trophy for him, plus $1,000 for his science teacher, Lisa Scott, and $1,000 for his school. His research has already won prizes at the Brevard County Intercoastal Science Fair and he’ll compete as a finalist at the BioGENEius competition in San Diego this June.
Noel’s entry is directed at treatments to neural system diseases and injuries. His research focused on engineering a way to manipulate neurosystem stem cells on micro-sized scaffolds, which means constructing a way to introduce new cells into the body to help with diseases and injuries that damage, or kill, existing nerve cells. This project represents Noel’s first steps in research that could one day lead to treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s, disorders like epilepsy and Touret's Syndrome, and conditions such as quadriplegia and paraplegia.
Every year for a decade, Dr. Nelson Ying hosts this competition in collaboration with the Orlando Science Center. Ying is a philanthropist, scientist and entrepreneur. He wants to inspire tomorrow's science leaders today so he has worked with the Science Center to create this competition. This competition not only honors innovative student science research but also exemplary teens.
Research projects were solicited from students in high schools or homeschool equivalents in Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Osceola, Volusia and Marion Counties. Projects submitted were required to have an altruistic application – an ultimate goal of benefiting humanity. Past research topics have explored organ transplants, stem cells, Alzheimer's disease, environmental issues and faster delivery mechanisms for medicine.
The finalists were chosen after a thorough review by a distinguished panel of judges, which included event founder and sponsor Dr. Ying as well as engineers, scientists and educators from Lockheed Martin, Kennedy Space Center and the University of Central Florida. Finalists defended their research before this judges' panel on Saturday, April 26 at the Orlando Science Center. The awards ceremony was held today, April 27, at Steak and Ale in Maitland.
The remaining four finalists were all offered $1,000 fellowships to continue their research for another year, including Damien Dennis of Edgewater High School in Orange County and Mansfield Burlingame of Lake Brantley High School in Seminole County. Other finalists included Halei Benefield and Gordon H. Willson, both from Spruce Creek High School in Volusia County.
Noel is a native Floridian and lives with his parents and younger brother in Satellite Beach. As a young child, he not only overcame a stuttering problem but also Perthes' Disease (a degenerative hip disorder). These challenges inspired him to pursue medical science research. Noel is also an accomplished musician and composer and is active in student government and serves as president of his Junior class at Satellite High School.