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Davidson
Fellows are students under the age of 18 who have completed a
significant piece of work in science, mathematics, technology, music,
literature, philosophy or outside the box. The
work of a Davidson Fellow must have the potential to make a positive
contribution to society. Since 2001, 127 Davidson
Fellows have been recognized by the Davidson Institute and each Fellow
has received a $50,000, $25,000 or $10,000 scholarship.
Positive
contributions to society made by the 2008 Davidson Fellows include:
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Inventing
a new type of solar panel;
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Designing
a computer model to aid physicians in patient diagnosis;
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Bridging
the relevance of classical music to younger generations;
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Improving
the mathematics of digital signal representations used in cell
phones and music players;
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Tapping
our history to explore themes of freedom, power and duty;
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Proposing
modified national education policy; and
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Debating
the role of science in our society.
Contributions of Davidson Fellows recognized since
2001 include:
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Research in the field of number theory,
with results that have broad implications in cryptography, specifically to protect against identity theft.
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Used antimicrobial properties from bees’
honeystomachs to create a preventative measure protecting honeybees
from the fatal American Foulbrood Disease (AFB), which affects the
pollination of billions of dollars in agriculture crops worldwide.
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Developed
a new drug delivery method to increase the efficiency of
chemotherapy treatments, thereby controlling tumors in areas where surgery is not
an option.
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Developed
an effective method of treating malignant
glioma, the deadliest
form of brain cancer, combining chemotherapy and gene therapy.
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Researched
the physics of dust particles to aid in the design of
exploration and support systems for Martian spaceflight missions.
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Investigated
the relationships of specific proteins in the human immune system in
order to develop more effective treatments for HIV patients.
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Researched
the effects of residual pesticides on human breast cells and
neurons
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Performed
advanced musical compositions for piano, cello and violin at
Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center
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Created
a literary portfolio focused on deepening our understanding of
human responses to grief
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Discovered
new insights in how DNA
“bends” under certain circumstances to form RNA, providing a
foundation for future research in nanotechnology and
biocomputation.
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Confirmed
the
existence of a super-massive black hole in a neighboring galaxy
found by analyzing NASA data studying the amount of radiation
emitted from Centaurus A.
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Discovered
a biological
connection as to why people gravitate toward religion.
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Developed
mathematical modeling of
gasoline sprays to reduce automobile emissions.
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Utilized the herb
fenugreek as a cost-effective, safe and natural way to preserve
fruits and vegetables, and as a non-toxic water purifier.
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Click here to
visit the Davidson
Fellows Press Room.
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