Drop the STEM podcast

Introducing the first GROUP podcast ever and video interview recorded at EUCYS! Poojan Pandya and Leo Takemaru won First and Best of Category Award in Microbiology and a ticket to EUCYS Sofia, Bulgaria at Intel ISEF this year. They investigated the role of the protein CCDC11 in the budding of HIV, implementing CRISPR-Cas9 technology. They found that cells lacking CCDC11 showed significantly less budding than normal cells, suggesting that CCDC11 is critical in the process. With their outstanding results, researchers may have a new potential target when creating antiviral medication to fighting HIV. At EUCYS the dream team won the First Prize of 7,000 Euros! To literally see it for yourself, click on the Youtube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxjT0QXTvXI

Now you can tune into us on YouTube! along with ApplePodcasts, iTunes, Spotify and SoundCloud. Like, subscribe and follow the pod if you wanna take a few moments of science with us!

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EUCYS project: https://eucys.eu/projects-2019/investigating-the-role-of-the-novel-escrt-iii-recruiter-ccdc11-in-hiv-budding-identifying-a-potential-target-for-antiviral-therapy/

Adam Kelly became BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year and the winner of SciFest in Ireland. He won First, Best of Category Award in Systems Software and the Dudley R Herschbach SIYSS Award at Intel ISEF 2019 (Adam is going to attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony and Festivities this December). He has recently won First Prize of 7,000 Euros at EUCYS in Sofia, where we recorded and filmed! our conversation.

His software has direct applications in the verification of quantum devices; quantum algorithm design and investigations of quantum supremacy. Adam developed a novel method for state vector simulation. Unlike current tools, this enables the use of both hardware acceleration and distributed systems. The developments create a coherent approach towards the simulation of quantum circuits, that can be used by any researcher to improve the simulation process for any quantum circuit.

Now you can tune into us on YouTube! along with ApplePodcasts, iTunes, Spotify and SoundCloud. Like, subscribe and follow the pod if you wanna take a few moments of science with us!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPkrzY9E6Lg&feature=youtu.be

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dropthestempodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dropthestempodcast/ @dropthestempodcast

EUCYS project: https://eucys.eu/projects-2019/yoptimised-simulation-of-general-quantum-circuits/

The microbio gang is growin’ (exponentially): Emily Kang, from San Diego, sunny California, won second prize Grand award in microbiology at Intel ISEF 2019. Her project is called: Turning Over a New Phage (that pun though): A Novel Approach to Phage Therapy. Her approach minimizes the potential for resistance in bacteria. She’s also involved in synthetic biology; Emily is going to the iGEM competition hosted by MIT this fall. Her group is using E.coli to degrade toxic compounds in crude oil. Let’s take a few moments of science!

The STEM shoutout goes to a non-profit organization, STEAM for all. They “strive to provide meaningful community service opportunities, develop leaders through student-led service activities, and promote STEAM education globally”. I had Pranav Moudgalya, board member on the pod expanding on the work they do and how you can be part of that impactful organization! Check out www.steamforall.org

Erik Hartman is an '18 ISEF alumni, he received the third award in translational medicine. Erik examined whether it was possible to coat a surgical suture material with a specific type of AMP and whether it gained an antibacterial effect. He's now studying biomedical engineering and biomedicine at Lund University. He's also engaged in the global competition iGEM and launched an international initiative as part of the iGEM outreach, SynthEthics. The goal is ensuring prosperity in a world of biotechnology. He was also working at Ungaforskare as part of the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar and the Nobel festivities.

This week's stem shoutout goes to the Lund iGEM team. If you wanna read about their work, who they are compromised of and so forth, check out their blog and Synthetics as well. There is an online questionnaire you can fill out on some of the most crucial questions concerning synthetic biology. It only takes 5-10 minutes, but you are taking part in answering some of the questions the future may hold.

If you wanna go the extra mile and share your viewpoint, just reach out because there is a more detailed task for you. The links are included in the infobox:

Blog: https://2019.igem.org/Team:Lund/Blog

Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWIAxv_exCt1-HFpmgvlJWA3gWBZJpOc0tORg-5cPWwk6HeQ/viewform

Don't forget that now we are available on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify besides SoundCloud.

Have you heard about magic squares? Who is better to solve the mystery of those fascinating mathematical designs than AnaMaria Perez, the best of category winner in Mathematics at this year’s ISEF. She proved the conditions necessary for symmetry, and corrected inconsistencies in previous work on magic squares. She took home: Mu Alpha Theta, National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society’s First Award, National Security Agency Research Directorate’s Second Place Award, and the American Mathematical Society’s Certificate of Honorable Mention. AnaMaria has a heart for the world of science, she also mentors younger science fair students, and she has recently attended MIT’s Research Scientific Institute this summer. Take a few moments of science with us!

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Music Credit: www.purple-planet.com

September is almost here, which means it’s time for EUCYS, the European Contest for Young Scientists! Last year it was hosted in Dublin, Ireland, where I actually met my good friend, Dana Venkert. Dana is a scientific researcher and project manager with 5 years of experience in academic research in the fields of Neuroscience, Neurobiology and Medicine. Her EUCYS project was on the effect of hyperbaric oxygen exposure on the DDR mechanism in astrocytes in relation to Alzheimer’s disease, which she conducted at Tel Aviv University. She is a spokeswoman at international conferences, and she has recently attended the Asian Science Camp in China as Israel’s deleagte, we’ve expanded on that unique scientfific experience as well. In her words science is “beauty and people”. Don’t miss to take a “few moments of science” with us!

This week’s STEM shouout goes to EUCYS, it will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, where Intel ISEF also sends students. The 2019 winners are Leo Takemaru and Poojan Pandya, from the state of NY, and Kaylie Hausknecht also from NY. Congratulations to them!

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Music Credit: www.purple-planet.com

How can you harvest kinetic energy from fish? Huai Pu Chen / Samuel from Taiwan developed an electrically powered tag that runs on the power provided by a fish’s swimming! With his project at Intel ISEF this year he won Second Grand Award in the category of Engineering Mechanics. He is passionate about marine life, goes diving and fishing almost every day; Samuel also recently attended the Student Conservation Leadership Summit at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus. So, this episode is so worth to TUNA into!

The STEM shoutot goes to a special event coming up, Save the Date Signature Alumni and Friends Event (10/19/19, The Stanford Faculty Club), organized by SSP. It brings together Society alumni who are noted innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs tackling the world's most intractable problems. You can register at the Society for Science Alumni Network.

As always, take a few moments of science with us! 😎 • Link in bio • @society4science #stem #stempassion #intelisef #intel #science #ISEF2019 #SSPalumni #dropthestem

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Music Credit: www.purple-planet.com

Jason Ping with his project at Intel ISEF this year won first and best of category awards in the category of computational biology and bioinformatics. He built and trained a machine learning tool to read and interpret medical literature on genetic variations to predict the effects of genetic mutations, which would otherwise require an significant amount of resources and manual labor. He’s also Student Council President, president of China Care, he’s in the National Honor Society, and many more. Jason also shared a coding pun from ISEF, take a listen now, don’t let it bug you any longer what that could be!

There’s also a special shoutout to a non-profit organization, “Engage STEM”. Learn more about the outreach and the international essay contest they’re hosting!

https://www.instagram.com/dropthestempodcast/

Music Credit: www.purple-planet.com

This ninth episode marks the podcast’s two month birthday since its launch, and it’s also special because I have Annika Morgan on, who won the first and best of category awards in the category of Biochemistry at Intel ISEF this year. She researched a way to make vaccines and other viral medications (such as the Ebola vaccine) storable at higher temperatures to reduce the cost of transporting them long distances. When she is not playing with viruses, Annika is working as an emergency medical responder, a lifeguard, or at the Youth Mental Health First Aid support team at Joel Barlow she co-founded. She is driven by an undeniable curiosity for science and a desire to serve others. Annika shared some valuable advice on time management and what the best way is to respond to bullies. Make sure to take a few moments of science with us!

www.instagram.com/dropthestempodcast/

Music Credit: www.purple-planet.com

The newest guest is Ritika Jeloka, who at Intel ISEF this year won Second Award in the category of Cellular and Molecular Biology. Her project, which she conducted at the University of Central Florida, focuses on Huntington’s disease (HD), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, and how it might be related from a molecular perspective to the process of oxidative stress, which she’s gonna expand on in the conversation. She is definitely characterized by an external focus, wanting to help others any way she possibly can. Take a few moments of science with us!

https://www.instagram.com/dropthestempodcast/

Music Credit: www.purple-planet.com