Lakin Named Finalist In Global Science Video Contest – MyVeronaNJ
Verona High School senior Christopher Lakin has made it to the final round of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, though he did not win the Popular Vote part of the global science video contest. That honor went to a video on cryptography by Branko Malaver-Vojvodic of Peru. As we reported earlier this month, Lakin’s video is on the role of quantum physics in making solar power cells more efficient.
Lakin is now one of just 16 teenagers from all over the world–down from more than more than 11,000 registrants–who are competing to win a grand prize valued at $400,000. On November 3, we will learn whether Lakin has succeeded in his effort to win $50,000 for Alexander Cali, the VHS teacher who inspired his thinking, another $100,000 for a new science lab at VHS and $250,000 to pay for his college education.
Over the next month, Lakin’s video, and those of the other contestants, will be reviewed by a committee that includes Salman Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy; author and educator Lucy Hawking; Dr. Mae Jemison, science literacy expert, former astronaut, and principal, 100 Year Starship; retired NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly; Nima Arkani-Hamed, a professor of physics at the Institute for Advanced Study and Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Laureate; Rachel Crane, space and science correspondent for CNN; Huda Zoghbi, professor of pediatrics and professor of neuroscience and molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine and Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Laureate; Ijad Madisch, CEO and co-founder of ResearchGate; Jason Silva, a host on National Geographic Channel Television; Pete Worden, chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and executive director, Breakthrough Starshot; Esther Wojcicki, founder of the Palo Alto High Media Arts Center; and Terence Tao, professor of mathematics at UCLA and Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics Laureate.
All Lakin can do now is wait for the results.
Gloss