May 28, 2004 News Media Release

Two Austin-Area Students Win Awards at International Science Fair Competition

Santhisri Kodali, a graduating senior from Connally High School, placed second in the world in her category and Craig Wilson, a junior at Lake Travis High School, won one of 10 awards presented in his category at the International Engineering and Science Fair in Portland, Oregon held earlier this month with more than 1,400 students from 40 countries and all 50 states participating.

Kodali and Wilson advanced to the prestigious competition after winning "Best of Fair" at the Austin Energy Regional Science Festival where almost 2,000 students participated from more than 150 Central Texas schools and 13 school districts.

Kodali won second place from the Intel Foundation in the gerontology category for her study of how each time our body cells divide an enzyme called telomerase gets shorter and shorter, resulting in aging symptoms such as wrinkles and gray hair. Kodali subjected organisms such as Baker's yeast to concentrations of UV radiation and a plant hormone or UV radiation and an amino acid -- and then used a device that measures radiation to determine how the cells were affected. Understanding the telomerase is critical to finding cures for cancer, treating aging disorders, comprehending DNA and possibly extending life.

Wilson won a special award from the American Association for Artificial Intelligence by studying how neural networks (a form of a multiprocessor computer system) analyze the behavior of systems by imitating the behavior of the brain. His project tested the accuracy of neural networks.

The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival is Austin Energy's number one community sponsorship to encourage young people to pursue careers in science, math and engineering. Each year students enter science fairs at their local schools and advance to the regional competition where the top projects move on to compete and the state and international level.

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