A student from American Samoa has placed 3rd in the Biochemistry Category of the 2023 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas.
She is Amelie Chen, 10th grader at Pacific Horizons School. Her project was using algae as a biofuel to replace diesel fuel in American Samoa because, as she puts it, algae is both naturally abundant and grows at a fast rate.
A video that Amelie submitted before the competition explains her findings.
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This is the highest placing that a student from American Samoa has achieved at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
In addition to placing 3rd in the Biochemistry Category, Amelie Chen placed second in a special category sponsored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID is the government agency which is in charge of US funded development projects in foreign countries.
Still reeling from the excitement and thrill of being placed in the top three among peers from all over the world, Amelie talked about the USAID award in a call with KHJ News this morning.
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The USAID prize was $3,000 and the one for 3rd place in biochemistry was $1000. Amelie says she will save her cash to help develop her project even further.
The winners were announced from fourth to first place and when her name wasn’t mentioned for fourth place, Amelie thought she had missed out.
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Amelie, who is American Samoa’s Territorial Science Fair winner, is the daughter of business couple, Manu’a and Michelle Chen.
Also competing in the ISEF were Daniel Lee from Pacific Horizons and four students from Faasao Marist High School: Heleina Willis, Dimple Bonhart, Penny Solaita and Princess Viesca.
Congratulations!
Photos: Pacific Horizons
