Temecula Student Takes Fourth in International Science Fair

A Temecula student placed fourth in this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Ashley Bianco of River Springs Charter School was one of four students from Riverside County to win awards during the competition, the Office of the Riveriside County Superintendent of Schools announced today.

Bianco’s entry was entitled “Novel Genes and Mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana.” It was entered into the Plant Sciences division.

“We made a huge showing for California,” said Yamileth Shimojyo, science coordinator for the Riverside County Office of Education. “There were 45 students there from California, and seven of them were ours. And this was our first official turn at Intel ISEF. To do so well, in terms of awards, it was amazing.”

One of the highlights of the trip for the Inland students was a visit from Jessica Richeri. Last year, by special invitation, she became the first Riverside County student to compete at Intel ISEF.

Then a senior at Centennial High in Corona-Norco USD, Jessica took third place in electrical engineering. She is now an engineering student at Carnegie Mellon University, four miles from the Pittsburgh, Pa., site of this year’s Intel event.
The annual Intel ISEF event, which wrapped up last week, is the most closely-watched student science competition in the world, and the entrants’ work can be of the highest scientific order.

The fair featured 1,500 projects and students from 68 nations. This year’s overall winner, a 15-year-old from Maryland, invented a test for pancreatic cancer that is cheaper, faster and more accurate than anything on the market.
Families may not pay for their children’s participation at Intel

ISEF, a policy aimed at ensuring that entry is open to all students the world over, regardless of ability to pay. Student entrants may engage in fund-raising, however, and are typically underwritten by sponsors.

In addition, cash awards to winners are generally plowed into ongoing research. The Riverside County Office of Education contributed to participation expenses of all Riverside County competitors.

-- By Rick Peoples, Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools