Fall 2006

From Shanghai to Stockholm

Zheheng "Oscar" Shi '08 and Professor Piotr Chrzastowski-Wachtel of the University of Warsaw, a jury member of European Union Contest for Young Scientists, in Sweden last September.

Zheheng Shi '08, better known as Oscar, wasn't always sure he wanted to be a scientist, but his recent visit to Stockholm, Sweden, to participate in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists has inspired him, he says.

"The program was much better than expected," adds Oscar, especially since the competition was held in Sweden. Participants visited the Nobel Museum, walked the same stairs as the Nobel laureates, and attended lectures by laureates themselves. In fact, during the competition, scientists were meeting upstairs to determine this year's Nobel laureates.

Oscar's project, which uses nanotechnology to create a reusable paper for calligraphy and painting, was one of three chosen to represent China at the competition. The United States and Japan were the only other non-European nations (and thus not eligible for the prizes) that participated in the contest, with one project each. Overall, more than 120 talented young scientists, aged 15 to 20, competed. A jury of 15 distinguished scientists judged the 79 winning projects from national competitions covering a wide range of scientific disciplines. The exhibition of the student projects was held at Stockholm's National Museum of Science and Technology. Even though Oscar's project was not eligible to win, he received very encouraging advice from a number of judges, who expressed their disappointment in not being able to award him a prize. Now hanging on the wall of Oscar's dorm room in CPT is a copy of Alfred Nobel's will creating the prize. "It inspires me," he says. "The world is better because of these scientists. It would be nice one day to be one of them, but I can at least try to make a difference."

Oscar is spending the year at Taft before returning to Fudan University School in Shanghai, China. He also hopes to return to the U.S. for university. In the meantime, he e-mails the other science students he met in Sweden. "It's great to connect with so many students from around the world who are also interested in science."

The European Union Contest for Young Scientists was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from Sept. 23 to 28. For more information, visit http://ec.europa.eu/research/youngscientists.