Scientific American Science in Action Award 2014 [UPDATED]

As a partner of the Google Science Fair, Scientific American awards $50,000 to a student, along with a year of mentorship, to take their project forward. Congratulations to 2014 winner Kenneth Shinozuka. More details: http://www.scientificamerican.com/education/science-in-action/

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The Google Science Fair is
a global online competition

where any student
between the age of 13 and 18

can enter Science Fair projects
on variety of topics.

Scientific American, which has been a
founding partner

of the Google Science Fair since it began,

gives annually an award called
Scientific American Science in Action.

The award is $50,000 and a year of
mentoring to further the project.

In the first year, in 2012,

our Scientific American
Science in Action winners were

Sakhiwe Shongwe and Bonkhe Malalela.

And their amazing innovation
was to develop a

simplified hydroponic system that used 90%
waste and vastly improved crop production.

The following year, is a 16-year girl
named Elif Bilgin

and Elif's great innovation was to make
bioplastics out of banana peels.

And these bioplastics could be used for
things like prosthetics

and insulation for cables.

This year's winner is Kenneth Shinozuka.

And what Kenneth did was so inspiring.

He solved the problem that affects
so many millions of people

who have a beloved family member
who suffers from Alzheimer's.

Kenneth figured out a way
to combine technologies

that could really benefit those
caregivers and patients in those families.

I believe that science is
an engine of human prosperity.

Frankly, what I am hoping for is

that programs like the
really inspiring Google Science Fair

invite more people into science

so we can help change the world
in better way.