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ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY i-f_ | |y| 3i/\ A Pioneering Educational Community Volume 13 No. 3 • Summer 1999 1999 IMSA Graduate Only U.S. Student Delegate to Attend First World Conference on Science ecent IMSA graduate Keith Good Company "Keith was a full-fledged member Winstein of Oak Park spent part As part of the U.S. delegation (see list of his summer doing something quite on page 3), Winstein "rubbed shoulders" of the U.S. delegation and he unconventional for an 18-year-old. with other delegates including Dr. Bruce often made comments to the Winstein was the only student in a Alberts, President of the National group of 11 official United States Academy of Sciences. Winstein's daily breakfast caucus, delegates to attend the first World membership to the U.S. delegation was explaining to them subtle issues Conference on Science (WCS) in proposed by IMSA Resident Scholar Dr. Budapest, Hungary, from June 26 to Leon Lederman. "Keith was a full-fledged such as intellectual property July 1. The conference brought together member of the U.S. delegation and he 2,500 scientists from 150 countries. often made comments to the daily break rights," Lederman said. fast caucus, explaining to them subtle issues such as intellectual property Forums focused on topics such as Traveling Abroad with rights," Lederman said. a Nobel Laure ethical issues and the public understand Co-sponsored by the United Nations ing of science, the intellectual and Educational, Scientific and Cultural institutional challenges that science now Organization (UNESCO), and the faces, opportunities that science offers non-governmental organization for short and long-term problem-solving, International Council for Scientific and the development of a new social Unions (ICSU), the WCS aims to contract for science. dentify the 21st Century issues that The Conference adopted two impor science needs to address as well as tant documents: A World Declaration examine the influence and impact on Science and The Use of Scientific that science has on society. Knowledge and the Science Agenda — "The primary theme of the Framework for Action. Conference was that in the 21st Century there would be a (Continued on page 3) 'new commitment' of science to human welfare," Lederman said. D E Class of 1999 Commencement 6 IMSA '99 graduate Keith Winstein and Resident Scholar From a University President 2 Dr. Leon Lederman take in the Great Minds Program Calendar 5 sights of downtown Budapest during a break from the World IMSA Fund Highlights 4 Conference on Science. News in Brief 7 Winstein was the only student selected in a group of 11 Science Explorers 5 official United States delegates Student Serves Capitol Hill 8 to attend the unprecedented conference in Hungary The Center®IMSA Programs 6 June 26-July 1. Young Scientists in Hungary 3 r^lMSA From a Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy 1500 West Sullivan Road University President Aurora, Illinois 60506-1000 630/907-5000 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman Dear IMSA Shareholders, John H. McEachern Jr. President Wayne Circuits Incorporated s president of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, I am delighted Vice-Chairman to write to you about the gifted mind and the important role IMSA plays in Sheila MB Griffin A Vice President and Director furthering gifted education. IMSA's contributions serve other institutions of higher Strategic Marketing Office Motorola Incorporated learning in Illinois and the nation as we seek to better prepare students for living and Trustees succeeding in the new millennium. Dr. Joseph Cipfl In education, we teach what we know, with research often viewed by some to Executive Director Illinois Community College Board be a useless and expensive diversion. Yet research and discovery are often the most Fred Conforti exciting and effective ways of teaching. This is the very essence of IMSA, where President and Chief Executive Officer discovery-based, integrative learning and research happen every day within this Pittway Systems Technology Group educational laboratory. At IMSA, students and teachers are asked to construct Dr. Sherry R. Eagle Superintendent their own knowledge rather than simply regurgitate facts and figures. Aurora West School District #129 As I have studied the multi-talented, this is a common theme for the vibrant and Dr. Forest Etheredge Dean gifted mind- the fascination of exploring the unknown from field to field. Goethe, the School of Business and Professional Studies Aurora University poet, basically invented the field of morphology. A musician found the planet Uranus. Bertrand Russell went so far as to say that had he read all the previous literature, he Steve Isoye Science Department Chairperson would not have made the mathematical discoveries he did. So too, even college and Highland Park High School younger students have the possibility of turning their basic studies into research to Dr. Glenn "Max" McGee State Superintendent make real scientific contributions. Illinois State Board of Education This spring at Illinois Wesleyan's research conference, senior biology major Karen James D. Pearson President Lindahl amazed us all with her calm announcement that she had found a new species, Aurora Metals Division L.L.C. a tardigrade barely a millimeter long, but a species never seen before in North Dr. Marsha R. Rosner America, nor probably the world. More affectionately known as waterbears, tardi- Professor The Ben May Institute for Cancer Research grades are a separate phylum with extraordinary ability to survive dry periods. Found The University of Chicago in lichens in two spots locally, the question now is where else does this tiny animal Dr. Keith Sanders live? Right now no one knows, but Karen and our Professor Susie Balser will work Executive Director Illinois Board of Higher Education with IMSA and other schools to define its range. Who can rule out an IMSA student Jesus Manuel Sosa perhaps finding another unknown species while helping in this search? Administrator Chicago Public Schools, Region One This spring, IMSA hosted its 11th Annual Presentation Day, where students Dr. Alfonzo Thurman presented the results of their research in physics, pediatric aids, artificial intelligence, Dean, College of Education Northern Illinois University impressionism, robotics and holography. This is just one reason why I have been so Dr. Michael S. Turner supportive and am so excited about IMSA. Its focus on student research and inquiry, Department Chairman real-world problem-solving, integrative learning and ethical leadership serves as a Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics The University of Chicago valuable teaching model, especially to other educators like myself who are passionate about helping students succeed in the classroom and in life. President Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall Sincerely, NOVA is published three times a year by the IMSA Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Policy. Send comments or questions to: Editor and Writer Brenda Buschbacher [email protected] Minor Myers, jr. President and Professor of Political Science at Illinois Wesleyan. Dr. Myers is writing a book on the multi-talented from the Renaissance to the present. IMSA Graduate (continued from page 1) IMSA Students Attend International Winstein is the son of Bruce and Joan Forum of Young Scientists Winstein of Oak Park. He won third place this year in the nationwide Intel MSA seniors Margaret Anderson "I received insights from an experi Science Talent Search Competition and I of Chicago and Maliha Mustafa of enced generation, the youth, people plans to pursue a degree in computer Mattoon were selected as two of only of developed and developing countries, science at the Massachusetts Institute 150 students from 50 countries to attend scientists and non-scientists, and people of of Technology beginning this fall. the International Forum of Young all cultures, religions and philosophies," Scientists June 23-24 in Budapest, Mustafa said. Hungary. The idea of a youth forum was Young scientists participated in one proposed by IMSA Resident Scholar of three discussion groups focusing on Dr. Leon Lederman so that the voices social science, physical science and of "21st century scientists," today's high natural science. World Conference school students, could be heard. Following the forum, the students on Science The forum was organized as a satellite presented major recommendations to U.S. Delegation event of the World Conference on World Conference on Science partici Science (see cover story) and was hosted pants including: that scientists should 1. Bruce Alberts by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. openly inform the public about research President of the National Some of its goals were: to confront and its wider implications; that ethical Academy of Sciences future scientists with challenges to be aspects be a part of all scientific under 2. Paul Berg faced by science in the 21st Century; taking and all education programs; and Professor, Stanford University to raise moral and ethical issues which that scientists help the scientific commu School of Medicine* social reception of scientific achieve nities in less developed countries and 3. M.R.C. Greenwood ments crucially depend upon; to discuss urge their governments to support long- Chancellor, University of general trends in motivation, education term grants for fundamental research to California, Santa Cruz and training of young scientists, maintain growth. 4. Neal Lane prospects of the scientist career and "It's comforting to know that IMSA President Clinton's other job opportunities open for young has already been addressing aspects of Science Advisor Ph.D.s, and the chances for and the ethics, research and science education," 5. Leon Lederman difficulties of creating global and Mustafa said. IMSA Resident Scholar* national scientific communities. 6. Jane Lubchenco Professor, Oregon State University 7. Shirley Malcom Head, Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs American Association for the Advancement of Science 8. F. Sherwood Rowland Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine* 9. Maxine Singer President, Carnegie Institution of Washington 10.