* Sara Volz was awarded the top prize for her research, which included artificial selection to establish populations of algae cells with high oil content that can be used as economically feasible biofuel.
* Volz's project was selected out of an initial 1,712 entries from high school seniors. The 300 semifinalists were announced in January and 40 of those individuals were chosen as finalists and invited to Washington, the foundation stated.
* Volz established a home lab underneath her loft bed and sleeps on the same light cycle as her algae, the foundation reported.
* According to the Denver Post , Volz did some of her research with the help of Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy but found that it was more practical to keep all of her research in a single site: the same room where she slept.
* The Gazette reported that the Cheyenne Mountain High School senior first became interested in science when, as a kindergarten student, she did a project to discover which liquid froze faster -- water, orange juice or milk.
* Volz plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying biochemistry, the Gazette reported.
* Volz is field captain of her school's Science Olympiad team, captain of the Science Bowl team and debate captain of the speech and debate team. She also loves musical theater and has sung and acted in many plays.
* Volz stated that her long-term goal is to understand the universe.
* Elizabeth Marincola, the president of the competition co-sponsor, Society for Science & the Public, stated, "Society for Science & the Public is proud to join Intel in congratulating Sara Volz for her scientific accomplishments. Sara's work demonstrates how a young person who is fascinated by science, which she has been since a kindergarten science fair, can work with a few sophisticated resources and have a real impact on society."
* Intel assumed sponsorship of the Science Talent Search 15 years ago and has increased the annual awards by more than $1 million. This year, $1.25 million was awarded in the competition, the foundation stated.
* Past Science Talent Search winners have gone on to win seven Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, five National Medals of Science, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and even an Academy Award for Best Actress, the foundation stated.
