Student honored for science project in Intel competition
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Swarup Swaminathan

FREEHOLD — A Multivariate Regression Model Estimating the Heats of Formation of Group 1 and 7 Molecules can sure sound like a mouthful of scientific jargon.

But for Swarup Swaminathan, of Howell, a senior at Freehold High School, that was the name of the project which allowed him to capture a semifinalist slot in the 64th annual Intel Science Talent Search, one of the most prestigious and rigorous science competitions for high school students in the United States.

“I’m very grateful to Freehold High School as well as the (Freehold Regional High School District) Medical Sciences Learning Center for their support in my research,” Swarup said. “I hope that I can continue [with] more research in the future, help society and life as well as becoming a physician.”

His original research project allows scientists to measure the heats of formation of various molecules based on empirical data.

“I had a lot of interest in chemistry and I looked at previous research conducted by [former] students in the program [who did] their research projects. This is conducted as a research project for the med-sci curriculum.”

Swarup said he spoke with teachers, advisers and previous students in the program and meshed his interests into one project.

Swarup will attend Columbia University, New York City, where he will major in biology and minor in Asian Studies. He then hopes to continue his education by attending medical school.

Formerly known as the Westinghouse National Science Award, the Intel Science Talent Search is America’s oldest and most highly regarded pre-college science competition and is often referred to as the Junior Nobel Prize, according to information provided about the competition.

This year, 300 semifinalists were selected from more than 1,600 students who submitted their original research projects which covered all disciplines of science including chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, social science and biology.

The Intel science projects were judged by 100 scientists from a variety of disciplines. The scientists evaluated each individual’s research ability, scientific originality and creative thinking.

Since the Science Talent Search started in 1941, Intel has contributed more than $1.8 million to improve math and science programs in high schools throughout the nation.

According to the Intel Corporation, Science Talent Search alumni have been the recipients of more than 100 of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including six Nobel prizes, three national medals of science, 10 MacArthur Foundation fellowships and two Fields medals.