Arnab Dey, a senior at Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, was recognized with a second place award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Dey was awarded $1,500 in the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering category for his project Novel Oral Drug Inhaler Design to Optimize Drug Deposition in the Lungs.
Society for Science & The Public, in partnership with the Intel Foundation, announced the winners at the Grand Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, Calif., May 13. Dey also received two special awards: $1,000 first place from the American Intellectual Property and Law Association and $150 second place from the Patent and Trademark Office Society.
"Arnab's research project was outstanding and has positive implications for the improvement of treatment for asthma. We are very proud of his efforts and his awards at ISEF,” said Dr. Janet Hugo, ASMSA director.
The participants are ninth through 12th graders who earned the right to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2011 by winning top prize at local, regional, state or national science fairs. Finalists this year competed for more than $4 million in total awards and prizes and were judged on their creative ability and scientific thought, as well as the thoroughness, skill, and clarity shown in their projects.
“Arnab has a very creative mind. He represents a new generation of great scientists,” said Dr. Janice Sullivan, ASMSA dean of academic affairs. “With this project, Arnab was able to tackle a health problem by creating an instrument to alleviate the human condition. He represented ASMSA and the state of Arkansas at the highest level of excellence.”
Arnab is the son of Madan and Tripti Dey of White Hall. He plans to study aerospace engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
(Arnab is pictured talking to The Sentinel-Record reporter Jenn Ballard about his project.)