61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Jean Li

MARYLAND
Jean Li, 18, of Potomac, investigated the origin of carbon compounds in primitive meteorites and the mechanism for their development in her earth and space sciences project for the Intel Science Talent Search. Because sugar-like molecules had recently been identified in meteorites, Jean believed that formaldehyde could be the precursor molecule, rather than certain hydrocarbons as previously suspected. Working in the geophysical laboratory at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, she attempted to model chemical reactions that possibly occurred in space during the early formation of the solar system. Analysis of the solid product formed indicated a pathway between formaldehyde in the interstellar medium and the prebiotic carbon present in meteorites. At Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Jean is senior coordinator of the mentoring program and plays varsity lacrosse. Fluent in Chinese, she is intrigued by language and its history; in the ninth grade, she invented a "secret language" based on the English alphabet and pound signs. Jean was born in the People's Republic of China and is the daughter of Dr. Zhaohai Li and Li Li. She plans to attend Columbia.