62nd Annual STS (2002-2003)
Finalists
Hyeyeon Choi

NEW YORK
Hyeyeon Choi, 18, of Dix Hills, was named a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search for her engineering project in polymer research. Although polymers are generally incapable of being mixed because of their physical properties, engineers are searching for ways to make them compatible. Hyeyeon joined the search through experimentation at SUNY Stony Brook Garcia Center, where-within a supercritical fluid chamber-she exposed specially prepared polymer samples to carbon dioxide and ethane in a state above the critical temperature and pressure where gases and liquids can coexist. She used an atomic force microscope and X-ray reflectivity for critical measurements, and believes that in all cases compatibility between polymers was achieved. She hopes her findings will have important applications in designing coatings, adhesives and new materials. At Half Hollow Hills High School East, Hyeyeon is a violinist in the orchestra, art club president and student government vice chair. A native of South Korea, Hyeyeon is the daughter of Jae Yong and So Young Choi. She plans to study chemical engineering at Cooper Union, and dreams of helping to build a hospital in Somalia one day.