62nd Annual STS (2002-2003)
Finalists
Tianhui "Michael" Li

OREGON
Tianhui "Michael" Li, 17, of Portland, submitted a physics entry to the Intel Science Talent Search based on his three-year study of inertial-electrostatic confinement (IEC), a radically different and significantly less costly way of confining nuclear fusion than conventional methods. Michael had already built two IEC reactors prior to the most recent phase of his research, which was conducted at the Propulsion Research Laboratory of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. As a student volunteer, he worked on developing a proton detection system and collimator-a device for producing a parallel beam of radiation. At the Oregon Episcopal School, Michael founded the school's DOE Science Bowl team and a geopolitical club focused on world affairs. He is the author of award-winning essays for competitions sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace and the World Affairs Council, and a recipient of the Young Artists Concerto Competition. An accomplished classical pianist, who has performed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, he has also studied Afro-Caribbean music forms. Michael is the son of Zaiyi Chen and was born in China. He hopes to study computer science in college.