62nd Annual STS (2002-2003)
Finalists
Adam Mikah Malin

NEW YORK
Adam Mikah Malin, 17, of Syosset, studied the emotional response of New York-area adolescents to the attack on the World Trade Center for his behavioral and social sciences entry in the Intel Science Talent Search. To assess emerging hypotheses in political psychology, Adam surveyed more than 100 students one month after the attack and again five months later. He combined a previously existing research instrument with original questions, and used statistical analysis to identify the extent of participant bereavement and vulnerability and to determine political orientation. As expected, he found that bereavement and vulnerability feelings dissipate over time, but he unexpectedly found that gender and political orientation had no effect. He believes that these kinds of studies promote better understanding of societal trauma and can aid in disaster relief. Adam is active in forensics and editor of the newspaper at Syosset High School. He is the winner of numerous research, science and forensics awards, and plays first alto saxophone in the all-county band. His interests include kayaking, tennis and constitutional law. The son of Amir Malin and Dr. Karen Green, Adam hopes to study economics in college.