64th Annual STS (2004-2005)
Finalists
David Qianli Ying

FLORIDA
David Qianli Ying, 16, of Miami, was named a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search for his botany project on fortifying a sweet potato cultivar, the purple-skinned Picadita, against viral infection, which could improve yield in this staple crop of southern Florida. Initially begun three years ago in his garage lab, his research focused on a novel process for propagating sweet potato plants using the topmost meristematic portion that outgrows its own existing pathogens. Using this pathogen-free meristem-tip insures that the new plants will be virus-free, thereby reducing susceptibility to pests, fungal and bacterial attacks. Implementing David's methods could benefit sweet potato agriculture worldwide, improving the quality of the global diet. First in his class of 700 at Coral Reef Senior High School and founder of its peer tutoring program, David began his first math lessons with another's help: his grandmother in their native China. He also cultivates a passion for his Asian roots as president of the Asian Heritage Society and is an award-winning table tennis player. The son of Dr. Zhentu Ying and Lisa Wang, he would like to attend Harvard and conduct cancer and AIDS research after medical school.