65th Annual STS (2005-2006)
Finalists
Kate Elizabeth Lowry

LOUISIANA
Kate Elizabeth Lowry, 17, of Slidell studied gully images on Mars to determine how much water was needed to form them for her Intel Science Talent Search project in space science. While a NASA intern at the Ames Research Center, Kate evaluated more than 900 Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images, identified and measured 391 gullies in the northern hemisphere, processed the data, and estimated it would take 2.5 billion gallons of liquid water to form them. By overlaying gully location with ice content maps, Kate noted that the majority of gullies are found in ice-poor regions, suggesting that they were probably created by liquid aquifers. While at Ames, Kate also discovered a new way of manipulating MOC images that is currently benefiting research there. Kate hopes her research will eventually lead to manned Mars missions. At the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, in Natchitoches, Kate is president of the Honor Court, vice president of the French Club, treasurer of Beta Club and has received the Ambassador Award. A certified scuba diver, she intends to study marine biology at Stanford or Rice University. She is the daughter of James Lowry and Barbara Waelde.