You may ask why I have an article of a 12 grade student from Liberty High in Hillsboro. It is because Liberty High is our High School here at Arbor Pass. See how Alex McCarthy is making Liberty High proud.By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian
January 21, 2010, 5:30PM
View full sizeTORSTEN KJELLSTRAND/The Oregonian Alex McCarthy, 18, is a semi-finalist in the national Intel Science Talent Search for his project involving solar energy, which brought him and Liberty High School $1,000. He often uses the balcony in his family's one-bedroom loft in Hillsboro for his other science projects, recently including a 7-foot construction crane that broke as he attempted to lift a slipper. HILLSBORO -- It's not uncommon for Alex McCarthy's parents to find pulleys, ropes and, occasionally, a crane dangling from the balcony circling their living room.
Eighteen-year-old Alex is driven by an insatiable curiosity about how things work. As a result, the Liberty High School senior recently was named one of five semifinalists from Oregon in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search.
While Alex's feat is admirable in itself, he isn't the only one in his family to be ranked nationally as a young scientist.
His older brother, Brian, placed third in the nation in the 2008 Intel Science Talent Search, winning $50,000 for his work involving solar energy.
Such accomplishments might be expected in a family of engineers or chemists, but their parents are not scientists.
Their father, Brian McCarthy, is a chef specializing in vegetarian meals for Bon Appetit, which contracts with Intel. Their mother, Karen McCarthy, is finishing a bachelor's of science degree in child and family studies at Portland State University. She also works in the home department at Fred Meyer.
Low-key and humble, like their sons, the couple says they made a point of letting their boys explore what interested them. "As long as it was safe," Brian McCarthy said.
That interest was usually scientific. As youngsters, the brothers built dams and bridges in a mud hole in their backyard. Over the holidays, they launched Lego airplanes across the living room balcony from a catapult rigged with weights.
Asked what sparked his interest in science, Alex thought for a moment and said, "Legos, I would say."
In between bouts of building, they played strategic board games. Their parents kept them away from video games and social networking sites, such as Facebook. Encouraged them to read, instead.
"The family goes a long way in encouraging that desire to learn," said Milt Scholl, who teaches science and math at Liberty High School. He taught both boys and coaches Alex on the school's new robotics team as well as their Science Olympiad team.
Eventually, Alex's inquisitiveness pushed him to follow his brother in investigating solar energy. Organic solar cells are less expensive to create than the silicone cells now used, but they're not efficient, because they leak electrons generated by sunlight.
Alex determined that a layer of some type of compound might keep the electrons from leaking -- making solar energy more affordable.
He patiently drew a picture to explain the complicated project and noted that, so far, he hasn't found the right compound. But, he said, "These things don't ever really end."
Despite the work-in-progress, the Hillsboro teen's research placed him among 300 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists from across the country. The number will be whittled to 40 finalists on Wednesday.
Those winners will receive a free week-long trip to Washington, D.C., in March to attend the Intel Science Talent Institute, which concludes with the naming of the top 10 scholarship winners and prizes ranging from $7,500 to $100,000.
The brothers developed their interest in solar energy through the Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering program, where they worked alongside graduate students in a chemistry laboratory at Portland State University. During different summers, each boy developed his own project to enhance solar cells.
"They were both extraordinary scientists: hard-working, creative and insightful," said Carl Wamser, chemistry professor at Portland State University.
Brian, 20, who is majoring in chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says his little brother has a passion for science, especially engineering.
"He seems to have this intuition for it. Even though I was two years older ... I could never do what he could with building," Brian said.
At Liberty High School, Milt Scholl described Alex, whom he's taught for four years, as very methodical in his approach to science. "It's a persistent intelligence," said Scholl, a former college professor. "That way of thinking gets him through everything."
Alex is considering mechanical engineering as his future. He plans to join his brother at MIT in the fall.
Brian has continued researching solar energy as a sophomore at MIT. Asked if he planned to partner with his younger brother to create the perfect organic solar cell, he said his research has moved away from solar cells, but he would entertain teaming up with is "best friend."
"I think we would make a good team, whether or not he would be interested I don't know."
January 21, 2010, 5:30PM
View full sizeTORSTEN KJELLSTRAND/The Oregonian Alex McCarthy, 18, is a semi-finalist in the national Intel Science Talent Search for his project involving solar energy, which brought him and Liberty High School $1,000. He often uses the balcony in his family's one-bedroom loft in Hillsboro for his other science projects, recently including a 7-foot construction crane that broke as he attempted to lift a slipper. HILLSBORO -- It's not uncommon for Alex McCarthy's parents to find pulleys, ropes and, occasionally, a crane dangling from the balcony circling their living room.
Eighteen-year-old Alex is driven by an insatiable curiosity about how things work. As a result, the Liberty High School senior recently was named one of five semifinalists from Oregon in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search.
While Alex's feat is admirable in itself, he isn't the only one in his family to be ranked nationally as a young scientist.
His older brother, Brian, placed third in the nation in the 2008 Intel Science Talent Search, winning $50,000 for his work involving solar energy.
Such accomplishments might be expected in a family of engineers or chemists, but their parents are not scientists.
Their father, Brian McCarthy, is a chef specializing in vegetarian meals for Bon Appetit, which contracts with Intel. Their mother, Karen McCarthy, is finishing a bachelor's of science degree in child and family studies at Portland State University. She also works in the home department at Fred Meyer.
Low-key and humble, like their sons, the couple says they made a point of letting their boys explore what interested them. "As long as it was safe," Brian McCarthy said.
That interest was usually scientific. As youngsters, the brothers built dams and bridges in a mud hole in their backyard. Over the holidays, they launched Lego airplanes across the living room balcony from a catapult rigged with weights.
Asked what sparked his interest in science, Alex thought for a moment and said, "Legos, I would say."
In between bouts of building, they played strategic board games. Their parents kept them away from video games and social networking sites, such as Facebook. Encouraged them to read, instead.
"The family goes a long way in encouraging that desire to learn," said Milt Scholl, who teaches science and math at Liberty High School. He taught both boys and coaches Alex on the school's new robotics team as well as their Science Olympiad team.
Eventually, Alex's inquisitiveness pushed him to follow his brother in investigating solar energy. Organic solar cells are less expensive to create than the silicone cells now used, but they're not efficient, because they leak electrons generated by sunlight.
Alex determined that a layer of some type of compound might keep the electrons from leaking -- making solar energy more affordable.
He patiently drew a picture to explain the complicated project and noted that, so far, he hasn't found the right compound. But, he said, "These things don't ever really end."
Despite the work-in-progress, the Hillsboro teen's research placed him among 300 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists from across the country. The number will be whittled to 40 finalists on Wednesday.
Those winners will receive a free week-long trip to Washington, D.C., in March to attend the Intel Science Talent Institute, which concludes with the naming of the top 10 scholarship winners and prizes ranging from $7,500 to $100,000.
The brothers developed their interest in solar energy through the Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering program, where they worked alongside graduate students in a chemistry laboratory at Portland State University. During different summers, each boy developed his own project to enhance solar cells.
"They were both extraordinary scientists: hard-working, creative and insightful," said Carl Wamser, chemistry professor at Portland State University.
Brian, 20, who is majoring in chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says his little brother has a passion for science, especially engineering.
"He seems to have this intuition for it. Even though I was two years older ... I could never do what he could with building," Brian said.
At Liberty High School, Milt Scholl described Alex, whom he's taught for four years, as very methodical in his approach to science. "It's a persistent intelligence," said Scholl, a former college professor. "That way of thinking gets him through everything."
Alex is considering mechanical engineering as his future. He plans to join his brother at MIT in the fall.
Brian has continued researching solar energy as a sophomore at MIT. Asked if he planned to partner with his younger brother to create the perfect organic solar cell, he said his research has moved away from solar cells, but he would entertain teaming up with is "best friend."
"I think we would make a good team, whether or not he would be interested I don't know."
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