2009 International Essay Contest for Young People
List of Winners
No. of participating countries: 134
No. of entries: 4,506 (Children’s category: 1,445 / Youth category: 3,061)

1st Prize
Children's category (1 entrant)Youth category (1 entrant)

Our Sea, Our FutureChrist Soselisa (Age 11, Indonesia)

Science and Struggle: The Fusion of Researchand Compassion
Parwiz Abrahimi (Age 23, Afghanistan &U.S.A. <Living in U.S.A.>)

2nd Prize
Children's category (2 entrants)
Youth category (2 entrants)

Building A Smarter Planet

Divya Gopinath (Age 11, U.S.A.)

Biodegradable Material for Electronic
Equipment

Electricity for a Change

Hamida Amalia (Age 19, Indonesia)

Amit Jung Himali (Age 11, Nepal)When Science Meets the World
Phang Wen Bin (Age 20, Malaysia)

3rd Prize
Children's category (5 entrants)
Youth category (5 entrants)

Motoharu Fuchikawa

Heidi Baumgartner (Age 16, U.S.A.)(Age 10, Japan <Living in India>)

Lilian Kanaya

Adeline Tiffanie Suwana (Age 12, Indonesia)(Age 16, USA & Japan <Living in U.S.A.>)

Mizuki Hashimoto (Age 13, Japan)



Hikari Kunitomo (Age 17, Japan)Denzil Furtado (Age 13, Australia)



Kim Pawliw (Age 17, Canada)Tatsuhiko Hasemi (Age 14, Japan)

Ruby Karmacharya (Age 21, Nepal)

Honorable Mention
Children's category (24 entrants)

Youth category (25 entrants)

Sae Takabe (Age 6, Japan <Living in Ghana>)

Fania Octavia (Age 15, Indonesia)

Sana Ghafoor Rahman (Age 8, U.S.A.)

Christopher W. Eur (Age 16, U.S.A.)

Mahiro Sena

Narumi Takahashi (Age 16, Japan)(Age 9, Japan <Living in U.S.A.>)

Shoko Arima



Chavdar Lalov (Age 9, Bulgaria)(Age 17, Japan <Living in U.S.A.>)1

Lovely Marian C. Masakayan



Kumiko Kato (Age 17, Japan)(Age 9, The Philippines)



Hongkeun Jeon (Age 17, South Korea)



Arjun Soni (Age 10, India)

Abhishek Raman Parajuli (Age 18, Nepal)

Jimin Kim (Age 10, South Korea)

Paula Szymczak (Age 18, Poland)

Nur Danya Shamun (Age 10, Maldives)

Milicevic Luka (Age 18, Serbia)

Yashi Srivastava (Age 11, India)

Anna Malinovskaya (Age 19, Russia)

Lillith Bulawa (Age 11, U.S.A.)

Ong Yong Ming (Age 19, Singapore)Yaislin Rivas (Age 12, Venezuela)



Istrate Irina Stefania (Age 20, Romania)Haruka Tada (Age 13, Japan)

Alexey Korenev (Age 21, Russia)

Rana MiyamotoKamil Mroz (Age 22, Canada)(Age 13, Japan <Living in Russia>)Ty Rithya (Age 22, Cambodia)

Antariksh Mahajan

Ankit Sharma (Age 23, India)(Age 14, India <Living in Singapore>)Carlos Antonio Alonso Bartesaghi Koc







Hiroki Otake (Age 14, Japan)

Taiju Sasaki (Age 14, Japan)



Irodahon Saidova (Age 23, Uzbekistan)Su bin Han (Age 14, South Korea)

Varuzhan Sahakyan (Age 23, U.S.A.)

Suh Yoon Lee

Daniel Noye (Age 24, Ghana)(Age 14, Korea <Living in China>)

Wara Urwasi (Age 24, Indonesia)

Sohum Rajguru

Elías Rubén Calizaya Mamani (Age 25, Bolivia)(Age 14, India <Living in U.A.E.>)Marie Goto (Age 25, Japan)

Valeria Liseichikova (Age 14, Belarus)

Zemfira Inogamova (Age 25, Kyrgyzstan)

Kenta Bani

Manya Ranjan

(Age 23, Peru)(Age 14, Japan <Living in Bolivia>)
(Age 25, India <Living in U.S.A.>)

Hu Fangda(Age 14, China <Living in Singapore>)

Taro Henmi (Age 14, Japan)Eriko Numata (Age 15, Japan)

Best School Award
No School Applicable2

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children's Category - 1st Prize]

Our Sea, Our Future(Original)
Christ Soselisa(Age 11, Indonesia)
SD Kristen Kalam Kudus Ambon

In my life, there are some people that inspire me. People that comefrom different backgrounds, but they were in common for their
spirit to fight for what they believe and made a dream come true.
People who dedicated themselves to make a better world foreverybody else. They are Mahatma Gandhi for his life principle oftruth and non-violence, Albert Schweitzer for his cares, love andrespect for all living things, Thomas Alfa Edison the great inventorof modern science, and Jacques Cousteau for his passionate love forthe sea.

Sea is two-thirds of the world. I live in Ambon, the capital of Moluccas province, Indonesia,
where sea is ninety three percent of the total province. Moluccas has more than ten thousand
six hundred kilometers long coastal side. Indonesia has eighty one thousand kilometers longcoastal side. The sea and the coastal areas play important roles in our small place. We have
many kinds of dishes made from sea product. In some area fishermen grow seaweeds toexport. Sea vehicles are important as transportation infrastructure. Many people are
depending on the sea.

But I am surprised to see that not too many people are taking good care of the sea. Many
people only take benefit from the sea but give nothing except pollutant and damages in return.
It is like symbiosis of parasitism. There are a lot of garbage, especially plastic garbage arefloating, cast along the coastal side and sinking at the bottom of the sea. I saw also
sedimentation of the sea as the impact of deforestation which damages the beach and coastal
life.

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I believe we should give something good to the sea as a return thanks for all the delicious food
we eat, nice pearl accessories we wear, a wonderful scene it offers, and so on. Then we cancontinue to get a quality of sea products and its carried benefits. It is a cycle of life of giving andreceiving.

I live in the time where the world is getting old. Pollution, deforestation, green house effect,
climate change, global warming, are words that I often hear. All those give direct impact toquality of life of sea creatures. I want to participate in action to minimize all of them, eventhough in the future I want to become an oceanographer astronaut.

Currently, there are some research on the micro algae or also known as phytoplankton, like
Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae. These sea products can produce bio diesel, bio ethanol,and its waste used as a fodder. There is no waste product, and minimize pollution. I want toparticipate in this kind of research, to find more products to replace fossil oil. They are nonpollutant, support the endurance of food, benefit to use also for medical purpose and all comefrom the sea.

Ambon has huge potential and facilities to support me in this research, in nature, expert
people, and traditional knowledge. In nature, beside the sea and the coastal areas, we getsunshine almost every day of the year for the photosynthesis process. There are laboratory
and library to use in the local university, and local expert both modern and traditional toconsult.

I hope by the time more people realize there is so much life support we can get from the sea,
then everybody will start to treat the sea with care and responsible manner with some respect.

In the future, I am going to continue this research to the next level. There are some planets
which are like earth and possible to discover as the next earth, and has a sea. Micro algae are
one of the living creatures that can survive with very limited living support. Micro algae also
absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. This research shall make micro algae as one ofliving pioneer to carry to the new earth. Some scientists believe that life has started from thesea. I believe sea is our future land. Our future life.

42009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 1st Prize]

Science and Struggle: The Fusion of Research and Compassion(Original)
Parwiz Abrahimi(Age 23, Afghanistan & U.S.A. <Living in U.S.A.>)
Yale University School of Medicine, Yale University Graduate School

Science and technology seem a world away in the vastly populated
Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul. Driving along its single
congested road, one can see laborers lingering for a day's opportunity
to work, donkeys bearing loads of sun-baked bricks, and antiquatedbuses adorned with colorful streamers and poetic Persian decals.
Where the paved street ends, cars are forced to a halt by giant
mounds of gravel placed in the middle of the dirt road for nearby
construction workers. Hidden behind the mounds of gravel, ahundred meters down a muddy alley lined with dilapidated adobe houses, is a gem lost in thebustle of post-Taleban Kabul: Marefat High School. On the days that I am not instructing thebiology and chemistry laboratories at the American University of Afghanistan, I volunteer as ascience teacher at this community-led high school. It is here I decided that scientific researchcombined with social awareness and responsibility could make the conditions we live in betterand more sustainable.

Once, after a class in which I introduced blood groups and blood typing, a female student
asked, “If my blood group is Rh negative and my fiancé is Rh positive, what steps can I take to
avoid problems during child birth?” She was referring to rhesus-sensitization, in which amother can develop an immune reaction when bearing a child whose rhesus blood groupdiffers from her own. In a Western high school setting answering this question would havebeen easy, but in this case I did not know how best to respond. In a resource-poor country like
Afghanistan there is little health care infrastructure to address problems such as this. I was
reminded of the great needs and meager means Afghans have for health care, and thought
long about what future applications of science and technology might do to enhance medicine
and health education for Afghanistan and other developing nations. In my vision for the future5

of science there is greater fusion between scientific research and global health imperatives,
creating a more prosperous world through improved health care delivery in the world's mostvulnerable regions.

The marriage between science, which seeks to address a fundamental biological question, andglobal health advocacy, which seeks to reduce worldwide health disparities, is a vital
component of my vision for the future. Scientific research must place more emphasis on
diagnostic and therapeutic clinical interventions that can be transitioned for use in areas thatcurrently lack human and financial capacity. This requires clinicians with an intimate
understanding of basic science, and scientists who have a clinical end goal through which they
can promote world health equity by developing culturally sensitive and cost-effective medical
solutions that address local public health needs. I envision carving a role for myself at thecenter of the interaction between clinicians, engineers, and scientists. I am pursuing joint
M.D./Ph.D. doctorates which will equip me with the clinical education and research experience
to be a successful physician-scientist. I hope to partake in translational pharmacological andmolecular medicine research in which I can combine my academic interests in medicine andscience with my background in the developing world. I aim to study diseases and new drugs
that can help alleviate the clinical burden on resource poor nations at the molecular level.

Through teaching, I have also come to see research and education as complementary. Science
instruction in Afghanistan has traditionally been dominated by the look-and-listen pedagogicalapproach, and does not engage students' interests or encourage them to think critically. Likeother schools, Marefat faces many technological limitations. When our electricity runs out, as
it does often, we use a mirror and sunlight to illuminate objectives on our compound lightmicroscope. Simple items such as salt, soap, water and rubbing alcohol become reagents to
extract cheek-cell DNA. It is not much, but the students gain experience, build confidence inthemselves, and are introduced to the scientific method.

Accompanying this future directionof science, I see a vanguard of scientists who understand that science has a role outside ofresearch centers, and will champion teaching, public outreach, and advocacy in addition toadvancing scientific research. With the right support from scientists who are willing to serve as
mentors and advocates, students like those at Marefat have the potential to become future
leaders who can help further drive the direction of science in a positive way that benefits
Afghanistan and the world at large.

6

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children's Category – 2nd Prize]

Building a Smarter Planet(Original)
Divya Gopinath(Age 11, U.S.A.)
Seven Bridges Middle School

As a typical American, I depend on energy. I’m a New Yorker, and we need heat in winter andthe occasional A.C. to cool us off. Maybe we’re not ready to conserve that much energy, butthere are certainly feasible ways to cut down on energy consumption. Americans, no doubt thegreatest consumers of energy, do have a slight issue when it comes to curtailing their needs
and wants. In 2004, the U.S.A. used approximately 2,325.9 million tons of oil alone.
Unfortunately, our energy consumption has consequences for the whole world. Global
warming and the dependence of the world on oil is, in my opinion, the biggest challenge facing
the world today.

There are small things we can do such as buying seasonal foods so there isless of a transportation factor in getting the food to you, or turning of lights and taps when not
in use, but this will not be enough to solve this crisis. Our only way forward is to use advancesin science and technology to save our planet.

Just recently, I participated in a program where children from all around the world would
invent or innovate to create something that would help people. My innovation, a machinecalled EcoFuels, harnessed solar power and used that energy to change carbon dioxide in tocarbon monoxide, and from there, morphing it into a synthetic fuel using a catalyzed chemical
reaction. EcoFuels is not fundable for large regions, such as the whole of New York, but small
cities around the world could depend on it. Although EcoFuels is not yet scalable for practicaluse, the technology that it depends on, such as capturing carbon from the atmosphere andconverting carbon dioxide into a synthetic fuel using the Fischer-Tropsch process, already exist.
As part of this process, I also researched other technological innovations into cleaner fuels. I
learnt that we have the knowledge to use algae to create bio-fuels, and that this fuel can evenbe used for jet engines!

7

We can also use our knowledge of science to develop better ways to deliver energy and to also
better control how much energy we use. Imagine something as simple as a sensor installed in
all our taps so that it would beep when the desired water temperature was reached. This way,
we wouldn’t have to waste water while we waited for water to turn hot or cold.

Imagine asmarter energy grid that was capable of monitoring energy use and diverting energy to places
that needed it.

Even as kids, we can use science to help educate our communities.

Earlier this year, I

participated in an international robotics program where I researched and reported aboutclimate change and global warming. On both topics, I gave suggestions to the town board
about how our town could prevent these two ‘cataclysmic’ events from happening.

For global

warming, I suggested, after evaluating two local libraries on how ‘green’ they were, that thelibraries could accommodate small changes in their system, like motion-sensor lights which
turn off automatically. Also, regarding climate change, there were certain floods on a parkway
in my area, and I suggested to the parkway coalition to plant willow trees along the edges sothat a) the willow trees would soak up the rain water and b) so that the trees could consume
carbon dioxide.

Additionally, I, along with my team, raised $3,000 donated to a public library

to buy an interactive white board, or a Smart Board, that displayed our team website and tips
to how to stay green, including a quiz so young children could learn. Also, aside from thiswebsite, we have climate change blogs that are designed so children can do their own part.
After all, the kids of today are the future of tomorrow.

Barack Obama declared in his inaugural speech, “… we cannot help but believe that the oldhatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows
smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role inushering in a new era of peace.” We should use this as a guide, and science and technology will
help make all of us equally prosperous. Cell phone availability in places like rural India hashelped poor farmers track the market prices of their crops; computer records have madepublic records easier to obtain in much of the developing world.

We are the people of earth,ready to overcome any challenge that faces us, ready to help others because we care; ready tobuild a smarter planet.

82009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children's Category – 2nd Prize]

Electricity for a Change(Original)
Amit Jung Himali(Age 11, Nepal)
Siddhartha Love Dale

There's a lot of power cut off in our place, Pokhara. The production of electricity is very less ascompared to the demand. Still we are having problem to get an easy access to thetechnological update like internet and other electricity devices.

We live in the urban areas and we are having such problems than what must have been toothers living in rural areas of western Nepal? Most of the villages remain dark and they are notable to have the facilities of electricity. This ultimately hampers them from having easy accessto internet, education, health, entertainment and information.

So this is also affecting the overall life style of such places. The people there have been
deprived from proper facilities of quality education which has not made them competitive andcapable. So, most of the rural people are not able to have equal opportunities and exposures.
They are bound to live a less privileged life making their upcoming generations living an
inequitable life. They are not able to get admission in good colleges and hence can't compete
for better jobs and chances.

As they are not having good quality education and don’t have access to good government jobs,
they are not able to make a proper reservations of their rights. This has made them to do low
menial jobs not providing them enough wages to have the basic needs fulfilled. The mostfavorable ways of living for them is the traditional method of agriculture, carpentry, fishery andworking as potters. Can this life give them a prosperous life? They were born poor and will die
poor.

9

Likewise there have not been any activities that can make them aware about sustainability. No
any better income generation activities and employment opportunities have been made. So
they are wasting the resources around and destroying forests for fire wood.

Now the major question is are they living such a life forever? When are they able to make abetter world for their living? The solution could be the provision of electricity. One village, one
micro hydro power could be the vision for the betterment of those area. It can bring a lot ofchanges in such areas enhancing their economic and social life.

There are perennial fast flowing river in such areas. The fast current of such rivers aredefinitely helpful for the production of electricity. The micro hydropower is cheaper and easierto build. It can be easily build by the community and thus helps in the proper regulation andmaintenance in the community level itself. This invention of Edison can easily bring a
revolution in such areas.

When the electricity is abundant

than it definitely helps in the development of job

opportunities. Many kinds of local cottage industries can be promoted that can create a lot of
employment opportunities thus encouraging the local empowerment. Local industries likeherbal industry, handloom carpet, paper industry will definitely get a lot of aid from this. If
there is enough electricity than the traditional industry can be modernized making it more
efficient and productive.

It can create more chances of job creation. If there are more job opportunities than it willdefinitely help to alleviate poverty which will ultimately lead to prosperity.

The people of these areas are quite deprived because they are not having an access to theinformation. Media like internet, television, fm radios have not reached there. So people are
not aware about their rights and facilities. If they can have constructive news on different
issues and ways to solve the issues then it will help to erase the dominance and inequity thatthey have been facing for centuries long. Untouchables, caste system, witchcraft have beenprevalent there and it could be eradicated. The discrimination between men and women canalso be erased. Such type of information will help to enlighten them thus giving them ways tolive an equitable life.

10

These areas are rich in different types of resources like herbs, minerals, forests .but due to thelack of information and proper utilization they have been destroyed and used in an unmanaged
way. If electricity could be used in an efficient way then it definitely helps to replace firewood
and minerals. It could thus help in the preservation of forests and different herbs. Thus
electricity could help in the conservation of ecosystem thus leading to a sustainable
development of the place.

I think to make the world a better place to live in electricity has an important role to play. I
want to study in the field of energy and hydropower which will create major changes in suchareas. To make revolution in a place we should focus on energy and electricity as it is the basisof every aspect of development leading to equitability, prosperity and sustainability.

11

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 2nd Prize]

Biodegradable Material for Electronic Equipment(Original)
Hamida Amalia(Age 19, Indonesia)
Bandung Institute of Technology

When I heard about this contest, I was remembering my first conference about living
environment held by Bobo magazine, the oldest kids’ magazine in Indonesia. It was 2001 andI was in fifth grade, more than 30 children gathered from almost all provinces to make adeclaration called Declaration of Children Conference 2001 in Living Environment. Thisdeclaration consists of two main ideas, The Water and The Waste. I was involved in composing
The Waste declaration which one of the point says, “We will separate wastes between theorganic and the non-organic ones”. After this declaration was accepted by all of delegations, it
was given to The State Minister for Environment as a promise from us to protect ourenvironment.

Time goes by. World changes every second, making many differences in each aspect of our life.
One aspect which changes rapidly is technology around electronic equipments. Whendeclaration was made, cellular phone was a rare gadget taken by elementary students. But
nowadays, every little kid in town brings this thing as communication need from their parents.
Now, let us imagine what will happen if all of those cellular phones are broken then asking theirparents to buy the new one. How many cellular phones do become non-organic wastes? How
we can process the waste? Is recycling a right solution to solve this problem? As one of thedelegation who makes a promise to my nation, I have an obligation to give another solution
better than what my friends made eight years ago about these non-organic things.

Besides the age shifting of electronic equipment users, kinds of electronic good which develop
every season make the problem of electronic waste or e-waste getting worse. iPod, BlackBerry,and Nintendo’s Wii are examples of common technology upgrading. If there is a new edition ofthem launched, everybody seems to have the newest one as part of lifestyle. On the other
hand, not every company handles their waste well. Based on Greenpeace data, Nintendo is the12worst company who manages their e-waste, with 0.8 as its index in November 2008. The first,
second, and third place are Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson with their score are 7.5, 6.9,
and 5.7.

This condition may become a huge problem in the future when the number of people increases
and it is impossible to find wide area for e-waste recycling. Where we will process them is aquestion we have to answer together, if we want a safe and green environment for ourchildren.

My opinion about biodegradable material for electronic equipment could be a good solution forelectronic company to make this earth a better world for human living. Perhaps, thissuggestion seems absurd but I have information that two electronic companies, Asus andFujitsu, have been becoming a pioneer in the making of eco-book. They have used bamboo
and cedar wood to replace the using of PVC for laptop’s body. PVC produces hazardous gases
for our environment such as chlorinated dioxins, a persistent material if it is burnt.

My optimistic mind says that if we concern about researches in biochemistry to find compatible
materials for electronic equipment, the pile of broken keyboards which I found its photo ininternet will be disappeared because its component can be eaten by bacteria. I have heard thatsome researchers have found the biodegradable plastic from starch. That is one step ahead toeco-friendly electronic equipment if this discovery develops in to the making of PVC. Even
though other scientists say that biodegradable plastic will make two new problems about theusing of farming area and genetically modified organism issue, I think it is an interesting topic
which our scientists have to find out more comprehensive. After we have done this projectsuccessfully, I believe that our chance to discover other materials will be opened, likebiodegradable integrated circuit or biodegradable memory card.

To answer this challenge, I wish I could engage in a research that involved microbiology,
biochemistry, and ecology together to find those materials. I know I still need some help fromother majors like chemistry engineering, electrical engineering, and material engineering.
From this research, I hope we can make zero-waste consumption, a principle states thateverything which consumed by human can be recycled by nature.

I understand that the path toward our goal is never easy. But with dream, hard work, and pray,
we can change word impossible to I’m possible!***13

References

Deklarasi Konferensi Anak 2001 tentang Lingkungan Hidup Majalah Bobo
http://greenflavour.blogspot.com/2008/10/biodegradable-laptops-solution-to-e.html (June23, 2009)
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/what-s-in-electroni
c-devices (June 23, 2009)http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/the-e-waste-proble
m# (June 23, 2009)http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up (June 23, 2009)14

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 2nd Prize]

When Science Meets the World(Original)
Phang Wen Bin(Age 20, Malaysia)
UCSI University

As I am typing this article, I have been thinking, if computer was never created in the past
century, will I be able to type this piece of essay by using MS Word to take part in thiscompetition? Without the great invention of World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee, can I
witness this breakthrough of information technology by knowing the existence of this contest?
As I put my thoughts into words, another question pops out of nowhere, “scientific discoveries
have brought us to the exhilarating world today, but where are we, the younger generation
going to bring the world?”

Standing at the crossroad, with much fear and excitement, my thoughts reeled back to themilestones achieved in science and technology in the past. We have Robert Hooke who cameup with the Hooke’s Law and the spring which has been very useful in many devices, Sir Isaac
Newton who has contributed in Calculus, Gravitational Law, and Law of Motion, Marie Curie
who found the elements polonium and radium, as well as Albert Einstein who has managed to
revolutionize the physics world with his notable Theory of Relativity.

However, at the same time, we do see some unprecedented consequences appear alongsidewith the advancement in science. Nuclear weapons and biological warfare pose a lethal threat
in causing massacre of mankind if they are deliberately used. With the growing understandingin genomics and biotechnology, cloning is made possible but artificial reproduction might cause
a huge impact on the natural selection in the survival of all living beings. A tremendous
increase in the consumption of fossil fuel has helped us greatly in transportation and brings in
wealth to some countries, yet the environmental destructions caused such as the depletion ofozone layer due to greenhouse gases have put our Earth at stakes.

15

As a generation of the new millennium, I suggest that a holistic approach in science andtechnology should be taken. To form a more equitable and sustainable world, we have toensure that science is being rightfully used to tackle educational, environmental, economic,
and social problems.

In bridging the “knowledge gap” between the advanced nations and the Third World Countries,
we ought to think about those children who might have lost the opportunities to learn at a very
early age, let alone being interested in science. Worldwide competitions like Intel International
Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and International Olympiads in Informatics (IOI) areindeed two successful initiatives in searching for distinguished young talents. However, these
two are only catered for the crème de la crème. We might consider adopting the method, byorganizing lower-level science camps and technology competitions, which are led by previous
years’ winners in ISEF and IOI. They can teach and inspire their peers who do not have thechances to get in touch with the trainings and teachings in the field of science. This innovative
idea is in line with one of the overarching objectives structured in the Medium-Term Strategy
of UNESCO from year 2008 to 2013-Attaining quality Education for All.

Innovations in cross-fields technologies have brought mankind to a new and bizarre dimension
which we have never thought before. Biomedical electronics, pharmacogenomics and green
technology are the megatrends in the 21st century, which I believe will pioneer thedevelopments and applications of science in the future. I remembered reading an article in the
Scientific American, about tidal power is the emerging new energy source. It dawned on me
that maybe we can adopt the biogas method to generate our vehicles. We all know thatmetabolism processes in our bodies produce sweat and carbon dioxide, but can we
manufacture a waste-detector in our car so that the waste materials can be absorbed and used
to fuel our vehicles? If this idea can work, the first organic car will be created and shake theworld with its enticing features!

Furthermore, I wish to spearhead a research in biomedical electronics field. I dream ofcreating an electronic device, equipped with a complex algorithm which enables us to decipher
what lies within our brainwaves and convert it to words. If we manage to achieve this, wemight be able to help patients who are having problems in dyslexia, autism and depression.
We will be able to listen to their thoughts and give appropriate medications.

16

Science dares us to dream the impossible, gives us the courage to venture into the unknowns,
and challenges us to be determined when we are doubtful. But to me, the word Science has adifferent meaning too, where ‘S’ stands for solidarity, ‘C’ for compassion, ‘I’ forinterdependence, ‘E’ for empathy while ‘N’ for neutrality. Science is about the perfectcombination of knowledge and humanity values. Only by understanding them, we can create
a better world through science and technology.

17

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children’s Category – 3rd Prize]

Electrical Outages and Influenza(Original in Japanese)
Motoharu Fuchikawa(Age 10, Japan <Living in India>)
New Delhi Japanese School“Hurry up and close it!”My mother reminded me sharply. Oh no, I’ve done it again. I hurriedly close the fridge. Habitsfrom Japan die hard and I do it time and again. I’m living in India because of my father’s workand electrical outages happen all the time here. Food goes off if the outage exceeds four hours
so I understand why my mother gets upset. From her perspective, opening the fridge during
an outage is outrageously mischievous.

In Japan, where electrical outages seldom occur, I took having a constant electricity supply for
granted. It wasn’t until I moved to India that I understood the convenience of refrigerators andthe value of electricity. I have always used large quantities of electricity without giving it asecond thought, but in India, I learned that many poor people can’t afford to use muchelectricity and others don’t even own electrical appliances. In other words, in India, there arelots of people who lead healthy and active lives without the advantages of science, even inurban areas. People can live without the use of technology!

Science develops over time and things that were impossible long ago are now possible.
Consider air conditioning and food preservation, for example. Appliances such as washingmachines and irons make many peoples’ lives easier, and televisions keep us entertained. Suchtechnologies are useful when available. Science is a necessity for me now. However, manythings aren’t really necessary for people to live as humans. Poor people in India get by without
using these technologies. Perhaps, just as I will never travel in space, there are certain
extravagant aspects of science that normal people never encounter. I suppose it can’t behelped that rich people use certain technologies that poor people can’t. Technologies can makerich people’s life more convenient and enjoyable. People who can’t benefit from them may be

18

a little jealous, but they still live with vitality. That is the way of the world. However, there is
one technology that should not discriminate between those who have access and those who donot, and that is medical technology. This is because medical technology affects people’s lives,
and whether they live or die. Medical technology is a field of science that should be equallyavailable to both the rich and the poor. This year, there has been an outbreak of a new type of
influenza, and my mother said, “Influenza is frightening, but we’ll be okay if we get a vaccine.”

However, I think that’s easy for us to say because we are Japanese. Everyone in the world
should be given a vaccine. I’ve heard the vaccine is still under development, but when there
are made, I think they should be distributed to everyone equally. It is not right that rich people
are helped and poor people aren’t. We are all human beings so our lives are all of the samevalue. To be equally useful for all people—I think the beauty of science lies in this aspect offairness. There are benefits of science that remain inaccessible to some people, but without adoubt, we also need some beautiful aspects that are accessible to all.

I haven’t got a definite dream for the future, but I would like to become either a scientist who
confronts fearful diseases such as new types of influenza, or to do a job that enables me to
distribute new technologies fairly to the people who need them.

19

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children’s Category – 3rd Prize]

Let It Light the Darkness: A Dream Comes True
(Original)
Adeline Tiffanie Suwana(Age 12, Indonesia)
Jubilee

The chirping birds, fertile rice fields, clean-fresh-air, the clear blue sky and the shadow ofchildren in the friendly community of Cilulumpang Village in the mountains of South Cianjur
give me energy and power to reach them although I have to walk along the 3 miles terrain.

Cilulumpang is the name of hamlet in the village of Cempaka, Mekarjaya that is reachable
within 4 hours drive from Jakarta where I reside and 2 hours walk to reach it.

The population of Cilulumpang reaches almost 300 heads of households with 4-5 members ineach of the family. Their source of living is through farming rice and various crops. The Cisoka
River flows continuously throughout the season to irrigate rice fields and also for day-to-day
needs. All daily needs are met from their existing natural resources.

However, there is only one thing not in Cilulumpang that is lights. Electricity is a dream, longed
by the children and the community. There is no electricity at school. Mothers cook with woods,
children study under the patch light and they use small flashlight to light at night.

It is quite surprising, in the 21st century, many villages in Indonesia still do not have electricity.
Almost 48% from the Indonesian population of 230,472,933 live in areas without electricity
supply due to the absence of a power plant capacity and difficult areas to access.

With desire, determination and commitment, I try to fulfill their dream into a reality especiallyfor the children whom I have met.: Euis and her friends, flowing the electricity into theirhouses for the children's studying, watching television and all other activities in the day andmainly at night.

20

The potential electricity we will apply is based on surveys and researches of the location
combined with my school knowledge of Science, Electricity, Mathematics and Physics. Theseknowledge will definitely help me in providing a new source of energy that isenvironment-friendly without damaging the mother nature.

As today's crisis environment causes climate change, this draws me to create a power plantthat uses natural potential nearby.

We will create a new source of electric energy that is environment-friendly. Cilulumpang has
great potential for water energy which comes from “Curug Dendeng” Waterfall in which thewater energy combined with a turbine and dynamo could be utilized and converted as a sourceof electric energy which we call as “Electric Generator Water Reel”.

For the turbine propellers, we use wood from jackfruit trees as it is resistant to water and does
not break easily. Dynamo is created by rolling copper wire into a roll-ball.

The children and community of Cilulumpang helped me to assemble the turbine into position
which would continue to revolve processing energy from the water into electricity.

The power which we get from the 18 metres head of the waterfall combined with the 14.16
litres per second flow(volume) of the waterfall will come into:

Power = Head X Flow X Gravity= 18 X 14.16 X 9.81
= 2,500 watts

But, the efficiency of around 80% from 2,500 watts is expected from the mechanical energy
into electrical energy which produces electricity for Cilulumpang.

Fourty families with children are prioritized to having the electricity with the power of 50
watt/family.

Living with electricity will provide a better life and development to the village. Moredevelopment activities can be carried through with electricity that is previously impossible.
This is definitely promoting better quality of life and economic growth to the villagers.

21

At the same time, we are utilizing an environment-friendly energy that does not increase theamount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which worsens the greenhouse effects; asearth's temperature rises.

It is such a relief feeling seeing Euis, her friends and other villagers are very happy, gratefuland excited having lights for the first time in their life. Now, they can also watch television andsee other part of Indonesia and the world.

A new source of energy utilizing the abundant potential energy of water in Indonesia willdefinitely give hope and encouragement to improve the quality and way of life; increase
productivity; improve education and health facilities, provide better economic activities;
increase new employment opportunities; improve the growth of the village as a whole;provide peace and spirit of mutual assistance for all villagers; bring and unite all villagers'
sense of togetherness in becoming an independent village which excels in welfare and better
life without destroying the earth.

Nature's gift combined with science and technology has become more wonderful when we
utilize them truly and rightfully. Nature has provided us the goods for our lives. Let us continue
to keep this balance of nature combined with the knowledge of science and improved
technology so that we can continue to feel the benefits without destroying our mother nature.

22

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children’s Category – 3rd Prize]

Photosynthetic Masks and Global Warming(Original in Japanese)
Mizuki Hashimoto(Age 13, Japan)
Otsuma Ranzan Junior High School

The environmental issue that worries me most is greenhouse gasses, the main cause of global
warming.

I say this because while ice on earth has started to melt and there are countries that are
beginning to sink, some countries continue to emit huge volumes of greenhouse gasses. Japan
too set a goal in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emission of six types of greenhouse gasses by six
percent over the five year period 2008~2012, but has actually increased emission by eightpercent. My concern is that although we talk about fighting global warming, nothing much has
improved.

Global warming is largely caused by greenhouse gasses. Of these, the substances regarded as
being the main cause of global warming are carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Carbon dioxide is mostly produced by people’s breathing and combustion of fossil fuels.

On the other hand, nitrogen oxides are mostly produced when fossil fuels are used. The
warming effect of nitric oxide—a type of nitrogen oxide that is also a greenhouse gas—is 310
times that of carbon dioxide. Moreover, nitric dioxide, another type of nitrogen oxide, also
causes phenomena such as acid rain and photosynthetic smog.

I think greenery campaigns are the best means of reducing carbon dioxide. This is because
plants photosynthesize and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, and although plants do emit
carbon dioxide at night, they absorb a greater quantity during the day when the sun is out. So,
having more plants can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide. Vegetation in urban areas
declined rapidly due to increases in the number of buildings. However, having learned that this23

affects global warming, campaigns are being launched to increase greenery and remedy thissituation. Rooftop gardens and the planting of grass in school play grounds also serve thispurpose.

As a means of reducing carbon dioxide, I would like to propose development of products thatuse chloroplast in a similar way to photosynthesis in plants.

My first proposal is a photosynthetic mask. Chloroplast would be jellified and a pocket would beincorporated into the mask where it covers the mouth. The chloroplast gel would then be
inserted into this pocket. The chloroplast would be made so that it is effective for one day. By
wearing this mask when they go out, people could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide theyemit while breathing. Moreover, a system could be created to collect used chloroplast gels andutilize them as compost in much the same way as leaves.

Furthermore, if it is possible to interweave chloroplast into fibers without losing its efficacy, it
could be all the more effective. Using such fibers in masks and clothing would make conversionof carbon dioxide into oxygen possible in many different places. On a farm, for example, lining
cattle sheds and so forth with fabric made of these fibers could help to reduce the carbon
dioxide emitted when animals breathe.

Filters are currently used in many ways. If the efficacy of chloroplast could be incorporated into
these filters, they could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during combustion offossil fuels. Installing such filters on all exhaust outlets could have a huge effect. We have tocontinue coming up with ways of converting carbon dioxide emissions into oxygen.

As a child I often caught tadpoles and crawfish, played “Tarzan” on a thick rope tied from a tree
branch, and got covered in mud as I played in nature. In order to allow the next generation toexperience and enjoy the same smell of soil and greenery, I would like to reduce waste and dowhat I can to improve the environment along with my engagement in greenery campaigns. I
will do my best to stop global warming even a little bit sooner. Finally, I would like to think ofways to spread ideas and actions however small, not just in Japan, but throughout the world.

24

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children’s Category – 3rd Prize]

Dynamic Science: The Makings of a Better World(Original)
Denzil Furtado(Age 13, Australia)
Xavier College Burke Hall

“Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination” (John Dewey).

As people around the world strive for the increased growth of society, it is becoming
increasingly evident that science and technology play key roles in addressing the needs andchallenges we face in the modern world, every day of our lives. If we as global citizens are toachieve this vision of growth and development, it is integral that unified action is taken at local,
national and international levels by everyone in order to achieve solutions to our common
aspirations.

Despite the advancements made by our past and present-day scientists, it is clear that sciencein our communities needs refinement. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Our scientificpower has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” It is timethat people around the world come together in the name of science and technology to help
break down the international, racial and cultural barriers between people, and to focus their
combined efforts into changing the world for the better.

According to the United Nations, 2001-2010 is the “International Decade for a Culture of Peaceand Non-Violence for the Children of the World" while 2005-2014 is the “Decade of Educationfor Sustainable Development”. In order to nurture both of these values, it is important that we,as members of the global community, create an awareness of the current inadequacies withinsociety, in turn becoming empowered to employ innovative initiatives [and play leading roles inthem] to address and rectify these current short-falls.

This is where my role as a youth, citizen, and most importantly, catalyst for positive change,
plays a part.

25

I believe that the key to development and growth on a global scale is in creating awarenessand fostering scientific outreach within communities of every kind.

Thus, the strategy I seek to employ involves a holistic, comprehensive approach to betteringscientific communities. Right from aspiring kids acquiring analytical thinking skills through theuse of specially-tailored ICT programs, to professional human-aid experts developing newnovel-cell therapy technologies, my projected scheme encompasses every level of science in a
generalized, yet radical, notion.

It is called the Dynamic Science Initiative (or DSI) and is centred on five main categories ofscience, (Power, Digital, Health, Eco, Creative) to be applied as a whole unit into the education
system from a secondary schooling level. During the schooling years, each area will be
explored through the use of various creative activities, after which students will have thechoice to further pursue one category of the program as a career choice.

Power: This area explores alternative, eco-friendly land, aero and aquatic propulsion
technologies and power sources. At a higher level, areas of research could include theenhanced study of magnetics (polarities) to provide reliable propulsion/power technology, andthe development of nanotechnology to support the power industry.

Digital: In the information age, the advancement of safer global media and communications
networks required for 21st century research is integral. This research will enable open
collaboration, conferencing and communication across borders, thus striving for harmony
among diverse peoples and cultures. At a youth level, the development of user-friendly digitaland ICT programs is to be addressed, which will serve to stimulate and improve kids’ learning,organisational, and analytical thinking skills necessary in later life.

Health: In this section, youths will learn about the physical obstacles and impediments facing
humans and ways to overcome them using science and technology. Professional engineers will
pioneer new ideas for improved human health, such as novel drug discoveries, biomedicine,and even bionics, looking to past inventions (such as the i-Limb) for inspiration.

Eco: This area deals with the conservation and protection of the biological, earth, andenvironmental sciences. Children will learn to appreciate and care for the ecosystem, while26

scientists will search for new ways of reducing our impact on society, through programs suchas biocatalysis (the manufacturing of renewable sources for sustainable development) andenhanced biomimicry.

Creative: This last section allows youths and scientists to explore their creative side in areas
such as entertainment, gaming and sporting technology.

Applying the DSI in this way will allow for two major outcomes. One, students will be granted
a wider awareness of science and technology from an earlier level, and will thus be able toacknowledge, address and act on pressing issues within the community. Secondly, students
who develop a strong passion for science will be able to establish, nurture, develop and follow
their chosen paths through life from an early age, hence, not only setting themselves up for abrighter future ahead, but also bringing us the enhanced ability for positive change throughour leaders of tomorrow.

Ultimately, the DSI will help to build a better and stronger science innovation system for thetwenty-first century.

27

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Children’s Category – 3rd Prize]“Science” Equals “Humans”(Original in Japanese)
Tatsuhiko Hasemi(Age 14, Japan)
Fuzokuchuugakkou Senior High School, Honjouhigashi

What kind of world would truly be a “better world”? It would certainly be a peaceful place
where there is no war; however, I believe that the future direction of the world will depend on
science.

Take nuclear power as an example. Presently nuclear power is used to produce energy, andbecause it has great power we are able to obtain a large amount of energy from it. But if thistremendous power is misused, terrible consequences will follow. An atomic bomb was actually
dropped on Japan, killing many and leaving serious aftereffects on people.

Science is useful yet, if its use is misguided, it will end up going in a bad direction. Today,“science” itself is evolving and changing rapidly. We often hear that science is “for the good of
humanity,” but can we really say that it is for “all humanity”? Personally, I believe that it is only
good for a small number of developed nations. This is evident if you look at how science
progresses in a way that is completely irrelevant to the plight of developing regions andnations. In other words, people who are advancing science have only themselves in mind.

What should we make out this situation? Even if people say that they are “dedicated to helping
the world,” they are “dedicated to helping themselves” after all. If we are really concerned
about the world, we should visit different places themselves, experience life there, and create
science that could remedy the problems found in such areas. If that is not possible, we shouldat least do our best to collect information and understand the current conditions of the world.

The state of the world is not as good as we think it is. In order to improve global conditions,
therefore, we must proactively explore ways to make best use of scientific accomplishments.
I myself too, would like to engage in such research when I become an adult. I want to be28

involved in the development of excellent science that would be really useful for theworld—science that would have an impact on all of humanity.

I have been thinking about what “science” should do, but during the process, I realized that“humans” come before “science.” It is humans that develop science, and it is humans that use
science. In other words, science is a creation of humans. Then the role of science must be therole of humans. In order to build a better world, however, human beings must change first.

Civilization has made remarkable advances, and these reflect human progress. Along the way,
however, people lost sight and became only able to see themselves. As a result, we see
disparity of wealth and gaps between nations.

I feel that right now we need to stop thinking about “I” and start thinking in terms of “You.” If
we don't develop science with a selfless spirit, we would not be able to create science that istruly “for the good of the world.” This is certainly a difficult task. However, if we do not do it
now, I think it will be too late. All humans have desire for benefits; this cannot be helped. But
by controlling that feeling, and by starting to think about others, I believe change is possible.
When that change of mind brings about change in science, I believe we will begin to see abetter world.

In conclusion, the “better world” I envision will be created not by the “achievements of science,”
but rather by the “hearts of people.”29

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 3rd Prize]

The Power of Science Illuminating the World(Original)
Heidi Baumgartner(Age 16, U.S.A.)
Hunter College High School

Only twenty hours after I took off from JFK airport in New York, I was behind the barbed wire
fence of a hotel in Liberia in total darkness and stifling heat. The electrical generator had
stopped working. It was an unreliable substitute for the power grid that had been destroyed
during the 14-year-long civil war. On the street, trucks spewed thick black smoke that choked
the air. I held my breath and hoped that no one would use the darkness as a cover for crime.
During the following two weeks, as I helped conduct high school science workshops for
Liberian students, I witnessed a broad range of problems afflicting the West African failed state.
And in that time, I made the decision to devote my future career as a scientist to solving them.

Liberia’s problems are by no means unique. About one third of the Earth’s population has noaccess to electricity, and for many more people electric power remains an unaffordable luxury.
Every year the poor spend the equivalent of over $35 billion in kerosene lighting anddisposable batteries—a large portion of development aid that should be used moreproductively. Many have limited access to fuel, and the consequent foraging for firewood
causes deforestation and destruction of the environment. Without access to cheap energy,
developing countries will not implement modern agricultural, manufacturing, information, andcommunication capabilities, thereby trapping themselves in economic stagnation. It is also
undisputed that without reliable renewable energy sources to replace rapidly disappearing
combustible fuels, the future of all human kind is jeopardized.

Just as scientists have time and again solved many of humanity’s problems, for example bymitigating famine and disease that plague third-world nations, they now must solve theworld’s next biggest problem. They face the task of developing clean, renewable sources ofenergy that will terminate our dependence on fossil fuels and ensure the stability of ourplanet’s climate. Their development of an inexpensive alternative energy source can assure

30

the prosperity of the poorest countries. This is possible by harnessing the power of nature, andin particular, the radiance of the Sun.

Methods of converting light energy into electricity are already known, but present solar
technology does not yet constitute a viable replacement for other means of electricity
production. The present limitation on the effectiveness of solar panels is the insensitivity thatsilicon in solar cells has towards a large part of the light spectrum. However, there exist otherkinds of crystals that function like silicon, which are sensitive to a far larger range of
wavelengths of light. These crystals are known as quantum dots, because they are so tiny thatthey are governed by quantum mechanics, the type of physics that reigns at small scales. A
compilation of these crystals embedded in plastic can form a solar cell whose efficiency
exceeds 90%. The sun shines everywhere, and a solar cell produces no greenhouse gases.

Quantum dot solar materials are on the brink of commercial viability; they are not a futuristic
fantasy. Once this technology is implemented, it will change the world. Clean, cheap, andsustainable solar power will vastly improve the quality of life for people in the most remoteareas of the globe. It will boost every person’s production capability and stimulate even thepoorest economies. Cheap electricity will power pumps that access water deep underground inareas with drought, and light lamps that keep streets safe at night. With quantum dot solar
panels, even the most remote village will power computers that bring it the vast databases ofknowledge of the internet. Individuals will be empowered like they never have been before,
and as the shackles of the power grid are broken, the only limit to learning and innovation willbe the human mind.

With good governance backing the constant stream of innovation that science provides,
humanity will be able to continue on the path of economic, environmental, and social
development. As I write this article, I am working at the Jefferson National Lab Accelerator
Facility in Virginia, where I have been funded to do my own research. I am building a cyclotron,
an instrument that I am using to create antimatter, a potential energy source that may be
exploited in the future. As long as such projects are actively supported, science will perpetually
open new doors in more ways that we can imagine. Deployed within the appropriate political,
economic, and organizational framework, science and technology will continue to provide
solutions to overcome poverty, promote sustainable development, and protect theenvironmental integrity of our planet. Once I embark on my career, I will ensure that all

31children in Liberia have electricity to study by after dark. If we work together to capture theenergy of nature, the power of science will transform the world into a better place.

32

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 3rd Prize]

Proposal: Innovating Solar Power Systems to Improve Lives(Original in Japanese)
Lilian Kanaya(Age 16, Japan <Living in U.S.A.>)
Chicago Futabakai Japanese School

When we think about improving the lives of people around the world, the first obstacle we faceis “disparity.” In order to overcome disparity and make the world more equitable, “distribution”
and “circulation” must take place. These two words are the key to making the world a better
place. It is of utmost importance that the wealthy countries willingly lend a hand to othercountries. Rather than giving things, they should “distribute” energy, which is the source of allthings.

The fundamental problem comes down to energy, and the energy source I’m thinking of iszero cost. Although the world aspires to become a low carbon society, we currently depend on
oil resources that emit carbon dioxide. It is nothing less than human arrogance to exhaust onlyin the past few centuries these resources that took hundreds of millions of years to make.
Depletion of oil resources is foreseeable and atomic energy is accompanied by danger.

Then what kind of power can we get for free from nature? Without a doubt this must be theSun. I would like to focus on the solar power—the blessings of the Sun shared equally among
all people. Let us consider using this for our homes, which is a part of our daily lives. (Refer tophotographs) Japan lead other countries on an individual level in that public subsidies forhomes that install solar power systems have been available for some time, and households use
this to lower their energy bills and sell any surplus. Other advantage is that the Sun does notemit carbon dioxide and therefore its use would prevent global warming.

On a national level, regions such as Africa that have summer conditions year-round are best
able to benefit from solar power. These regions could store particularly large quantities of solar
power which could be used in daily life for water supplies, air conditioning, lighting and engine.
Utilizing it for engine would facilitate a large number of production activities and stimulate33

economies. African nations could also benefit by exporting stored energy to regions inNorthern Europe with white nights. African nations which have been regarded as developing
countries could become countries taking the initiatives to distribute and circulate energy.
Perhaps developed countries could provide developing countries with free solar systems inorder to help their progress. The developing countries would be the ones to reap the benefits,
but this could be the most effective way to uplift the standard of the whole world. Solar energy
can be used in many fields such as solar utilities, solar means of transportation and solar street
lights, and it would contribute greatly to local communities.

Next, I would like to think about the use of solar power on a global level. It is a project on a UN
level in terms of budget and scale to create a large-scale reducing device that uses solar
energy to electrolyze water. Reduction would produce oxygen and hydrogen, and thehydrogen could be used as hydrogen gas in air conditioning. Furthermore, I’ve heard thathydrogen is useful medically for aging and cerebral infarctions. Another merit is that it iseffective at preventing degradation of industrial products. On the other hand, oxygen is usedin human treatments such as sterilization and detoxification. The installation of solar systems
in Africa, as I have proposed above, will not only produce energy but also its secondary
products, which could raise the level of healthcare in these regions. At any rate, it should be
introduced on a trial basis in Africa, and if it’s successful there, it should then be introduced inSouth America, another developing region.

An agency for the peaceful use of solar energy should be established within the UN and
entrusted with overseeing these projects. Then, various countries should send administrators,
engineers and medical practitioners. A system could be established so that ordinary
companies cooperating in this project could receive some kind of score as an incentive, and be
given a reward such as special tax treatment or financial incentive for accumulating this“cooperation scores”. These companies would be recognized globally as progressive
environmentally-friendly companies corresponding to their scores.

Put simply, the second key word “circulation” refers to “reuse.” Resources and products are all
limited so we have to build technological systems that facilitate the recycling and reuse of
these energies.

Partnership and cooperation between all countries in the world is indispensible to theimplementation of this dream project. In other words, we can only eliminate disparities and34

make the world a better place if there is peace in the world, and our perception of which comes
first, the chicken or the egg, is being questioned.

Accompanying Photographs:
The miniature house below was designed and built by me.
(Upper left) The black paint on the roof over the main building as seen from above is made ofa new type of highly sensitive solar paneling; it doesn’t detract for the house’s appearance
because it is the same size as the roof.
(Upper right) View from the back
(Bottom) The glass blocks in the semi-circular front entrance are designed to absorb solar
energy.

35

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 3rd Prize]

Scientific Development and the Coexistence of Animals and Humans(Original in Japanese)
Hikari Kunitomo(Age 17, Japan)
Fukuchiyama Seibi High School

Have you ever thought about the feelings of animals that have lost their mates as a result of
global warming or animal testing, and are suffering themselves?

My love of animals comes from having a pet dog as a child. Living creatures—from insects suchas ants and spiders to animals as large as elephants—are striving to ensure the survival ofthemselves and their kind. I have learnt so much from observing these animals.

There was a time when I wanted to become a vet in order to help them. Being a vet is awonderful job as you can help animals that are suffering. However, you can only help the one
animal in front of you at any given time. I wonder how many other animals suffer or die duringthat time. This thought frightened me, because it might make me feel powerless.

Then, what can I do to help my beloved animals?

The first time I found studying at school interesting was in science class in elementary school.
During science experiments, I was able to solve a long-held mystery and was amazed by
unexpected results. Over time, I came up with more questions and more things I wanted toknow. I want to continue solving more mysteries and learn more about things I don’t
understand. It was while I experienced such feelings that I decided to become a scientist andtackle environmental issues that cause so many animals to suffer. Then, even indirectly, I could
help save animals, including wild ones.

However, as my dream for the future grew, I came face to face with a cold reality: involvementin the field of science would probably involve conducting animal tests. Wasn’t I becoming ascientist because I loved animals and wanted to tackle environmental issues out of a desire to36

help them? Would it be right for me to assume a position in which I might hurt animals rather
than help them? Of course, it is true that animal testing has played a major role in scientificdevelopment.

Is it possible for me then to become a scientist dedicated to animals instead of a scientist
dedicated to mankind? I took this opportunity to think deeply about this in my own way.

In the end, I could not reach a conclusion. What I did understand was that this was a very
difficult and profound issue for me as I aspire to become a scientist.

So, I would like to devote a lot more time to this question as a theme in my life, and think about
it deeply by listening to lots of other people’s opinions and undergoing various experiences. If
my thinking should become biased once I become a scientist, I would like to remember thisfeeling and continue to question myself: What is the purpose of this experiment? Is this reallythe best method?

Also, I would like to do the best as I can to protect the natural state of our precious earth. To
this end, when I am a university student, I would like to study not just my own field but also
as many other fields as possible, and learn how to look at the problems from various
perspectives. Then, I would like to work as a volunteer in nature reserves around the world
and observe the ecologies of animals living in near-wild conditions. I would also like to visit
facilities in countries tackling environmental issues and areas affected by environmental
problems, and listen to various opinions in order to verify whether science dedicated toanimals is really appropriate. I hope that future scientists like myself would also think about
this question.

There is a limit to what I can do. However, even trivial things cannot be changed without action.
On the other hand, even if tiny, actions taken by many people will no doubt lead to a goodresult.

I hope to realize in this world what may seem difficult and only an ideal today. My wish is to use
the power of science and everyone’s cooperation to create a bright world for all living creatures,
including animals. Surely this must be the future role of science.

37

2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 3rd Prize]

Favoriser l’accès aux sciences pour construire un monde meilleur(Original)
Kim Pawliw(Age 17, Canada)
Cégep de Sherbrooke

Il y a quelques années, alors que j’étais en 3ième secondaire, un professeur a remarqué mon
intérêt pour la biologie et les sciences. Elle m’a proposé de participer au concours régional
d’expo-sciences. L’idée m’a immédiatement plu. Ce que j’ignorais à ce moment, c’est à quelpoint ma vision du monde allait changer. Pendant tout l’été qui a suivi, j’ai lu des articles
scientifiques et j’ai visité des musées afin de me trouver un sujet de recherche captivant. Mes
intérêts m’ont mené vers la biodiversité marine et les richesses de cet écosystème.
Passionnée par mes lectures j’ai réalisé que bien des menaces rendaient fragile cette vie
sous-marine. J’ai aussi compris que des sources inespérées de médicaments potentiels
pouvaient s’y trouver et que c’était inquiétant de voir la façon dont on traitait cet écosystème.
Lors des expo-sciences, j’ai rencontré des gens de partout, des étudiants comme moi, desprofesseurs de sciences et des chercheurs. J’étais comblée, car je me retrouvais dans ununivers où tous partageaient la même passion que moi et espéraient faire une différence dansle monde.

Comme moi, beaucoup d’élèves ont été attirés par les sciences lorsqu’ils étaient plus jeunes,
les petites expériences nous fascinaient, mais lorsque les cours de sciences et demathématiques arrivent au secondaire, on ne voit plus le côté magique: il n’y a plus de placeni de temps pour l’émerveillement. Les programmes sont trop chargés, les professeurs et leursélèves sont bousculés. Des heures et des heures de mémorisation de notions qui seront vite
oubliées, car elles ne seront plus utiles après les examens. On nous demande d’avoir des notes
formidables pour accéder à certains programmes: les étudiants n’ont quasiment plus le droit àl’erreur. Plusieurs jeunes abandonnent les sciences, étant démotivés par la charge de travail,ils ne se sentent plus concernés. Pourtant, je ne crois pas que ce soit seulement les personnes
ayant toujours eu de la facilité dans leur parcours académique qui deviendront nécessairement
les meilleurs scientifiques. Certes, il faut une rigueur en sciences, mais il faut aussi cesser de38

la réserver pour une soi-disant élite. Il faut raviver la passion initiale et redonner à la sciencesa place dans la vie de chacun. Notre planète se portera mieux lorsque les gens se sentiront
impliqués. Ce qu’ils voient présentement, c’est une planète en détresse, des inégalités entre
les peuples, des ressources non partagées, des choix de société douteux et peu de moyens
pour agir.

Pour arriver à donner à la science un rôle positif, j’encourage les jeunes à s’impliquer dans les
expo-sciences. C’est un moyen efficace d’acquérir des connaissances et de trouver des pistes
de solutions pour changer un peu le monde. J’ai la chance de vivre dans un pays, le Canada, oùl’on ne manque de rien, mais il m’est impossible de fermer les yeux sur les catastrophes que
vivent des millions de gens. Il m’est impossible de fermer les yeux sur le sort de notre belle
planète. Pour l’instant, je fais ma part en animant une chronique scientifique à la radio
communautaire de ma ville. Une fois par mois, je me donne comme mission de sensibiliser lesauditeurs aux problèmes écologiques et aux découvertes scientifiques. Pour moi, trouver unsujet scientifique, le maîtriser du mieux que je peux et ensuite le vulgariser en ondes constitue
une source de motivation incomparable! Sentir que la science est accessible et magiquecomme lorsque j’étais plus jeune, voilà une merveilleuse façon de se donner du pouvoir pourconstruire un monde meilleur. C’est en partageant nos connaissances que la science se portera
mieux, c’est aussi en modifiant les exigences d’admission dans les facultés de sciences que
nous verrons un véritable vent de renouveau. On ne changera pas le monde en répétant
toujours la même chose. Oui, la science doit avoir la mission de créer un monde plus juste,
prospère et durable, mais sans l’implication d’un plus grand nombre de jeunes dans un
parcours scientifique j’y crois difficilement.

Je vais terminer par une citation éloquente d’Albert Jacquard, tirée de son livre : « L’équationdu nénuphar », en parlant de la société et du système d’éducation, ce généticien et philosopheécrit : « Un changement radical d’orientation est nécessaire. Il implique de proposer aux
jeunes non pas de se faufiler dans la forteresse, mais d’en abattre les murailles ».

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Encouraging the Access to Sciences to Construct a Better World(English Translation)
Some years ago, a teacher noticed my interest in biology and sciences. She offered me toparticipate in a regional expo-sciences competition. I liked that idea immediately. What I
ignored at that time is how deep this moment will change the way I perceive the world.
Throughout the following summer, I read scientific articles and I paid visits to many museums
and exhibitions in order to find a captivating and inspiring research theme. All these studies
have led me towards the biodiversity of the sea and the richness of this amazing ecosystem.
Enthusiastic about my readings about the ecosystem of the oceans I realized the various
threats sea-life (under-water world) is exposed to and affected by. I also realized that thisaquatic ecosystem offers unexpected resources of potential medications, and I also becameaware how alarming it is to see how we are dealing with and misusing this ecosystem. At the
expo-sciences events, I have met people from everywhere, students like me, teachers andscientific scholars and academic researchers. I was overwhelmed, because I found myself in auniverse where everybody was sharing the same passion and enthusiasm than I did, and allcame with the hope to make a difference in the world.

Like myself, many pupils/students have been attracted by science when they were younger.
We have been fascinated by the little experiments, but as we move on to higher school grades,
we have been disenchanted by classes in sciences and mathematics. We couldn’t see and feelthe magical side of sciences anymore due to the way they were taught to us: there was no
more space and time allowed for wondering. The school (academic) programs and curricula
are too much filled with learning content; teachers and students feel stressed by a hugeamount of learning stuff. We spend many hours to memorize knowledge and formulas we
forgot as soon as we have passed the exams. We are requested to have excellent
credits/grades in order to be able to have access to specific study programs: it is almost
forbidden for students to make mistakes. The consequence is that many students are giving up
on sciences and are demotivated and frustrated by the huge amount of learning andmemorizing stuff. Many of them are no more interested in sciences. Nevertheless, I do notbelieve that academic students having excellent credits are automatically becoming thegreatest and most innovative scientists. Of course, there is a certain need of rigorism insciences, but it is also necessary to stop reserving it to a certain so-called elite. What is truly
necessary is to reawaken/revitalize the passion in each of us to discover things in life and to
put science back in everybody’s daily life. The state of our planet will improve when every

40human being feels involved and concerned. What people do see today is a planet in peril,
disparities among peoples, non-shared resources, unsustainable decisions and few ways forpeople to take action and get involved.

In order to give science a positive role and to reenchant science, I encourage young people toget involved in expo-sciences events. This is an efficient way to get some interestingknowledge and to find new pathways for solutions in order to change the world a little bit.
I am very lucky to live in Canada, a country of plenty, but it is impossible for me to shut myeyes and not see all the distress millions of people are going through. It is impossible for me toclose my eyes on the destiny of our beautiful planet. At the moment, I currently do my shareby leading a scientific program on the community radio of my city. Once in a month, I givemyself the mission to raise awareness of my audience about ecological problems and scientificdiscoveries. For me, finding a scientific topic, to learn about it and to master it the best as I can,so that I can share it with my audience of my city community through radio waves, constitutes
a deep and fulfilling source of motivation! Feeling that science is accessible to many people andmagical just like those times when I was a kid discovering my world is a marvelous way ofself-empowerment for creating a better world. It is by sharing each other’s knowledge thatscience will improve. It is also by changing the current requirements for having access toscientific/academic institutes/faculties that we will truly see a wind of change and renewal. We
will not change the world to the better by repeating always the same things. Yes, scienceshould have the mission to build a better, more just, prosperous and sustainable world, but
this will be quite difficult to realize without involving a great number of young people in thescientific process.

I would like to end with an eloquent quote from the philosopher and genetic scientist, Albert
Jacquard, picked from his book “Equation of the Nenuphar,” when he speaks about society andthe educational system: “A radical change of orientation is mandatory. This consists inproposing to young people not to hide into fortresses, but to tear town walls.”

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2009 International Essay Contest for Young People[Youth Category – 3rd Prize]

The Role of Science in Building a Better World: Shifting the Paradigms!!
(Original)
Ruby Karmacharya(Age 21, Nepal)
Kathmandu University

The last century was an era of scientific feats and marvels of technology. There were
unprecedented developments in science that marked not only the great achievements thatman made in terms of accelerating the development but also the ruthless uses of technologythat slowly made mankind to raise doubts about its future when left totally with the power ofscience. It is redundant to discuss the achievements and also the negative impacts of science
because these are discussed everywhere else. I would rather prefer to write more about theareas that are unique in the context of science and the society.

An important aspect that had been so far undermined is that the last century not only saw theunimaginable progress in the technological development in all the sectors, but the distributionof development that had been extremely skewed. Hence, this was also the era of increasing
inequity and there were significant differences between places in reaping the benefits ofdevelopment. This, if continues, will create even greater rifts between society and hence thegreat works in science will be overshadowed. This applies not only to the differences in thelevel of health care between countries, but also in the advances in information technology andthe impacts of climate change. Poor families in sub-Saharan Africa languish with the ravages of
HIV/AIDS without even the access to antiretrovirals. A young student in Latin America
graduates without having touched a computer. Kids in rural Asia make risky journey of hours
just to reach their school. And the list continues. It will be difficult to boast for the marvels ofscience, when such disparities hover all around. There is no magic solution to this. However,due consideration to pro-poor technologies and simultaneous efforts to bring down the costs
will lead to a better world, crafted with the beauties of science. Similarly, the language of
researches and the discussions on various issues are generally limited to the handful of few
experts. Very few things get understood by common people and they have negligible input inmajor discussions. Hence, efforts should be taken to make things more understandable and42also bringing the common people in the loop. Science represents the truth but truth is not justlimited in science. Hence, if attempts are made to incorporate the social views and values,
science will definitely be in a better state to have an impact in the world.

Another important aspect in this context is the consideration to human values. Technologies
succeed when they are meant to augment human relationship and values, and fail when theytend to replace these. In the frenzy of the new scientific development, scientists very often
forget these things. The weapons of mass destruction that were initially thought to curb
atrocities are themselves creating the greatest chaos in the world. It is apparent now thatpeace is not won by war, neither, victories are gained by confrontations. In the long run,understanding this will prove to be the key to success for a better world. Another point linked
to this is the harmony with nature. Science can make the world better when it tries to becomea friend of nature, not the rival. Momentous glories seemingly thought to be victories against
nature are ultimately doomed to fail sooner or later. The grave threats the world is facing with
global warming is a testimony to this. Time and again, nature backlashes against the crimes
committed against her. Wise will understand this beforehand and hence take precautions not
to disturb nature, while fools rush in to create empires by destroying the rules of nature.

As a person who grew up in rural Nepal and having seen the sufferings of the people for thebasic lack of health care, I chose to study computer engineering with the hope that someday
I shall be able to use the best of the technology to the rural poor. My special interest is in thearea of telemedicine. If I were to take any such initiative, I shall start with the relationshipbuilding exercise between the rural health workers and the health workers of bigger centers.
Studies have shown that there are more effective consultations when people deal with those
who they know. After this only I shall train the people on the aspects of technology. Although
the road is full of challenges, it is worth trying such a community based and relationship based
approach to telemedicine. We may not expect that it solves all the problems, but at least it
takes primary health care in developing countries a step ahead, which will pave a road to more
successful endeavors of saving lives and reducing human miseries. This is the time to shiftparadigms. A better world is created through lives living happily- and together!!

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