A budding star in the field of science, Melissa Carvell is set to be spotlighted in an upcoming issue of Forbes Magazine.
Carvell, who recently completed her sophomore year at the Bartlesville Mid-High School, shined during the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which was held from May 13-19 in Albuquerque, N.M. She finished second in her category – Engineering – Materials and Bio-Engineering – with a project which focused on improving the body armor of United States forces.
Carvell was awarded an $8,000 scholarship from the Navy as well as a $1,500 cash prize from the Air Force for her project work. She won a $1,500 cash prize for finishing second in her category at the ISEF.
Forbes will focus on Carvell as well as three other students who starred at ISEF. The issue – dated July 23, 2007 – is scheduled to hit newsstands on Thursday, July 5. Chana Shoenberger handled the reporting duties for Forbes and photographers visited the Carvell household.
Published bi-weekly and headquartered in New York City , Forbes Magazine has a subscription base of more than 900,000 throughout the country.
The body armor currently used by U.S. forces is basically comprised of ceramic plates placed inside of Kevlar sleeves. Through her research, Carvell determined the strength of the plates could be improved by more than 8,000 times by reinforcing them with carbon fibers. The ceramic plates used in body armor are notably strong in compression but weak in tension, meaning they can shatter upon impact. Carvell's idea was to reinforce the back of the plates with two layers of carbon fibers at 90 degree angles to each other.
The International Science and Engineering Fair featured more than 1,500 students competing in several categories. The students hailed from more than 50 countries and territories. Among the judges were five Nobel Laureates, former Nobel Prize winners in science and engineering.
Forbes Magazine can be found on several newsstands in Bartlesville including Hastings and Walgreen Drug Store, among others.
After finishing second in her category at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Melissa Carvell, who recently completed her sophomore year at the Bartlesville Mid-High School, is scheduled to appear in the July 23, 2007 issue of Forbes Magazine. Pictured with Carvell above are Mid-High science teacher Colleen Bennett (left) and principal Jason Langham (right).
