(Photo: Simon Fraser University)
15-year old Nicole Ticea is a student at the York House School in Vancouver, Canada. Her contribution to a science fair won her first place at the regional Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge. But more importantly, she’s invented something that could saves lives.
It’s a simple test that examines a drop of blood for signs of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Simon Fraser University officials described it as “nearly as simple as a pregnancy test.” The success of her project has encouraged Ticea to continue her work as a health scientist:
Ticea said the project took hours of scientific research and lab experiments, which she juggled along with schoolwork, sports and extracurricular activities.
But she said all the hard work, and even giving up her social life, was well worth it.
“Being in the lab really reinforced what I already knew,” Ticea said. “That scientific research involves dedication, determination, long hours and a deep-rooted love for the field that makes sacrifices worthwhile.”
-via Huffington Post