WASHINGTON
– The Science Coalition (TSC) today announced the winners of its inaugural Fund
It Forward Student Video Challenge. Sumit Kar of the University of Nebraska was
awarded first place in the graduate category, and Lillie Xi Max Williams of Washington
State University won first place in the undergraduate category. Additionally, Bryan
Keller of Florida State University received the People’s Choice Award, which
was decided by the votes of over 2,000 participants from across the country.
“We
are thrilled by the results of TSC’s first Fund It Forward Student Video
Challenge. As their videos show, students help advance groundbreaking research
at America’s universities and are passionate about protecting the essential
work happening on their campuses,” said TSC President Heather Bené. “It is
crucial members of Congress hear from these future scientists, innovators, and
leaders about the need for stable, robust research funding. I want to thank and
congratulate all the students who entered this year on a fantastic job.”
The
full list of winners are as follows:
Graduate
- 1st Place - Sumit Kar and Tyler
Kambis, University of Nebraska Medical Center - 2nd Place - Max Levy, University
of Colorado Boulder - 3rd Place - Bryan Keller, Florida
State University
Undergraduate
- 1st Place - Lillie Xi Max
Williams, Carl Bunge, Matthew Hunt, and Jordan Raymond, Washington State University - 2nd Place - Alissa Wuorinen,
Marquette University
People’s
Choice
- Winner - Bryan Keller, Florida State University
Jennifer
Larsen, M.D., Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center said, “It is so important for all of us in science to help the
broader community understand how biomedical research is essential to the future
of health care. I was impressed that all these videos translated that vision
exceptionally well.”
“I
want to congratulate Lillie and her colleagues in the HYPER Lab for placing
first in the undergraduate Fund It Forward Student Video Challenge run by The
Science Coalition,” said Kirk Schulz, President of Washington
State University (WSU). “WSU’s world class research can change the
world, but being able to communicate the importance of this work will
help Congress and others understand the benefit of the investment in
science. Cougar nation is proud of the work of our students and
students around the country. Go Cougs!”
The Fund It Forward Student Video
Challenge is a contest for undergraduate and graduate students currently
enrolled in TSC member institutions. Participants were asked to create a video
to tell the story of why science matters and remind members of Congress that
now is the time to invest in research for the future of our nation. The winning
videos can be viewed here.
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About The Science Coalition
Established in 1994, The Science Coalition
is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s
leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining
the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research as a means to
stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global
competitiveness.