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Individual Team members:
Andrew
Location: Andover, Massachusetts (USA)
Hi! I'm Andrew, and my role in this project was to write much of the scientific content of the web site, and also to help put the web site together. I am a 9th grader at Phillips Academy Andover, in Massachusetts. I play the piano, saxophone and flute. I also enjoy playing tennis, which is how I met Adonios (we play at the same club).
I have always been extremely interested in things like molecular biology, virology, and diseases; even from an early age. In the future, I hope to have a career in the medical field, maybe a research scientist in molecular biology or virology, or actually practicing medicine as a doctor. I joined the team because of my interest in these topics and in the science of the avian flu, and also because the team needed someone to write the scientific content.
Even though my initial role was to write the content, I soon became very involved in the making of the actual web site. Before this project, I had no idea how to use web design programs, but I quickly learned how to use Dreamweaver, to finish and bring to life the initial web design that William had started.
Between boarding school, music, tennis, etc., it has been hard to find time to work on this project, so I used my vacations from school to get most of the work for this project done. Luckily, I had a vacation right before the deadline for the web site, so I could get a lot of last-minute work done!
Despite the hard work, making this web site has been really fun and has been a great experience for me. Working with my teammates has been great. They are all really great people, who never ceased to amaze me with their infinite numbers of ideas, and their unique talents. Also, I have learned a lot more about the avian flu and viruses/genetics in general by doing the research and writing for this web site, and it has also stimulated me to learn even more. I hope to possibly do another Thinkquest project next year.
I hope this web site will become a valuable resource for people curious about the avian flu, and that we can better educate the public about this important topic through this project.
Finally, I would like to thank my friend Ngoc, for her help in finding teammates for us, and for giving us permission to use her photos.
Adonios
Location: Hooksett, New Hampshire (USA)
At first I really didn’t want to be on a ThinkQuest team. Everyone seemed to know so much more than me. As the months went by I realized that everyone has their own strength and that is what makes a team. We all worked together to create something that was meaningful. I play tennis and it is a very solitary sport, win or lose the ball is in your court. It is up to you. So the team thing was really something I appreciate. It was great to be able to work with Annie, Andrew, William, Chelsea, and Tran. I hope to become an orthopedic surgeon someday. It was also interesting to learn about the Avian Flu, something more viral than bone. Before this I really did not have any idea how much this could affect our planet. So this was a great experience for me all around.
Let me go back for a minute to not knowing how much this could affect our planet. For me this really hit home, you see my Yaya (that is Greek for Grandmother) and Papou (that is Greek for grandfather) live in Greece. They are my only grandparents and they are the best. I have spent every summer since I was a toddler in my Yaya’s house in Episkopi! My family and I even lived in Thessalonica for two years which needless to say was close to my grandmother’s house! Anyway, my grandmother has chickens. In the village, chickens are highly prized. She loves her chickens. Even though they are in separate quarters from the rest of the house I was really nervous for them after reading about how the Avian Flu is transmitted to chickens. This is especially true since I have seen migratory birds from Africa nest in our Walnut Tree. From the minute I arrived back in the United States in August and started working on this web site I became concerned for their well being. I asked my Yaya to please get rid of the chickens. She laughed and told me there was nothing wrong with having chickens. Well, after the outbreak in Turkey she called to tell me the chickens were gone and that I was right! Now she calls me to tell me of the latest outbreaks and keep me informed of what is happening in Greece and the rest of Europe.
I feel much better; at least now I know my grandparents are safer. My participation on this team has helped educate my relatives in Greece. This is the purpose of this web site, to teach people about the Avian Flu in a way they can apply it to their own circumstances just like my grandparents.
William
Location: Hooksett, New Hampshire (USA)
I’m William, and I’m the animator/game creator/web site designer. I also created several images used throughout the site. I’m a 7th grader at David R. Cawley Middle School, in New Hampshire. When I grow up, I hope to be a robotics engineer. My hobbies include playing percussion, folding origami, sleeping, laying on the sofa, and doing things on my computer.
When this team started out, we didn’t really work on a single goal. After a while, we started to get our efforts together, and started to produce work. During Oct-Jan, I had to study for a major exam, and took a break from Thinkquest. After that, I immediately started working again on the project, continuing my work from where I had started off, but this time, faster. If my team members had all been lazy while I was studying, this project would already be in the dumps. Great people. I learned a lot during this project, and had a lot of fun.
Chelsea
Location: Derry, New Hampshire (USA)
Alo! Salut! My name is Chelsea. I am 15 years old and I live in New Hampshire. I am very
interested in nature and animals (especially insects). I think my interest in insects was encouraged by my father who when he was young was often seen running around Central Park in NYC with a butterfly net trying to catch dragonflies for his college work. I love to draw and have been drawing since I was a small child. I also like to play video games and watch anime. I listen to euro-dance music and my favorite movie is Alien.I am a freshman in high school (Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH). My favorite subjects are science and ROTC. I am on the drill team and starting color guard.
The reason I decided to participate in this competition was because of my interest in science and as I already mentioned I love to draw. I knew this would be a challenge as I have never tried drawing disease processes.
Annie
Location: Newcastle, Australia
I'm known as Annie. This is my first time doing this Thinkquest competition. My interests include graphics, paintshop pro, manga, cosmology/astronomy, physics, chemistry, and math. I have also become quite attached to computers. I live in Newcastle, Australia, which is somewhere on the Earth, on a terrestrial planet, in the solar system on a spot in the Milky Way, in some home in the local cluster, local super cluster, and quite likely the universe as well. I enjoy the thrill and learning experience I get from trying new things. I hope to be an astrophysicist when I grow up. Currently I am in year 9 at Merewether High.
I joined this team because I though it would be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. The challenges of creating a web site from scratch, on a topic that was medical related and globally current appealed to my sense of adventure!
My main role was to help improve the web site with my constant flow of ideas and research for information. I also helped with the writing. Although the group had a few obstacles, it was an enjoyable, educational experience that opened my eyes to the potential of the internet and the shrinking size of the global village.
Hieu
Location: Vietnam
Things have changed a lot since I joined this team. There were easy and difficult tasks but they were mostly difficult. It is hard being so far away from the rest of the team and not having a computer. Plus I was really nervous to write in English. In the beginning I always forgot about the responsibilities of being part of a team. I do not know why, but I think it was because this is the first time I have done something like this. With the encouragement of my team members, I recognized my part in this team, and I tried to do my best. When I finally did start to realize the importance of the part I played for this team I did not have much time. By then I was studying for my final exams. I just hope that what I did can help the team, even if it was so little.
Coaches:
Mrs. Papanikolau
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Right now I am an Elementary English as a Second Language teacher, certified through grade 12. I teach students who have just come to the United States in a sheltered classroom environment. These students are from all over the world. It is because of my students that I became interested in the Avian Flu. All of them have relatives in their native countries. I think this is why William and Andrew asked me to coach the team. So this is my first ThinkQuest experience. I have to say it has been wonderful, yet challenging. All of the team members are bright, motivated and intelligent. As a coach I felt the best thing I could do was to keep the momentum going through motivation, to guide them through the process of writing, and to incubate their ideas so they could nest and hatch. They in turn have taught me a lot about computers and how young minds are thirsty for wisdom and resolve. I highly value and prize their commitment and diligence. They are the best team ever. I would never, ever trade this quest for knowledge we all embarked upon in August.
Mr. Mundra
Location: Andover, Massachusetts, USA
Currently, I am a biology teacher at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. I am also the International Student Coordinator, a football coach, and house counselor at the school. Andrew lives in my dorm, and I was immediately interested in his involvement with the ThinkQuest program. My role has been to encourage Andrew with his research and to review the science information on this site. The level of collaboration, research, and technical design for this project is impressive. When young and talented people like this team become involved ThinkQuest projects, it reinforces my sense of hope for the future. The Avian Flu is a scientifically, socially and politically important topic for all of us to understand, and I look forward to assisting this group in any way I can.