HCHS senior named a 2017 Davidson Fellow
Benjamin “Benjy” F. was named a 2017 Davidson Fellow this summer by the The Davidson Institute of Talent Development. Benjy's project, Modeling the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Phytophthora infestans at a Regional Scale is one of only 20 student projects across the country to receive this honor.
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship program offers $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 college scholarships to students 18 or younger, who have completed significant projects that have the potential to benefit society in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature and music. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship has provided more than $7.1 million in scholarship funds to more than 300 students since its inception in 2001, and has been named one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships by U.S. News & World Report. It is a program of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Reno, Nev. that supports profoundly gifted youth.
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship program offers $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 college scholarships to students 18 or younger, who have completed significant projects that have the potential to benefit society in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature and music. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship has provided more than $7.1 million in scholarship funds to more than 300 students since its inception in 2001, and has been named one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships by U.S. News & World Report. It is a program of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Reno, Nev. that supports profoundly gifted youth.
In discussing his project, Benjy said, “When I started this project, I was looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in math and computer science to translating natural processes like disease spread into computational models.” “Computer models that resemble nature in more accurate ways could enable important advances in health, medicine, and agriculture.”
The HCHS student developed an explanatory and predictive mathematical model for the spread of Potato Late Blight, a devastating, global pathogen, which destroys billions of dollars of food crops annually. He worked with data collected at the Agricultural Research Organization in Volcani Center, Israel, and presented his findings and model to local potato growers.
“We are thrilled to recognize the 2017 Davidson Fellows not only for their incredible projects, but also for the journey they forged to reach this point,” said Bob Davidson, founder of the Davidson Institute. “Every year I am amazed by the depth of the Fellows’ accomplishments. Through encouragement and recognition, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development anticipates that gifted students like these will be among the pioneers who will solve the world’s most vexing problems.”
Back
The HCHS student developed an explanatory and predictive mathematical model for the spread of Potato Late Blight, a devastating, global pathogen, which destroys billions of dollars of food crops annually. He worked with data collected at the Agricultural Research Organization in Volcani Center, Israel, and presented his findings and model to local potato growers.
“We are thrilled to recognize the 2017 Davidson Fellows not only for their incredible projects, but also for the journey they forged to reach this point,” said Bob Davidson, founder of the Davidson Institute. “Every year I am amazed by the depth of the Fellows’ accomplishments. Through encouragement and recognition, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development anticipates that gifted students like these will be among the pioneers who will solve the world’s most vexing problems.”
Hunter College Campus Schools
71 East 94th Street
New York, NY 10128
Elementary School: 212-860-1292
High School: 212-860-1267
71 East 94th Street
New York, NY 10128
Elementary School: 212-860-1292
High School: 212-860-1267
Professional Photography © Laura Dwight
