Mentoring Talented Science Students: Knowing the Options

Abstract

The dilemma that propelled Jeff and his older brother Mark to an international high school science competition began when their mother, who feared they would contract the West Nile virus, insisted that the boys cover any exposed skin when outside. Determined to prove that it was not necessary to wear long sleeved shirts and pants on hot summer days, Jeff and Mark explored methods to assess their chances of contracting the West Nile virus if bitten by a mosquito in their Connecticut hometown. “The Science Boys,” a title bestowed by a local newspaper reporter (Murphy, 2004), worked with chemistry teacher and mentor David White, who helped the boys master a powerful software program necessary for their investigation. Jeff and Mark's curiosity, persistence and hard work led to their participation in the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology and a prize of $100,000. Why were Jeff and Mark successful in their endeavor when evidence shows that many students with high aptitude in science fail to live up to their potential? This paper explores the issues around the development of pupils with high level potential in science.