Kate was one of nine Bay Area student semifinalists in the Intel Science and Talent Search competition.

"I am thrilled because my heart always leaps up when good things happen to good people," says Presentation High School Principal Mary Miller.

But Miller was not surprised.

"Since Kate arrived at Presentation four years ago, she has garnered every science and math award," the principal says. "She deserves it."

A second $1,000 check was presented to the high school.

"I am going to let Kate Brown make the decision of where that money should go to," Miller says. "She earned the money."

Kate, who lives with her family in Willow Glen, was one of 1,558 entrants representing 486 high schools in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and an overseas school. There are 300 semifinalists.

"We had three girls enter the contest," Miller says. "This is the first time we had a semifinalist. Kate's the first to reach this level."

The Intel Science and Talent Search is the oldest pre-college science competition in the United States and is considered the "junior Nobel Prize."

This year's entrants ranged from 15 to 18 years old, with females representing 53 percent of the total entries.

The research projects covered all disciplines of science including biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, behavioral science and medicine and health.

Kate's project, "The Urea Uptake in a Hydrophonic System for Growing Nasturtium Officianalis," was a botany experiment.

Kate came up with the idea after she took a tour of NASA two years ago.

"They were growing different types of plants hydroponically to feed the astronauts in space," Kate says. "They were trying to find inexpensive ways to grow their own food in space while recycling materials they already had."

Kate's project grew nasturtium officianalis or watercress, a plant that looks like clover.

"I decided to use this plant because the whole plant, including its roots, is completely edible," she says.

The idea was that astronauts would use urea, simulated urine in her experiment, to water the plants. The plants would then absorb the liquid, and what would be left would be drinkable water and a green salad.

"It's sort of a distillation process," Kate says.

"I started the project last January and since then have just been revising the paper," the senior says.

John C. Howe, director of the math and science academy at Presentation and Kate's mentor, says one of the hardest things in science fairs and contests is to choose a project.

"Kate has background in these things," says Howe, who established the high school's math and science co-curricular program six years ago. "Three years ago, she did a survey project, then she made a fully functional cardboard bicycle and now the watercress."

To select a project, an individual needs the "ah experience," which Howe says was the case with her winning project.

Howe thinks the experiment was a great idea and a functional one as well.

"Right now we have the international space station," he says. "So why not take human waste like urine and use it as a fertilizer for growing crops?"

Although Kate has done experiments in engineering, material use and surveying, Howe says this project has been a bit different.

"With this project, she has come to realize she wants to be a scientist in the biological sense," he says.

Life through science

Kate is familiar with the world of science, as her mother is a science and religion teacher at St. Mary's Elementary School in Los Gatos and her father is the vice president of operations and technology at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

It was science that brought her parents together in middle school.

"We met at Edwin Markham Junior High School [now Willow Glen Middle School] in a science class and have been together ever since," says Arlene Brown, Kate's mother.

Both Kate's parents worked at NASA during their high school years and wanted the same opportunities for their daughters.

"This award will open doors for future work opportunities and internships; that way she can see what it will be like working in the real world," Arlene Brown says. "It gives you a way to see older scientists at work, as well as seeing where they are in their careers."

The Browns encouraged their daughters--Kate and younger sister Sarah--to take interest in the sciences and math, but Kate didn't need to be pushed.

She began concocting science projects in the fourth grade, but the majority of her science fair projects were done at Presentation.

She has also been able to share her passion for science with others. She has been part of the Synopsis Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship since the fourth grade and will be speaking at the Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium at UC-Berkley to discuss her project.

Closer to home, at her high school she has been active in the school's science and math academy program. She has been instrumental in the school's science fair, Howe says, and is the president of the academy, where she leads monthly discussions.

"We model our academy after the National Academy of Math and Science," he says. "When a student involved in the academy has done enough to stand out, we promote them to fellow."

Kate is the academy's first fellow. "She is an extremely effective learner and an equally effective leader," Howe says.

Her father thinks everything Kate is doing fits into a bigger picture.

"Life is about projects, not taking examinations," says Greg Brown. "When students look back at school, it's the projects that they remember. You can't beat that as learning."

Howe, who came to Presentation seven years ago to promote gender equity in science and math education, says, Kate is a five-star model for what he is trying to achieve.

For Kate, Presentation has proved to be a supportive environment.

"It encourages merits toward the sciences," she says. "And now, we are doing a lot of new things."

Math and science often are considered "nerdy," Miller says.

"I think Kate is a wonderful role model as a young woman who is known for her leadership in science fairs," she says. "She's made being interested and involved in science and math not geeky."

Lauren Traina, a junior at Presentation and an ambassador of the math and science academy, says Kate's passion for math and science is infectious.

"She is not only talented in science but really enthusiastic about it," Lauren says. "She really enjoys what she's doing. She chooses projects that can be applied and helpful in some ways."

Lauren had the chance to work with Kate at the science fair and in chemistry class, and appreciates her help.

"We are in an environment [in which] being intelligent is respected," Lauren says. "The entire school respects us and is willing to help in any way they can."

There's also no male competition or male favoritism here, Lauren says. "We're all girls, and there's nothing to set us back."

Samantha Tran, another science student, agrees.

"My sister is in a co-ed environment," Samantha says. "She excels in science and math but doesn't receive much encouragement from either teachers or the school. At Presentation, there is a lot of support from the entire community."

Howe is encouraged by what he sees but would like the positive, confident attitude toward math and science he sees at Presentation spread throughout the country.

"I want to see the statistics change and the glass ceiling broken and see more support for accomplishment by merit," Howe says. "Kate represents the future of young people becoming scientists, and I am extremely proud."