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![Ben Choi Regeneron Finalist]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1649186814/potomac/xhmxehmimyplyaettznb/BenChoi_Top40.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1649186814/potomac/xhmxehmimyplyaettznb/BenChoi_Top40.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1649186814/potomac/xhmxehmimyplyaettznb/BenChoi_Top40.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1649186814/potomac/xhmxehmimyplyaettznb/BenChoi_Top40.png","width":1000}])
Potomac senior named a Top 40 Scholar
Potomac senior Ben Choi has been named a Top 40 Scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors. Chosen from a pool of more than 1,800 highly qualified entrants from across the nation, Choi will participate in the final weeklong competition in Washington, DC, this March.
According to Regeneron, Choi was selected based on the “scientific rigor of his project” – An Ultra-Low Cost, Mind-Controlled Transhumeral Prosthesis Operated via a Novel Artificial Intelligence-Driven Brainwave Interpretation Algorithm – and his “potential to become a world-changing scientist and leader.”
Choi is a student in Potomac’s selective Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) program, which offers students the opportunity to do high-level independent research projects. He says that he was initially inspired to develop his non-invasive, low-cost 3D prosthetic solution after watching a documentary about neural interfaces being used to control prosthetic limbs. Choi explains, “I was really impressed by the applications and the technology, but I was also alarmed that these implants required risky open-brain surgery and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. I thought it could be possible to develop a less invasive and more cost-effective approach.”
Choi says his ultimate goal is to make his prosthesis “accessible to all” – a driving factor in his decision to use 3D printing technology when developing the initial prototype, which he began working on in fall 2020. Since then, he has continued to make advancements to the 3D printed prosthetic arm that he developed. The arm, controlled by a brainwave-detecting headband placed on the forehead, has moved out of the prototype phase and will soon enter clinical trials.
Over the past year, Choi’s focus has been on fine-tuning the device. His work has included assessing volunteers, collecting data, and creating neural networks – systems that use AI algorithms to make predictions – to input and verify the data. Through trial and error, he has been able to improve the arm’s accuracy of movement to 95% as compared to a natural human arm. Choi works with mentors Dr. Isabelle Cohen, Upper School science teacher at The Potomac School, and Dr. Ji Liu, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Stony Brook University in New York.
In addition to advancing to the Regeneron Top 40, Choi has earned a variety of national and international awards for his research and work. They include winning runner-up in the PolySpectra "Make It Real" Global Design Challenge (December 2020); MIT THINK Scholar Award (January 2021); U.S. Air Force Special Award for Research (March 2021); IEEE Innovation Award (March 2021); and being named a Microsoft Imagine Cup World Finalist (April 2021).
Regeneron Science Talent Search alumni include winners of 13 Nobel Prizes, 11 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 22 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, and two Fields Medals. The full list of Top 40 scholars selected by Regeneron and Society for Science can be viewed here.
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The Greek Olympics is just one of the interactive end-of-year events that distinguish Potomac’s Middle School history curriculum. While each of the division’s three grades undertakes a different culminating activity, all of the projects involve creative applications of knowledge gained throughout the year.
![Julie Lythcott-Haims speaks to students at upper school assembly]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1651085641/potomac/qiltg2dmx0jwphgnp6rg/JLH_USASSEMBLY.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1651085641/potomac/qiltg2dmx0jwphgnp6rg/JLH_USASSEMBLY.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1651085641/potomac/qiltg2dmx0jwphgnp6rg/JLH_USASSEMBLY.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1651085641/potomac/qiltg2dmx0jwphgnp6rg/JLH_USASSEMBLY.png","width":1000}])
New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims addressed the Upper School at a special assembly on April 27. Ms. Lythcott-Haims’ books include How to Raise an Adult and, more recently, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult. Thanks to Olivia Eads ’23 and Annabel Cronic ’23 for introducing our guest speaker.
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Throughout August, students in grades 11 and 12 were invited to participate in a leadership seminar facilitated by US Director of Student Life Jake Westermann. The group took part in two virtual sessions, where they sought to understand their own leadership strengths and areas for growth, discuss the characteristics that define effective leaders, and analyze the successes and failures of corporate executives using business school case studies. For the third and final session, students came to campus and used Stanford Design School’s model for problem solving (“Design Thinking”) to tackle a list of challenges they wanted to address and potentially implement at Potomac. This group will have an opportunity during the school year to present their ideas to members of the Upper School leadership team.
As I was beginning my Potomac journey, I first heard about “generosity of spirit”. When I asked “what does generosity of spirit look like at Potomac”, I was told a story about our robotics program and two of our teams that were competing in the national finals of the US Open Robotics championship.
Both teams were well-prepared, skilled and highly competitive eager, to win the championship. In that final match, one team- perhaps the stronger team had a malfunction- their robot needed to be repaired and could not continue without a timeout. The team used a 30 second time out, but unfortunately, they did not have enough time to make all the necessary repairs.
Just think about the situation. Your team, can win the championship because your opponent cannot get their robot repaired in time to finish. Most of us would allow the team to default and declare victory.
Potomac senior Ben Choi has been named a Top 40 Scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors. Chosen from a pool of more than 1,800 highly qualified entrants from across the nation, Choi will participate in the final weeklong competition in Washington, DC, this March.