Brandon Li, a senior at Jericho High School, was one of three national finalists in the 2010 MIT THINK Competition sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. THINK - Technology for Humanity guided by Innovation, Networking and Knowledge - challenges high-schoolers to devise innovations that could benefit the community.

Li was a finalist in the lab project category for developing a polyacrylonitrile water-purification membrane that he said is more efficient and cost effective than current systems. Results showed that Li's membrane filtered out 30 percent more bacteria-sized particles than existing products.

"I was very happy with the results," said Li, 17, who said the polymer material has never been used in water filtration.

Li worked on the project during a summer internship at Stony Brook University and submitted two essays and a research paper to the contest. He won a $500 college scholarship.

Li is an Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist, varsity tennis team captain, and member of model congress, mathletes, and peer tutoring and debate clubs.

Local MIT THINK semifinalists were Robert Guber, Sagar Rambhia and Courtney Wong of Jericho High School and Daniel Chun and Ghazal Erfani of Plainview-Old Bethpage High School.

Errick Allen not guilty … Sloth encounters … What's up on Long Island Credit: Newsday

Fallen NYPD cop wake ... Suffolk water rates ... Nissan settlements ... Female winemaker

Errick Allen not guilty … Sloth encounters … What's up on Long Island Credit: Newsday

Fallen NYPD cop wake ... Suffolk water rates ... Nissan settlements ... Female winemaker

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