Intel finalist a tech education advocate
Michelle Hackman, right, was one of four Long Island finalists in the Intel science contest. (Jan. 26, 2011) Credit: Charles Eckert
Curiosity about her friends' obsession with cell phones catapulted Michelle Hackman of Great Neck into a finalist slot Wednesday in the national Intel research competition.
Minutes after the award announcement, Hackman, who has been blind since childhood, appeared before hundreds of eighth-graders at one of her district's middle schools to tell the youngsters why they should sign up for Great Neck North High School's research program. Her audience was impressed.
"I thought that was really amazing what she's done," said Anna Zhu, 13. "I know how prestigious Intel is, and how hard it is to get that far."
Hackman, lively and upbeat, rarely has trouble enlisting others in worthy causes. For her winning research project, Hackman signed up 150 teens at her school for an hour each of scientific testing.
Her project - "Communication Underload: Validating the Existence of Disconnect Anxiety" - studied effects of separating teens from their cell phones. Hackman got the idea for the project one day while sitting with a group of friends. Gradually, she realized everyone was texting each other on cell phones, rather than talking.
"I just sat there, wondering if there's something different going on, if they're so attached to their phones, they can't talk to their neighbors," Hackman recalled.
In an attempt to find out, Hackman isolated students one by one in an empty lab room, requiring some to give up cell phones, while others kept theirs. A galvanic skin-response monitor was used to measure students' anxiety levels while they sat alone for 45 minutes, and students were asked questions later.
Because she is blind, Hackman trained 10 student assistants to administer tests and record results. Much of her research was done with the aid of computer screen-reading software that translates written text into speech.
Hackman's research found no significant differences in anxiety levels between students temporarily deprived of cell phones and students in the other group. However, data suggested that those separated from cell phones experienced withdrawal symptoms.
Hackman attends advanced classes at Great Neck North, where she sings with the jazz choir and has started a recycling program. She plans to attend Yale University next fall, where she is considering a dual major in psychology and political science.
Wednesday, as news of Hackman's award appeared on the Internet, some acquaintances could barely contain their excitement.
"Oh, we're totally thrilled!" said Alan Schorn, 52, the science research teacher at Great Neck North. "One hates to brag, but here's a kid who really, really deserves it."
