Natasha Goss, a 14-year-old who worked with LTER mentors at the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Colorado, has been awarded a 2011 Goldwater Scholarship for undergraduates.
Natasha, who is majoring in chemistry with a minor in mathematics, joined the University of Colorado at Boulder in Fall 2009 at age 13. In 2010 she began working in the Niwot Ridge LTER Kiowa environmental chemistry laboratory and spent two days a week in the field on Niwot Ridge last summer.
She says her career goal is to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry and then conduct research in climate science and possibly hydrology and teach at the university level.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The purpose of the Program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
By Mark Williams