Missouri girl named 'Top Young Scientist'

GREENBELT, Md., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency said Melissa Rey, 14, of Parkway Central Middle School in Chesterfield, Mo., has won the "America's Top Young Scientist" competition.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Edward Evans of Mount View School in Welch, W.VA., was named "America's Top Science Teacher" during the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Goddard scientists, engineers and resident astronaut Paul Richards assisted in challenging each participant on their knowledge of space related themes. Challenges included jet propulsion, repair of the Hubble Space Telescope, Martian topography and how to simulate lunar gravity on Earth.

"The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge targets middle school students in the years when research indicates their interest in science begins to fade and encourages them to explore scientific concepts and creatively communicate their findings," NASA said.

This event provided 10 middle school students and five teachers an opportunity to demonstrate their science prowess in a series of interactive challenges focused on the theme "The Science of Space."

Runners up were Shyamai Buch, 12, of Folsom Middle School in Folsom, Calif., and Peter Ku, 13, from Grover Middle School in Princeton Junction, N.J.