Anthony has developed leadership skills through classroom experiences as well as volunteer activities with the Boy Scouts. One of his teachers says, "He is an invaluable source of support for me as a natural facilitator of class discussions and group activities." Anthony has a keen interest in the environment and, more importantly, in global climate change which is very apparent in his questions to scientists. In the Boy Scouts, he has earned the World Conservation Award. Anthony is a great team player, always willing to help others to attain the end goal. Anthony enjoys playing rugby and spending time in his kitchen conducting culinary experiments.
In His Own Words
His Heroes
I have many people who are my heroes. There are people like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Michael Phelps that I look to for their intensity and work ethic. People who have reached a peak that has never been conquered or people who have beaten great odds are the kind of people I look up to.
Lance Armstrong is at the top of that list. He overcame cancer, even though his doctors told him there was not much chance of survival. He did survive and went on to win seven Tour de France victories. Perhaps the thing I admire him for most though is how he has used his fame to fight for money to end cancer.
On Heights and Coal Power Plants
We toured a coal-driven power plant today in West Virginia. It was really hot inside where the coal was burning to make energy. I felt really tall in there because there were so many levels to the plant. Also, the cooling towers and the scrubber were really tall too. I was really scared at first. We climbed all the way to the top of the scrubber and looked down inside of it. They were still building the scrubber. They'll use the scrubber to clean the coal waste before getting rid of it.
On Winning Play of the Day
Everyday all of the Argonauts attempt to come up with great questions for our scientist hosts. That's usually pretty easy to do because there's so much to learn. When we're on expedition we are challenged to win Play of the Day. The Play of the Day goes to the Argonaut that asks the scientists the best, most thought provoking question on camera. I won it today! I asked a question about the physics of roller coasters and the energy involved in creating the best roller coaster. Too cool.
On Meeting Host Researcher Constance Adams at NASA
A lot of our discussion with Constance was about the scale model of the International Space Station. One of the cool things she told us was that working with NASA was unique because they always build two of what they send into space so they have a backup and they have a model they can train with. Imagine if they had built a scale model of the Empire State Building before they built the real one and now we had two of them.
On Designing Space Houses for the Next Generation of Astronauts
While we were eating lunch we got to go out into the parking lot and see them testing a new design for a lunar rover. It was not like any vehicle that I had ever seen before. It was cool because they knew that the astronauts would be more comfortable standing up in their rigid spacesuits and so they would ride it standing instead of sitting.
In the afternoon we worked on designing a piece of a module for a settlement on Mars. Hannah and I had to try to design a kitchen that would be energy efficient, recycle water, and be lightweight so it could be transported to the settlement.
What JASON Means to Me
JASON has been an awesome experience. JASON means a whole lot to me. But what I love most about JASON is that it makes me think about questions on energy, like how energy works and why energy is important for all us. My internship at JASON has definitely made me consider becoming a scientist. As I start to look at colleges I find myself looking for programs that have majors where I can make a difference in solving our energy problems and making our planet more sustainable. This could mean an engineering degree or even something do with building design so that we use less energy in our buildings in the future.
The things that I learned in JASON apply directly to my life. For example, at the coal power plant we were taught how most of our energy is produced and transported, which makes me want to conserve this resource. At the Six Flags theme park we learned about physics, and how basic science works. I will definitely use this in my studies.
Another thing I love about JASON is that I got to meet other students who are interested in the same kinds of things as me, and who ask the same kinds of questions. I know I have made some friends for life.