Concordia Students Push Academic Boundaries in Science and Research

Does studying at an international school mean less rigor and less challenging academics? At Concordia, it’s worth noting that some of our classes and facilities are on par with those at some major universities, offering students a range of opportunities to uncover and nurture their talents.

Concordia students at 2024 ISEF Sichuan Science Fair

Remember our ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) team from last school year? They were quite the trailblazers. Cathy T. and William Q., our research duo, went on to shine at the Korea Science and Engineering Fair, while Steve Y., continued to work on his research endeavors. Just a few weeks ago, he hit a major milestone by publishing his very first academic paper!   

Steve, in collaboration with Dr. Zhengfeng Wang, has published a paper regarding the strategies for engineering oncolytic viruses to enhance cancer immunotherapy, with a specific focus on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It’s not just a scientific exploration, but also a milestone for Steve on his exciting voyage through the realm of biology. Well done, Steve! We’re truly happy for you! 

The high school student is drawn to oncological scientific research because of the tantalizing possibility of being able to help people.
 

"Cancer is the second leading cause of death in humans, so much money is poured into it, and still, it seems we have no way to cure this disease. The least I can do is to understand the field, dip my toes in, and attempt to assist in the war against it.” 
—Steve Y., Class of 2025

The achievement is no fluke; it’s the result of dedication and hard work of over 3 years, and the publication was a long time in the works, taking about 3 hours out of his weekend each week since the 2nd semester of 9th grade to complete.  

On his adventure, Steve had the support of Concordia STEM teachers, especially Mr. David Doyle and Dr. Yujiro Fujiwara, who helped him pre-emptively get a feel to the publication process. Mr. Doyle, who teaches one of Steve’s favorite classes, Synthetic Biology, looked over the presentation of his research whilst he was preparing to submit it to the ISEF competition. Dr. Fujiwara helped educate him on the steps of publication and peer-reviewing process.

Once a kid wowed by how cool and respected doctors are, Steve is now more mature and has his sights set on a future where he will pursue oncology research as a full-time profession. Also, he is currently working with his peers on another bioengineering project for the upcoming iGEM competition in Paris. Go for it, Steve!