Seattle, WA-For the 2003 Biotech Expo, PNRI (now PNDRI) joined with other biomedical research organizations to support the expo for 300 area high-school science students. Six PNRI scientists-Michael Brantley, Matt Donelan, Ingegerd Hellstrom, Elizabeth Oseid, Melissa Smith, and Oanh Stephan-mentored seven students in completing their Expo projects. These students worked with PNRI mentors in creating a project dealing with biotechnology. The students came to PNRI with ideas on what their project would be. With the support of their mentors they created that vision.

Two of these students took home first place honors. Oanh Stephan served as mentor to Jyllian Scott from Juanita High School. Jyll's project-a short story about the experience of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes-won first place in the Expo's creative writing division. Melissa Linghor Smith helped Annaliese Weber, a student at Eastside Catholic High School, design and conduct a series of lab experiments examining the effects of fatty acids on beta cell function. For this project, inspired by Annaliese's interest in the diet traditions of the Pima Indians in Arizona, she won first prize in the Expo's research division.

Creative writing and lab research; art and science. PNRI nurtures both, thanks to Institute scientists like these helpful mentors. And thanks to the hard work and imagination of students like Jyll and Annaliese.