Washington-Lee High School sophomore James Licato placed second in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix.  With the second place award, James also received $1,500.

His project, Optimizing Metformin HCl Removal: Utilizing Molecular Sieves and Absorbents within Sand Filtration Units, competed against more than 1,800 students from over 80 countries.

The Intel ISEF, a program of Society for Science & the Public, is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. The Intel ISEF provides opportunities for students to explore their passion for developing innovations that improve the way we work and live. All finalists are selected by an affiliated, local competition and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix. At the competition, finalists are judged by hundreds of science, engineering and industry professionals who have a Ph.D. or equivalent (six years of related professional experience) or are senior graduate students with doctoral-level research in one of the 22 scientific disciplines above.