2 Troy Teens Win Global YouTube Space Lab Competition

WASHINGTON D.C. –  Judges today named juniors Dorothy Chen and Sara Ma, both 16, global winners of the YouTube Space Lab competition.

As the winners, their experiment will be carried out on the International Space Station and streamed via YouTube.

“It was just so sudden,” Ma told the Detroit Free Press earlier today. “I still think it hasn’t sunk in totally.”

The experiment Chen and Ma designed asks: “Could alien superbugs cure disease on Earth?”

Chen and Ma proposed sending the bacillus subtillis bacteria to the space station to see if introducing different nutrients and compounds – like fertilizer and nitrogen – can block their growth in the hopes of providing new tools to fight germs on Earth (see attached YouTube video).

“The idea that something that is your experiment being sent up into space and actually becoming a reality is incredible,” Ma said in a press release.

“I definitely want to pursue science as a career,” Chen added.

On Tuesday, Rep. Gary Peters met Chen and Ma in Washington to discuss their accomplishment.

"I want to congratulate Dorothy Chen and Sara Ma for their hard work and dedication in the pursuit of scientific knowledge," Peters said in a press release. "When I had a meeting with them on Tuesday, I knew they could pull it off, and I'm really looking forward to seeing their experiment carried out on the International Space Station."

“The entire district is very proud of these two outstanding students,” Troy School District Superintendent Barbara A. Fowler said in a press release. “Their hard work and dedication to finding new ways to solve complex problems bodes well for the future of scientific research. We are excited to have them represent Troy — and the nation — with this international recognition.”

During the selection process for finalists, more than 150,000 YouTube users voted for their favorite experiments, but only two winners were chosen. In addition to having their experiment performed in space, Chen and Ma will get to choose one of two unique space experiences: a trip to Japan to watch their experiment blast off, or, once they turn 18-years old, a one-of-a-kind astronaut training experience in Star City, Russia – the training center for Russian cosmonauts.

"Humanity's future relies on moving beyond Earth,” renowned scientist Stephen Hawking said in a press release. “Realizing this goal will require an entrepreneurial spirit and a new generation of scientists and astronauts. YouTube Space Lab is a wonderful initiative that helps inspire young minds around the world to take a greater interest in science and the future of space exploration."

"Both of these young ladies have very bright futures ahead of them," Peters said, "and I think I speak for Michigan when I say that they make us proud."

The contest is sponsored by YouTube, Space Adventures and Lenovo, a global technology company in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA.) For more information, visit the YouTube Space Lab.