1 00:00:15,076 --> 00:00:24,996 Speaker 1: Pushkin. This is solvable on Jacob Weisberg, I learned not 2 00:00:25,076 --> 00:00:29,556 Speaker 1: to deal in limitation, not to deal in obstacles, but 3 00:00:29,676 --> 00:00:33,516 Speaker 1: rather to deal in possibility. Out of nearly two thousand 4 00:00:33,596 --> 00:00:36,676 Speaker 1: high school students, Desia Taylor was recently named one of 5 00:00:36,716 --> 00:00:41,676 Speaker 1: the forty finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Scholar Program. 6 00:00:41,756 --> 00:00:44,316 Speaker 1: She was awarded twenty five thousand dollars for her work 7 00:00:44,356 --> 00:00:48,916 Speaker 1: with beet dyed suitures to detect surgical site infections. I 8 00:00:49,196 --> 00:00:53,116 Speaker 1: decided to create my project around the developing countries because 9 00:00:53,156 --> 00:00:58,196 Speaker 1: they are disproportionately affected by surgical site infections. Specifically, according 10 00:00:58,236 --> 00:01:02,316 Speaker 1: to the WHO, patients with surgical site infections are twice 11 00:01:02,316 --> 00:01:04,916 Speaker 1: as likely to spend time in an intensive care unit, 12 00:01:05,396 --> 00:01:09,556 Speaker 1: five times more likely to be readmitted after discharged, twice 13 00:01:09,556 --> 00:01:13,676 Speaker 1: as likely to die. Desia Taylor is seventeen years old. 14 00:01:14,116 --> 00:01:16,476 Speaker 1: She heard about those numbers and decided she could do 15 00:01:16,596 --> 00:01:19,796 Speaker 1: something about it. My name is Desia Taylor, and I 16 00:01:19,876 --> 00:01:23,516 Speaker 1: go to Iowa City West High School, and I think 17 00:01:23,836 --> 00:01:28,356 Speaker 1: the problem of surgical site infections and developing countries can 18 00:01:28,396 --> 00:01:37,036 Speaker 1: be solved. Tell me about your project. How does it work? 19 00:01:37,596 --> 00:01:40,836 Speaker 1: So our skin is naturally acidic, having a pH of 20 00:01:40,916 --> 00:01:44,716 Speaker 1: around five, but when our wounds are infected, that pH 21 00:01:44,876 --> 00:01:48,876 Speaker 1: increases to eight or higher. For my project, I decided 22 00:01:48,916 --> 00:01:52,316 Speaker 1: to create color changing sutures, and in order to make 23 00:01:52,356 --> 00:01:56,636 Speaker 1: them change color, I had to find a natural indicator, 24 00:01:57,076 --> 00:02:00,596 Speaker 1: which is something that changes color when the pH changes. 25 00:02:00,796 --> 00:02:03,876 Speaker 1: So I put two of these principles of science together 26 00:02:04,396 --> 00:02:07,836 Speaker 1: to create my color changing sutures, and the natural indicator 27 00:02:07,876 --> 00:02:13,556 Speaker 1: I found, surprise is beats. Beats will show you if 28 00:02:13,556 --> 00:02:18,036 Speaker 1: the pH level is indicating an infection after you've had stitches. 29 00:02:18,476 --> 00:02:21,436 Speaker 1: Then this is after surgery we're talking about, right, Yes, 30 00:02:21,596 --> 00:02:24,836 Speaker 1: So I would die this suture material in this beat, 31 00:02:24,916 --> 00:02:28,836 Speaker 1: die that I that I've configurated, and I would let 32 00:02:28,836 --> 00:02:31,596 Speaker 1: them dry, and then in order to test, since I 33 00:02:31,676 --> 00:02:35,636 Speaker 1: can't I can't test on humans, I use pH and 34 00:02:36,036 --> 00:02:42,836 Speaker 1: solutions that basically represent the different stages of healthy and infected. 35 00:02:43,276 --> 00:02:46,836 Speaker 1: So healthy was the pH of five and the pH 36 00:02:46,876 --> 00:02:51,316 Speaker 1: of nine is infected. So I would use the pH 37 00:02:51,316 --> 00:02:54,636 Speaker 1: solutions to drop some liquid on the set of sutures 38 00:02:54,676 --> 00:02:57,436 Speaker 1: that I created, and I would watch the color change happen. 39 00:02:57,836 --> 00:03:00,156 Speaker 1: And I noticed that the color change would only happen 40 00:03:00,396 --> 00:03:04,836 Speaker 1: with the pH of nine because beats only change color 41 00:03:05,316 --> 00:03:08,516 Speaker 1: at eight or higher. So when a person is finished 42 00:03:08,516 --> 00:03:11,556 Speaker 1: with surgery and they're stitched up with my stitches, and 43 00:03:11,596 --> 00:03:14,836 Speaker 1: this would only work for like superficial wounds, So things 44 00:03:14,836 --> 00:03:17,156 Speaker 1: that happened at the top of the skin, that area 45 00:03:17,236 --> 00:03:19,676 Speaker 1: would start to change color because it picks up on 46 00:03:19,756 --> 00:03:22,556 Speaker 1: that pH tracing, and then that lets everyone know that 47 00:03:22,596 --> 00:03:25,996 Speaker 1: the wound was affected. The infections after surgery or a 48 00:03:25,996 --> 00:03:29,796 Speaker 1: problem everywhere. It's a big problem in the United States too. 49 00:03:30,156 --> 00:03:34,396 Speaker 1: What about this is geared towards other countries rather than 50 00:03:34,436 --> 00:03:38,916 Speaker 1: the US. Well, I've decided to create my project around 51 00:03:38,956 --> 00:03:43,356 Speaker 1: the developing countries because they are disproportionately affected by surgical 52 00:03:43,396 --> 00:03:47,276 Speaker 1: site infections. Specifically, I read an article which was just 53 00:03:47,356 --> 00:03:49,516 Speaker 1: like on a car ride back from my grandparents' house, 54 00:03:50,116 --> 00:03:55,796 Speaker 1: where these scientists created color changing stitches that had all 55 00:03:55,796 --> 00:03:58,036 Speaker 1: of this fancy technology and they did more than just 56 00:03:58,076 --> 00:04:01,036 Speaker 1: like change color and whatnot. People could use their mobile 57 00:04:01,076 --> 00:04:05,956 Speaker 1: device to connect and electro mat like all this stuff, 58 00:04:06,196 --> 00:04:07,836 Speaker 1: like the things that I can't even explain to you. 59 00:04:09,796 --> 00:04:13,356 Speaker 1: And I said to myself, this is an equity issue 60 00:04:13,716 --> 00:04:16,396 Speaker 1: because people in developing countries won't be able to get 61 00:04:16,396 --> 00:04:19,676 Speaker 1: their hands on this technology because it's too expensive. I 62 00:04:19,876 --> 00:04:23,156 Speaker 1: set out to solve that problem so that they can't 63 00:04:23,196 --> 00:04:26,156 Speaker 1: get to developing countries, essentially the people that beat them. 64 00:04:26,276 --> 00:04:30,956 Speaker 1: I decided to create my project as where equity meets 65 00:04:30,996 --> 00:04:34,356 Speaker 1: science perspective, and I put that together and that's how 66 00:04:34,396 --> 00:04:38,956 Speaker 1: I created this invention for developing countries. Specific were there 67 00:04:38,956 --> 00:04:41,276 Speaker 1: things you did as a kid that got you interested 68 00:04:41,516 --> 00:04:45,356 Speaker 1: in performing surgery? And what would happen when you were suturing? 69 00:04:46,276 --> 00:04:48,596 Speaker 1: My mom and I still tease about this story to 70 00:04:48,676 --> 00:04:52,476 Speaker 1: this day, but I somehow wanted to become a surgeon 71 00:04:52,556 --> 00:04:56,076 Speaker 1: out of nowhere. And I was like, I'm gonna stitch 72 00:04:56,156 --> 00:04:59,756 Speaker 1: up my bear because like my bear had like blown 73 00:04:59,756 --> 00:05:03,596 Speaker 1: a couple of stites. Yeah, yeah, exactly, so you understand. 74 00:05:05,116 --> 00:05:07,556 Speaker 1: And I took the sewing kit and I just started 75 00:05:07,596 --> 00:05:11,716 Speaker 1: stitching it up. I note that as my as the 76 00:05:11,756 --> 00:05:15,796 Speaker 1: beginning of my project, the beginning of this research and 77 00:05:15,876 --> 00:05:19,316 Speaker 1: the evolution to today and being here with you all, 78 00:05:19,356 --> 00:05:22,756 Speaker 1: and that there I still have that there too. He's 79 00:05:22,796 --> 00:05:28,076 Speaker 1: doing all right? What is are there any next steps 80 00:05:28,076 --> 00:05:30,396 Speaker 1: with this project? Or is this kind of this was 81 00:05:30,436 --> 00:05:31,996 Speaker 1: for the prize and you're on to the next thing, 82 00:05:32,076 --> 00:05:33,956 Speaker 1: or do you think there may be some ways to 83 00:05:33,956 --> 00:05:37,716 Speaker 1: try it or implement it somewhere. My next steps include 84 00:05:37,756 --> 00:05:40,436 Speaker 1: patenting this project and then licensing so that I can 85 00:05:40,556 --> 00:05:42,916 Speaker 1: get these suitors to the people that need it. Well. 86 00:05:42,916 --> 00:05:44,756 Speaker 1: I'm sure it'll be the first of many patents. I 87 00:05:45,316 --> 00:05:48,836 Speaker 1: recently saw that Thomas Edison had had over a thousand, 88 00:05:48,916 --> 00:05:50,876 Speaker 1: so but I'm not sure. I think you may have 89 00:05:50,916 --> 00:05:54,836 Speaker 1: an earlier start than he did. I mean, women are 90 00:05:54,916 --> 00:05:59,996 Speaker 1: underrepresented in technology, African Americans that are underrepresented in medicine. 91 00:06:00,516 --> 00:06:03,996 Speaker 1: What are yours as someone just starting out graduating from 92 00:06:04,076 --> 00:06:08,596 Speaker 1: high school? Do you have insight into what the obstacles 93 00:06:08,596 --> 00:06:11,956 Speaker 1: are and you know, maybe some ideas like your future 94 00:06:12,116 --> 00:06:14,596 Speaker 1: idea about how to deal with that, how to solve 95 00:06:14,636 --> 00:06:18,076 Speaker 1: that problem. It's not the problem we're talking about solving today, 96 00:06:18,116 --> 00:06:21,076 Speaker 1: But you seem to be good at solving problems. I 97 00:06:21,596 --> 00:06:26,436 Speaker 1: consider myself to be good at solving problems. I know 98 00:06:26,516 --> 00:06:30,956 Speaker 1: that there are definitely so many obstacles for women, women 99 00:06:30,996 --> 00:06:35,676 Speaker 1: of color everywhere. Being seventeen, in the community that I 100 00:06:35,716 --> 00:06:39,156 Speaker 1: live in, I'm a I'm a black woman who quite 101 00:06:39,156 --> 00:06:42,836 Speaker 1: often finds herself in white spaces, white male dominant spaces, 102 00:06:43,636 --> 00:06:48,516 Speaker 1: and I learned not to deal in limitation, not to 103 00:06:48,636 --> 00:06:53,276 Speaker 1: deal in obstacles, but rather to deal in possibility. So 104 00:06:53,756 --> 00:06:57,876 Speaker 1: here I am with my project, with my equity social justice, 105 00:06:58,036 --> 00:07:02,076 Speaker 1: racial equity background. I'm really I'm not looking for obstacles 106 00:07:02,076 --> 00:07:05,796 Speaker 1: looking at obstacles. I'm really looking for the places where 107 00:07:05,836 --> 00:07:08,436 Speaker 1: I can make a difference in best serves as a 108 00:07:08,476 --> 00:07:12,076 Speaker 1: public servant. Essentially, it's great to see this kind of 109 00:07:12,156 --> 00:07:15,556 Speaker 1: leadership at your age. It's it's amazing Gaija and I 110 00:07:15,596 --> 00:07:18,636 Speaker 1: wonder what's what's next for you? What are your what 111 00:07:18,676 --> 00:07:22,236 Speaker 1: are your plans for college next year? Well, for college 112 00:07:22,316 --> 00:07:26,516 Speaker 1: next year, I am still awaiting. Um. I am in 113 00:07:26,556 --> 00:07:30,196 Speaker 1: that group of students that you know where our decision 114 00:07:30,276 --> 00:07:32,916 Speaker 1: dates got pushed back. So I'm hoping to get some 115 00:07:32,996 --> 00:07:36,876 Speaker 1: decisions in the next few weeks. Don't don't want to 116 00:07:36,876 --> 00:07:38,796 Speaker 1: give it away yet, I understand, But you're going to 117 00:07:38,876 --> 00:07:40,596 Speaker 1: go straight through. It sounds like you're going to go 118 00:07:40,636 --> 00:07:42,516 Speaker 1: to You're expecting to go to college in the fall 119 00:07:42,556 --> 00:07:46,516 Speaker 1: and then probably medical school after college. Um, we'll see 120 00:07:46,556 --> 00:07:49,236 Speaker 1: how that goes. As of right now, my tentative plan 121 00:07:49,716 --> 00:07:52,836 Speaker 1: is too major in political science and eventually go to 122 00:07:52,916 --> 00:07:57,996 Speaker 1: grad school for law. But my ultimate goal just whatever 123 00:07:58,116 --> 00:08:00,396 Speaker 1: I decide to major in whatever I decide to do 124 00:08:00,476 --> 00:08:03,756 Speaker 1: in grad school. My goal is to make sure that 125 00:08:03,836 --> 00:08:06,436 Speaker 1: these suitors get to the people that need them. That's 126 00:08:06,476 --> 00:08:10,276 Speaker 1: going to happen no matter what. Dejah. I'm always amazed 127 00:08:10,276 --> 00:08:14,236 Speaker 1: when I see a science competition like this, and you know, 128 00:08:14,316 --> 00:08:16,836 Speaker 1: the young people who come up with this amazing ideas. 129 00:08:16,956 --> 00:08:19,676 Speaker 1: And as someone who was never good at coming up 130 00:08:19,716 --> 00:08:22,356 Speaker 1: with that kind of idea, I'd love your advice. We 131 00:08:22,396 --> 00:08:25,636 Speaker 1: always had the show by asking for some advice for listeners. 132 00:08:26,076 --> 00:08:29,316 Speaker 1: How do you think creatively about this kind of innovation? 133 00:08:30,836 --> 00:08:36,356 Speaker 1: My best piece of advice is to be curious. Now, 134 00:08:36,436 --> 00:08:40,036 Speaker 1: I know that sounds really general, but I promise you 135 00:08:40,196 --> 00:08:42,436 Speaker 1: that is the only way that I got where I 136 00:08:42,476 --> 00:08:46,476 Speaker 1: am today. I was curious about conducting research. I was 137 00:08:46,516 --> 00:08:51,156 Speaker 1: curious about beats, I was curious about science fair competitions. 138 00:08:51,676 --> 00:08:54,436 Speaker 1: And I took this entire like I want to change 139 00:08:54,476 --> 00:08:58,316 Speaker 1: the world idea to my mentor, Carolyn Walling, and she said, 140 00:08:58,756 --> 00:09:01,396 Speaker 1: I think this is a great idea. You have to 141 00:09:01,396 --> 00:09:06,716 Speaker 1: figure out where you're going to start. And now I'm like, 142 00:09:06,876 --> 00:09:12,116 Speaker 1: I'm everywhere changing the world, and that's been amazing. So like, 143 00:09:12,276 --> 00:09:16,196 Speaker 1: being curious has afforded me so many opportunities, and there's 144 00:09:16,276 --> 00:09:19,636 Speaker 1: just no way that I would be here if I 145 00:09:19,316 --> 00:09:21,556 Speaker 1: were if I were just you know, kind of just 146 00:09:21,596 --> 00:09:24,076 Speaker 1: going through the motions of life and not really seeking 147 00:09:24,076 --> 00:09:27,876 Speaker 1: out new knowledge. So seeking out new knowledge, being curious 148 00:09:27,996 --> 00:09:30,676 Speaker 1: is definitely the way to go. You you mentioned that 149 00:09:30,716 --> 00:09:32,756 Speaker 1: you have a mentor. Can you tell me what that 150 00:09:32,836 --> 00:09:37,596 Speaker 1: relationships like? Of course, Oh, my goodness, my mentor is amazing. 151 00:09:38,116 --> 00:09:40,316 Speaker 1: So today we kind of just talked about my phase 152 00:09:40,356 --> 00:09:42,596 Speaker 1: one of research. But since then, I've added like two 153 00:09:42,676 --> 00:09:45,956 Speaker 1: new mentors to the team. My first one in OG 154 00:09:47,236 --> 00:09:51,636 Speaker 1: that is Carolyn Walling. She was my honors teacher. I 155 00:09:51,676 --> 00:09:55,556 Speaker 1: have had the honor and pleasure of welcoming Michelle Wickner 156 00:09:55,596 --> 00:09:59,196 Speaker 1: to the team. She's also a chemistry teacher ap KIM 157 00:09:59,316 --> 00:10:03,236 Speaker 1: so she's really smart. She's an ape him teacher at 158 00:10:03,276 --> 00:10:06,676 Speaker 1: West High. And then I've also had the pleasure of 159 00:10:06,716 --> 00:10:10,716 Speaker 1: welcoming Teresa Ho from the University Iola, a microbiologist to 160 00:10:10,716 --> 00:10:14,076 Speaker 1: the team as well. Her expertise is, oh, my gosh, 161 00:10:14,116 --> 00:10:17,556 Speaker 1: phenomenal because I'm working with two chemistry teachers. Um, so 162 00:10:17,716 --> 00:10:21,516 Speaker 1: those are my three mentors. And then like my OGOG 163 00:10:21,876 --> 00:10:25,276 Speaker 1: has been my mom because I love her and she's 164 00:10:25,316 --> 00:10:28,276 Speaker 1: so amazing. But those are all of the people. Well, 165 00:10:28,316 --> 00:10:30,236 Speaker 1: I love it, you've got you've got a whole team 166 00:10:30,276 --> 00:10:34,316 Speaker 1: of people. But any tips for connecting with mentors if 167 00:10:34,316 --> 00:10:37,956 Speaker 1: you don't even have one? Oh yes, I often think that, 168 00:10:38,036 --> 00:10:41,716 Speaker 1: Like people have mentors, but they don't like they just 169 00:10:41,756 --> 00:10:44,756 Speaker 1: don't call it that. Like someone you go to for advice, 170 00:10:44,996 --> 00:10:48,196 Speaker 1: I consider a mentor. It's all relative to UM, to 171 00:10:48,276 --> 00:10:51,916 Speaker 1: your personal perception of what a mentor is. But my 172 00:10:52,036 --> 00:10:55,556 Speaker 1: number one piece of advice for students, especially because I'm 173 00:10:55,556 --> 00:11:00,316 Speaker 1: still a student, UM, is to like listen to your teachers, 174 00:11:00,596 --> 00:11:03,596 Speaker 1: like like followed back and like listen to your teachers. 175 00:11:04,236 --> 00:11:06,916 Speaker 1: Talk to them. I mean, if if you want to, 176 00:11:07,836 --> 00:11:11,596 Speaker 1: and um, really see what they have to say, like 177 00:11:11,676 --> 00:11:14,196 Speaker 1: kind of about life, about school in general. Like you 178 00:11:14,236 --> 00:11:18,676 Speaker 1: have no idea how far like being connected with a 179 00:11:18,756 --> 00:11:22,196 Speaker 1: teacher can take you. I have so many teacher mentors, 180 00:11:22,276 --> 00:11:24,796 Speaker 1: oh my goodness, Like almost everyone in this building is 181 00:11:24,796 --> 00:11:27,116 Speaker 1: a mentor of mine, and I absolutely love it. They 182 00:11:27,156 --> 00:11:29,956 Speaker 1: have provided so much wisdom to my life, things that 183 00:11:29,996 --> 00:11:32,716 Speaker 1: I would not have learned until probably like senior year 184 00:11:32,716 --> 00:11:36,236 Speaker 1: of college. And that has been so amazing. So I 185 00:11:37,036 --> 00:11:40,876 Speaker 1: offer that to my students out there Desia. Will you 186 00:11:40,916 --> 00:11:43,156 Speaker 1: have a brilliant career ahead of you and it is 187 00:11:43,156 --> 00:11:45,836 Speaker 1: such a pleasure talking to you. Thank you for joining us. 188 00:11:45,876 --> 00:11:51,796 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Jacob Desiah Taylor is a senior 189 00:11:51,836 --> 00:11:54,956 Speaker 1: at Iowa City West High School. To learn more about 190 00:11:54,956 --> 00:11:58,596 Speaker 1: her work with beat Dyed Suitures and surgical side infections 191 00:11:58,836 --> 00:12:02,036 Speaker 1: and health equity, check out the links in our show notes. 192 00:12:02,796 --> 00:12:06,516 Speaker 1: Solvable Senior producer is Jocelyn Frank, Research and booking by 193 00:12:06,556 --> 00:12:11,076 Speaker 1: Lisa Dunn. Catherine Girardo is managing producer, and our executive 194 00:12:11,076 --> 00:12:15,556 Speaker 1: producer is Mia Loebell. Solvable is a production of Pushkin Industries. 195 00:12:15,796 --> 00:12:18,516 Speaker 1: If you like the show, please remember to share, rate, 196 00:12:18,596 --> 00:12:21,036 Speaker 1: and review it. It really helps us get the word out. 197 00:12:21,876 --> 00:12:25,276 Speaker 1: You can find Pushkin podcasts wherever you listen, including on 198 00:12:25,356 --> 00:12:29,716 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app and Apple podcast. I'm Jacob Weisberg.