Pinay student becomes one of 15 finalists in youth global science video contest

A Filipina student made it to the finals of a global science video contest after her video on the theory of relativity won for the second year in a row.

Palo, Leyte resident Hillary Andales is the sole Filipino representative in the finals of the third annual Breakthrough Junior Challenge after she once again bested more than 11,000 students worldwide with her video on the theory of relativity.

The Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas student made it to the finals of last year's challenge by winning the popular vote through her video explaining path integrals in quantum physics.

Andales hopes to pursue a career in physics to make exciting breakthroughs in the field as Albert Einstein once had.

The winner of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge will be awarded a $250,000 college scholarship, while their science teacher or mentor receives $50,000 and their school a state-of-the-art science lab valued at $100,000.

Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global initiative to develop and demonstrate young people’s knowledge of science and scientific principles; generate excitement in these fields; support STEM career choices; and engage the imagination and interest of the public-at-large in key concepts of fundamental science.

It is funded through Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan's Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Milner Global Foundation.

Khan Academy and National Geographic are also named partners for the initiative. — LA, GMA News