Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy (IMSA) graduate Ziang Wang is a member of The National Society of High School Scholars and a 2015 recipient of the NSHSS Foundation's annual Earth Day Award. In this Q&A, Ziang discusses his project on green roofs and pollution problems in China.

1. The National Society of High School Scholars
Learn. Lead. Change the World.
www.nshss.org

2. Q&A
with 2015 Earth Day
Scholarship

3. Q&A
with 2015 Earth Day
Scholarship
Ziang Wang

4. 1. Tell us about how you became interested in green roofs?

5. 1. Tell us about how you became interested in green roofs?
While attending elementary school in Beijing, China, I witnessed first-hand the ever-worsening air pollution and consumed food contaminated by water and soil
pollution. The memory from that formative time motivated me to complete a water filtration science project in middle school, which validating my interest in
environmental science research. When I saw a miniature green roof model made by an upperclassman Anna during sophomore year, I was inspired by a miniature
green roof model made by an upperclassman Anna to pursue an investigation on green roofs with my project partner, Aaron, who was interested in the engineering of
such a structure. I decided to pursue the opportunity our advisor Dr. Peter Clancy offered because it optimally united my interests in the environment and economics.

6. 2. If there were one thing you could predict about the future of science,
what would it be?

7. 2. If there were one thing you could predict about the future of science,
what would it be?
I think new scientific theories will continue emerge that will fundamentally challenge
the way that we currently understand and interact with the world around us as that is
simply the nature of science.
In Niels Bohr’s time, the atom was understood to be composed of a small, positively
charge nucleus encircled by fixed rings of electrons. The simple model was widely
accepted but later discarded in favor of the far more nuanced quantum mechanics
model. The latter model describes the atom as a positive nucleus surrounded by
numerous “electron clouds,” or atomic orbital zones, in which the electrons are likely t
be found but travel as waves.
This new theory incorporated old observations, improved on the preexisting model through
its nuances, and impacted other fields. It is same case in genetics. We have discovered that
the order of genes on our chromosomes are not the only determinants of our traits.
Rather, there appears to be a complex hierarchy of different genes, which operate
in a microenvironment that also plays a role in our cells’ functions and processes.
These fundamental changes in the way we see the world are imminent,
but one thing will always be required for such scientific progress –
the spirit of fearless pioneering and discovery in the face of the
overwhelming force of the status quo.
Niels Bohr

8. 3. If there were one thing you could have in the classroom that you don’t currently, what would it
be?

9. 3. If there were one thing you could have in the classroom that you don’t currently, what would it
be?
My high school has been fortunate enough to have relatively few fiscal concerns and many experiential learning opportunities, both of which I believe are important to
the knowledge acquisition and generation process. However, a common theme I believe exists in all classrooms of all levels is the lack of a system to incentivize and
assess students other than the grade point average (GPA), ranking, percentile, and other traditional schemes. We as human beings are so nuanced that one number is
hardly sufficient to capture our understanding, effort, and accomplishments. However, I also recognize the fact that there needs to be a fair system in place. My student
council has worked on something that is geared towards IMSA’s unique inquiry-based learning process, but I think it sets up a very rigorous framework upon which all
high schools can refer to in setting their own “modern transcript.”

10. 4. Tell us about your favorite teacher, how have they supported or inspired you?

11. 4. Tell us about your favorite teacher, how have they supported or inspired you?
My self-confidence was shattered when I first arrived at my academically rigorous, highly selective public boarding school. My peers’ abilities were daunting
anyways and I felt even more inferior to them as I had skipped freshmen year and consequently enrolled in lower level courses.
Taking Dr. Don Dosch’s introductory biology class was the best thing that happened to me.
Through the combination of his motivating speeches,
novel techniques, strenuous coursework, and my persistence,
I gained a degree of humble confidence in the subject and a
persistent approach to understanding and engaging with the
content. Moreover, his mantra of revisiting subjects where I have
not previously excelled has influenced the choices I have made in
the rest of my academic career and helped me see the possible
joys of learning.
On a more personal level, Dr. Dosch has been one of the few
teachers that I have been able to truly relate to. I enjoy the times
I am able to talk to him about my anxieties and celebrating with
him my successes even after finished his coursework.
Although I have graduated, I nonetheless plan to keep up correspondence with him for I regard him
as an excellent mentor.

12. 5. How has NSHSS played a role in your academic career?

13. 5. How has NSHSS played a role in your academic career?
Through its scholarship program, NSHSS has empowered me in my pursuit of academic training in business and environmental science. With this scholarship,
I will be able to access the education critical to my personal development and my plans to facilitate further innovations in environmental science and
sustainability.

14. 6. What is your fondest memory related to your
research, thus far?

15. 6. What is your fondest memory related to your
research, thus far?
As anyone conducting research can likely relate to, the setup of the experiment takes the
longest time. As part of my environmental science research project, my research partner
and I had to re purpose a mini, mobile home for our green roof experiment. The
preparation began early in the school year with growing the rows of sedum plants that
eventually made their way on the roof.
However, we experienced many setbacks and had to reevaluate our experimental setup
many times. In fact, we once had to deal with the effects of a near miss with a tornado.
Nonetheless, through the chilling winds and rain, we did it. In late January, we finally
finished constructing our green roof and rejoiced in the fact that we could actually start
perform our experiments.
Moreover, I will always cherish the moment our school’s Chief Innovation Officer asked
my research partner and I to take part of the IMSA PowerUp Exhibition and several
admissions events, which really affirmed the accomplishments of the study.

16. 7. What do you plan to study in college and how does that fit
in the context of where you see yourself in 10 years?

17. 7. What do you plan to study in college and how does that fit
in the context of where you see yourself in 10 years?
Through the context of my research project and other classes at IMSA, I have affirmed and been able to
explore for sustainability innovations, economics, and public policy. Thus, while at New York University, I
plan to complete a dual major in business and environmental science and perhaps a minor in computer
science or policy management.
In 10 years, I see myself in a novel role that will link all stakeholders in environmental protection and
sustainability. Armed with scientific knowledge,
policy background, and a keen business sense, I hope to establish common
understanding among scientists, politicians, and businessmen, all of whom
have traditionally spoken “different languages,” in order to unite them in
the goal of protecting the environment and facilitating critical
innovations to the sustainability of human development.

18. 8. What do you hope for this year’s incoming Freshman class?

19. 8. What do you hope for this year’s incoming Freshman class?
What I sincerely hope and what I think a novel evaluation scheme will allow is for the incoming freshmen class to truly explore their intellectual interests and follow
through on them with applications in real life. Instead of concentrating on college admissions and everything associated withit, which some of my peers and I have been
guilty of, I hope they will “live a little”, read widely, have interesting experiences, question their preconceived notions, and find their unique, personal identity in the
meantime. Thus, they will become intriguing individuals with passions, informed opinions, questions, and, the most importantof all, an authentic identity that takes into
account all of their experiences, academic and otherwise. These experiences will transform the incoming class from (more or less) one dimensional students with little of
their own to say to dynamic human beings with unique perspectives.

20. 9. Outside of your research, what has been your favorite / most enjoyable aspect of high school?

21. 9. Outside of your research, what has been your favorite / most enjoyable aspect of high school?
While I think I probably complained as much as anyone about it during high school, my favorite aspect of the high school experience has actually been living two-and-a-
half hours away from home. Effectively left to my own devices, I had to confront the “sink-or-swim” reality that is adulthood. Rather than being told what to do exactly,
IMSA offered me more liberties than what I would have had at home to take care of myself. It was definitely a learning experience, but I grew to become more
responsible and independent person for not only the academic aspects but also other personal aspects such as doing my laundry and taking care of my health.
Furthermore, the privilege of living on campus allowed me to develop very close friendships that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

22. 10. What do you do to stay organized /
focused?

23. 10. What do you do to stay organized /
focused?
When working, I am often distracted by other things. When possible, I turn off
the internet and other electronic devices as they happen to be the most
common sources of distractions. Other times, I stay focus by listening to light
music and stay sharp by eating and taking breaks as necessary. To stay
organized, I force myself to clean up the spaces around me, which contributes
to staying focused. Furthermore, I make lists and utilize electronic applications
to keep track of my busy day.

24. 11. How do you relax? What’s your favorite hobby?

25. 11. How do you relax? What’s your favorite hobby?
While I try to do as much as I can in the little free time I have, I can best relax by listening to music and reading a thought-provoking book, watching a new movie, or
blogging. If I had more time, I would run more and maybe try yoga.

26. 12. What are you doing currently?

27. 12. What are you doing currently?
Right now, I am in China, visiting my extended family and interning with an agricultural commodities trading
firm. I am learning about Excel modeling and the agricultural commodities markets in the risk hedging
department. I plan to follow up this experience with an immersion in marketing through an internship for a
nearby hospital. While I appreciate the critical immersion in business disciplines that these experiences have
given me, the most gratifying experience this summer has actually been to see the blue sky for an entire week.
While the skies, waterways, and soil in metropolitan China are still largely polluted, the experience reaffirmed
my conviction of the necessity and potential impacts of environmental protection and energy sustainability
efforts. Further, I have become more convinced that environmental protection must be coupled with alternative,
green economic solutions to ensure the efficacy of protection efforts.

28. Ziang Wang, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 2015
graduate
Peoria, IL
Ziang Wang is a 2015 recipient of the NSHSS Foundation Earth Day Award. He has
conducted research to determine the effectiveness of green roofs. The soil vegetation
systems placed on top of building delays rainwater from entering the drainage system,
decreases air pollution and noise, and lowers carbon dioxide concentrations. Ziang’s
year-long study revealed that the green roof provided heat savings and retained runoff
water. Ziang has presented his research at the IMSAloquium and at IMSA’s Power Up
Conference.
Ziang is a co-president of Key Club. He has worked as a website design intern for the
US-China Hospital and Physician Best Practices Consortium and as the lead student
investigator at the University of Chicago in studying the ways Chinese investments and
aid programs have influenced the development of targeted African economies. Ziang is
also a member of the varsity track and field and cross country teams.