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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 26, 2022
Perry senior wins international robotics award BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer
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umans have been exploring the topic of machines surpassing us and becoming a threat as far back as 1872, when the novel “Erewhon” worried about them gaining consciousness and being able to self-replicate. Since then it is a popular science fiction topic in everything from books to films to video games. It’s not a topic that scares one rising senior at Perry High School. “I’ve never seen ‘Terminator,’” Joshua Shunk admitted. Last month, Joshua took first place in robotics and intelligent machines at the International Science and Engineering Fair after he designed an algorithm that allows machines to learn with less data. As part of his prize is that he will get to fly to Sweden to watch the Nobel Prize Awards ceremony. The blockbuster “Terminator” films showed machines hunting down the last pockets of humanity. But despite the fears that developing artificial intelligence can generate, Joshua sees the good they can do as well. Take his algorithm as an example.
He decided to make his algorithm open source, allowing others to build on his work. It means he will likely never profit from his algorithm. “Being that I’m a high school student conducting this research independently, there are going to be other researchers who Joshua Shunk received the Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award, want to validate my which provides the finalists with an all-expense paid trip to the claims,” he said. “ReStockholm International Youth Science Seminar, which includes attendance at the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden. searchers won’t just (David Minton/Staff Photographer) take my word for it. “Open sourcing it Usually a machine needs a lot of data to makes this process a get to the point where it is confident in lot easier. The goal of my research was to making a decision. Joshua said there are develop something that would hopefully times when you don’t have a lot of data. improve the lives of other and give me For example, a doctor could list the a pa- some credibility as a researcher. It was tient’s symptoms and the artificial intelli- never to make money off of.” gence could come up with a list of the most Perry High School offers select students likely cause. But what about very rare dis- an Honors Science Research program where eases, where there is not a lot of data? they can explore any topic that interests them. Joshua’s algorithm helps machines learn They are evaluated based on their research without needing millions of packets of data. and what they’ve learned. That’s where Josh-
ua did most of his research into this topic. He plans to continue to explore it during his senior year. The International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest of its kind in the world, with more than 1,600 participants from 63 countries. So far, Joshua has been awarded a scholarship to Arizona State University and $6,500 in prize money. During the trip to Stockholm, he will make a presentation on his project to Swedish youth as part of a program to encourage them to explore careers in science. He said he enjoyed the competition, getting a chance to meet people from all over the world and experience different cultures. Joshua said he hopes to travel a lot in the future. In addition to his scientific research, Joshua plays hockey. He said between the research and hockey, he is pretty busy. Which is why he doesn’t have time to play the Mass Effect video games, where machines wipe out all advance civilizations every 50,000 years. Does Joshua ever think about machines taking over? “I think it could happen,” Joshua said. “And it’s up to the responsibility of the researchers with upgrading it. I think there’s definitely safeguards against it.”
fit for their clients. The HOPE Group is funded through contracts with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, which leaves them subject to fluctuations in funding. Despite these challenges, being statefunded has been beneficial in making treatment more accessible, as it has recently allowed clients to get trained and hired by HOPE to serve their loved ones from home. Lori’s daughter Shelby Durfee, the director of state services at HOPE, has committed herself to the employment side of the business, which she helped open in 2020. Durfee aims to create a “one stop shop” for high school students with autism to
create their own job path before they graduate. She also aims to become a statewide leader in providing these services. A common characteristic among people with autism is a high fixation on a particular topic. This is something that HOPE wants clients to embrace, encouraging kids to find employment in areas that meet their passions. “You know, I think for a lot of situations, we try to make people fit into society, or people with autism fit into society, but we also kind of need to understand and meet them where they’re at as well.” Durfee said. Information: hopegroupaz.com. “Autism: A Family’s Journey” is on amazon prime.
Area agency offers hope for those with autism
BY SAMANTHA MORRIS Arizonan Staff Writer
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hen Lori Cairn’s son J.R. was 2 years old, in 1996, the medical establishment’s understanding of autism outcomes was limited, prompting doctors to make pessimistic predictions about the quality of life those on the autism spectrum could expect. One doctor “told me to go home and make sure he liked his room because he was going to go in and never come out,” said Cairns in the 2013 documentary, “Autism: A Family’s Journey. She said he would probably be in an institution by the time he was 17.”
So Cairns navigated her own way to help her son and other children, learning applied behavioral analysis, a specialized therapy tailored to one’s behavioral needs. The new therapy that the Cairn’s sought out for their son was successful, and today, J.R. is living independently and has a job. In 1997, her home-based ABA sessions and community outreach turned into what is now the HOPE Group, an East Valley autism agency celebrating its 25-year anniversary. The HOPE Group has two sides. The clinical side offers ABA and behavioral consulting while the state services side provides habilitation and respite in addition to collaborating with Arizona businesses to find the right employment
