COMMUNITY

Perry senior wins international robotics award

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Humans 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. Usually a machine needs a lot of data to get to the point where it is confident in making a decision. Joshua said there are times when you don’t have a lot of data.

For example, a doctor could list the a patient’s symptoms and the artificial intelligence could come up with a list of the most likely cause. But what about very rare diseases, where there is not a lot of data?

Joshua’s algorithm helps machines learn without needing millions of packets of data. 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 want to validate my claims,” he said. “Researchers won’t just take my word for it. “Open sourcing it makes this process a lot easier. The goal of my research was to develop something that would hopefully improve the lives of other and give me some credibility as a researcher. It was never to make money off of.”

Perry High School offers select students an Honors Science Research program where they can explore any topic that interests them. They are evaluated based on their research 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. Joshua Shunk received the Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award, He said he enjoyed the competition, getwhich provides the finalists with an all-expense paid trip to the ting a chance to meet people from all over the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar, which includes world and experience different cultures. Joshattendance at the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden. ua said he hopes to travel a lot in the future. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) 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.”

Area agency offers hope for those with autism

BY SAMANTHA MORRIS

Arizonan Staff Writer

When 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 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.

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