2012 Young Scientist Challenge Judges

Dr. Cindy Moss
Lead Judge

As director of global STEM initiatives for Discovery Education, Dr. Cindy Moss designs, develops and implements initiatives to inspire students' curiosity in STEM. Prior to joining Discovery Education, Dr. Moss was director of STEM for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She also taught biology and chemistry. Among her many achievements, she won a National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation.

Dr. Moss holds a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, master's degree in science from Syracuse University and doctorate in science curriculum and instruction from the Curtin Institute of Technology in Perth, Western Australia.

Dr. Matt Scholz

Dr. Matt Scholz is currently a Corporate Scientist in the 3M Healthcare Division and leads a Discovery Team to develop advanced Infection Prevention. Scholz is an inventor on over 110 issued United States patents and has facilitated numerous healthcare products through to commercialization including synthetic casting tapes and splints, sterile adhesive incise drapes used in surgery, antifog and antireflective films used in disposable face shields and diagnostics, and products to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia.

For over 29 years, Scholz has worked in Research and Development for 3M and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Carlton Award, 3M's highest recognition for scientists who have made extraordinary contributions to the company.
Danny Forster

Best known as host of Science series, Build It Bigger, Forster has traveled the world with a camera crew in search of incredible feats of architecture and engineering-a record-setting skyscraper, a city-saving levee, a mammoth cruise ship, a state-of-the-art football stadium. Forster helped make Build it Bigger one of the highest rated shows on the Science Channel. Additionally, Forster is one of the Executive Producers for Discovery Channel's Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero series from award-winning Producer, Steven Spielberg.

Furthermore, Forster is the Chief Architecture and Engineering Expert for Discovery Education. Forster travels to host school lectures and participate in various educational conferences on behalf of Discovery Education. His intoxicating passion for educating and inspiring students is both infectious and compelling.
Dr. Calvin Watts

Dr. Calvin Watts is currently an Assistant Superintendent in Gwinnett County Public Schools (the 14th largest school district in the nation), and has been serving the district since 2001. He began his career in Education as a middle school teacher, and since has served as an assistant principal, principal, administrator, and varsity soccer coach. For his excellence in coaching, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association recognized him as Region Coach of the Year. Dr. Watts has extensive leadership training, and has received both a master's and a doctorate degree in Education. In his spare time, Dr. Watts enjoys reading, traveling, and watching and participating in sports.
Greg Anthony

Greg Anthony is the Science Department Chair at Pine Ridge Middle School in Naples, Florida and currently an 8th grade Physical Science teacher. In his career with Collier County, he has authored and revised several Collier curricula, including STEM curriculum for Advanced Physical Science. Greg has also authored and presented The Science Project Worksheet System, a book that is used by all Collier County Public School science teachers. Greg has been recognized for his outstanding work in the classroom, and is accomplished in the field of science education outside of the classroom. Since 2001, he has served as the Fair Director of the Collier Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
Kirsten Mahovlich

Kirsten Mahovlich joined the Cleveland Metropolitan School district in 1998 where she taught for thirteen years, including physical science, biology, forensics, chemistry, honor and inclusion science classes. Currently, she is the Flexible Content Expert in Science Education Grades 7-12. Prior to joining CMSD, Kirsten worked as a laboratory technician in the instructional labs for the University of Toledo's Biology Department. She has presented/facilitated on inclusion, differentiated instruction, integrating science through forensics, project based learning and co-teaching at the local and state level. Kirsten believes that to be a teacher you must also be a life-long student.