Saxe, Moore earn scholarships

Two juniors recently won national scholarships to fund future work in science and public service.

Electrical engineering major Andrew Saxe '08 learned last week that he had been named a Goldwater Scholar and Wilson School major Scott Moore '08 found out Tuesday that he is now a Truman Scholar.

The Goldwater is awarded to rising juniors and seniors who stand out in fields related to math and science. It provides undergraduates with up to $7,500 per year for tuition and other expenses. The Truman comes with a $30,000 scholarship for juniors who plan to pursue graduate studies in government and public service.

Last year, the University had four Goldwater scholars — the maximum that can be awarded to students from any one school — and no Truman Scholars.

Saxe's work in electrical engineering focuses on intelligent systems. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, neuroscience or computer science. "For some reason I just love [studying intelligent systems]," he said.

Saxe said that in studying artificial intelligence, he learns about himself. "You're trying to reconstruct something that is so easy for a human," he said. He explained that he enjoys studying neuroscience because "how we compute ... is pretty fundamental to our human experience."

He was part of the Princeton Autonomous Vehicle Engineering team that worked on the DARPA Grand Challenge, an intercollegiate competition to construct an autonomous car. The team had to program an SUV to navigate a 60-mile urban environment with "cars darting this way and that," he said.

DARPA adviser and ORFE professor Alain Kornhauser GS '71 described Saxe as "quite creative ... a leader and a take-charge type of guy who really wanted to bring some very elegant ... yet very practical and simplistic solutions," he said. "He's been just wonderful — in his leadership and his creativity, intensity [and] drive."

Moore, a Wilson School major who is pursuing certificates in East Asian Studies and environmental studies, has combined his dual interest in the environment and international law by focusing on climate change policy. He wants to go to law school and then pursue an MPA or Ph.D.

Moore, who also co-chairs The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board, said he wants to work on an international level to combat climate change. To further these interests, he plans to take next year off from Princeton to conduct research on climate change in China and take Chinese language classes.

"He had direct experiences at a young age with international folks," his mother Sheri Moore said. He went to Li Po CHun United World College in Hong Kong and spent time in Thailand with his mother when he was 12.

Moore's interest in international affairs developed during his travels abroad after high school to India, Cambodia, Nepal and Africa, she added. "I was thrilled for him because I know how far back his work and preparation goes," she said, describing her reaction when she learned her son had won the scholarship.