Philip and Lucia Mocz of Mililani High School won a $50,000 scholarship at one of the nation's premier high school science competitions this week for their research on the computer-aided identification of cancer.

They were among six finalists in the team category of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.

The overall winner of the individual competition was Dmitry Vaintrob, 18, a senior at South Eugene High School in Eugene, Ore., who received a $100,000 scholarship for his research in a new area of mathematics called string topology.

Vaintrob's research could provide knowledge that mathematicians and physicists might apply to understand electricity, magnetism and gravity, judges at the Siemens competition said.

The team competition was won by Scott Molony, 18, Steven Arcangeli, 17, and Scott Horton, 17, students at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tenn., for developing a technique that could one day help scientists engineer biofuel from plants. The three teens will share a $100,000 scholarship.

The brother-sister team of Philip and Lucia Mocz was among five other individuals and five teams that won scholarships for their research. Those scholarship awards ranged from $50,000 to $10,000.

Philip is a junior and Lucia is a sophomore. Their software program essentially makes cancer cells more visible in photographs of tissue samples, potentially aiding pathologists in the early detection of the disease.

The Siemens competition began in 1998 to recognize America's best math and science students, with 1,660 entering this year.

The award ceremony was held at New York University.

The Siemens Foundation distributes nearly $2 million annually in scholarships and awards.