Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalists Announced
300 Young Innovators Compete for $1.25 Million in Scholarships
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 16, 2008 – At 194 high schools across the country today, 300 seniors were named semifinalists of the Intel® Science Talent Search (Intel STS) 2008. America's oldest and most prestigious science competition, the Intel Science Talent Search – often called the "junior Nobel Prize" – brings together the best and brightest young scientific minds in America to compete for $1.25 million in scholarships. Each of the 300 Intel STS semifinalists receives $1,000 with an additional $1,000 to their respective school, resulting in $600,000 in total awards.
This year's semifinalists were selected from 1,602 entrants hailing from 45 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Male and female entrants were represented equally and their research projects cover all disciplines of science including biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, behavioral science and medicine and health.
Over the past 66 years, the STS has produced winners of the world's most prestigious academic honors. Six former finalists have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. STS finalists have also been awarded the Fields Medal, the National Medal of Science and MacArthur Foundation Fellowships.
"This year marks Intel's 10th year of sponsorship of this historic competition, and we are honored to be a part of a program that is fostering the talent of America's brightest young minds," said Intel Foundation President and Director of Education Brenda Musilli. "These students are solving difficult problems that will have a real impact on generations to come."
On Jan. 30, 40 of the 300 semifinalists will be named as finalists and will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a week-long event in March. A total of $530,000 in scholarships will be provided by the Intel Foundation with each finalist receiving at least $5,000 and a new laptop run with the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor. Of these finalists, 10 students will be chosen for top honors with the grand prize winner receiving a $100,000 scholarship. These top winners will be selected based on rigorous judging sessions while in Washington, D.C. and announced at a black-tie banquet on March 11.
Society for Science & the Public (formerly Science Service), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the public engagement in scientific research and education, owns and has administered the STS since its inception in 1942. Elizabeth Marincola, president of Society for Science & the Public, said, "With their dedication and achievement in disciplines ranging from environmental science to bioengineering, the 300 Intel STS 2008 semifinalists have distinguished themselves as the nation's top young researchers. Focused on solutions to the pressing issues of our time, their work reaffirms the vision of Society for Science & the Public to inform, educate, and inspire the world around us."
Intel added sponsorship of the Science Talent Search to the extensive Intel Education Initiative portfolio in 1998 to spotlight the need to improve math and science education in the United States. Since then, Intel has increased the total annual awards and scholarships from $207,000 to $1.25 million and reinvigorated the competition by adding awards for the schools and introducing technology to the experience, through program elements such as laptop awards for all 40 finalists.
Intel's commitment to education extends far beyond Intel STS: from local schools to global universities, Intel works to help improve the quality of education around the world. Over the past decade alone, Intel has invested more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions to help teachers teach, students learn and universities innovate – particularly in the areas of math, science and technology.
To learn more about Intel's commitment to education around the world, visit
www.intel.com/education. To learn more about Society for Science & the Public, visit
www.societyforscience.org.
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at
www.intel.com/pressroom.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.
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