Of the millions of young innovators who enter local science fairs around the globe each year, only a fraction make it to the world's largest pre-collegiate competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public. This year, 1,557 finalists from 51 countries, regions and territories were selected to meet in Atlanta, Georgia, to present original research projects to panels of esteemed judges and compete for nearly $4 million in scholarships and awards.

Of course, the prizes are motivating, but so too are the issues these young scientists and mathematicians probe: potential treatments and cures for medical diseases, ideas on alternative energy sources and ways to combat global warming, and a range of discoveries and inventions that may just improve the human experience for us all.

Take a look at some of the people and projects at Intel ISEF 2008.

Ressela students Frantisek Kolek and Vaclav Kocian targeted their research toward developing a specialized first-aid kit specifically for amputation traumas. One of the most important elements of their research involved finding a way to pack severed body parts at the accident site and preserve them during transport to a medical facility. To address this need, Kolek and Kocian designed a special container made with low-density polyethylene sheeting which stabilizes when filled with water, along with an effective urea-water reaction cooling system. They also equipped the kit with other necessary medical supplies.

Because the amputation-rescue kit is compact and easy to use, it can be transported practically anywhere and used by laymen as well as trained medical personnel. It is now being tested by paramedics in the Czech Republic.

Kolek and Kocian hope that their kit will result in improved reattachment success rates for amputees.

the treatment process. However, the majority of cancer-stricken children are connected to medical drip stands during treatments such as chemotherapy, severely limiting their mobility.

To help such children, Noerbo developed a series of ultra-stable tricycles he calls DripDrops, designed with a secure, rear hitch for drip stands. The result is that hospitalized children can hop on the tricycles, hook up their drips, and go for a spin, engaging in exercise and reducing the risk of side effects in the process. What's more, the tricycles actually add a bit of fun to an often stressful experience.

Noerbo's DripDrop prototypes are currently being tested at a children's cancer ward in Denmark.

came up with a recycling plan that involves using rubber from discarded tires to create inexpensive roof tiles and mulch.

In designing the roof tiles, Rautenbach and Daly considered tile shape, positioning, and angle. Additionally, they tested fire preventative solutions on the rubber, eventually settling on a fire retardant that not only reduced flammability, but also strengthened the material. The result: a viable roofing option for people in need of affordable housing.

The team created mulch by shredding rubber tires for use as ground cover. The rubber mulch proved very effective at retaining soil moisture, a real advantage for rural South African farmers who may have to carry water long distances to tend their crops.

In the end, Rautenbach and Daly's research not only offers solutions for recycling tires and reducing environmental hazards, but may also make life a bit easier for others.

Stahl's research, conducted at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, revealed three substances - two bacteria and one fungus - which may hold promise, though final results were inconclusive.

The senior from Huntsville, Alabama, says she was inspired to pursue bio-diesel research because of her grandfather's interest in alternative fuels from a farming perspective and her own concerns for the environment. She plans to continue her research following Intel ISEF, and pursue studies in biology and chemistry at Ohio's Denison University.

Despite challenges along the way, including blown resistors the night before the regional science competition, Walti succeeded in creating models capable of controlled finger and wrist movement. Walti believes his design, "the first bionic arm to use an endoskeletal frame," will allow for easier control by amputees. Additionally, the model may have applications in manufacturing processes and hazardous industries.

Aside from using a band-saw in his school engineering class, Walti completed the bulk of his project in his room at home, thanks to "a big table" and "a lot of superglue." He plans to attend Brown University to study mechanical engineering.