Intel Honors The Next Generation Of Scientists

40 High School Seniors Vie for $530,000 at the Intel Science Talent Search

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 29, 2003 -- Intel Corporation today recognized the next generation of scientists with the selection of 40 high school seniors as finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search (STS), America's oldest and most prestigious science competition. The finalists will compete in Washington, D.C., March 6-11. The top prize is a $100,000 college scholarship.

"The Intel Science Talent Search challenges students to go beyond what they learn in the classroom and to develop skills and confidence that will last them a lifetime," said Intel Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett. "These remarkable students, with their solid grounding in science and math, are poised to become tomorrow's leaders and innovators."

About the Finalists
The Intel STS finalists hail from 14 states and Washington. In addition to a pursuit of scientific excellence, 75 percent play a musical instrument, 60 percent are fluent in a language other than English, and 55 percent volunteer in their community. This year's diverse group of Intel STS finalists includes a sign language interpreter, a bagpipe player, a competitive ballroom dancer, an opera singer and a jazz pianist.

The most popular categories for this year's finalists are physics, mathematics, behavioral sciences and biochemistry. Topics include a project using sound waves to kill mosquito larvae, research using a natural antioxidant found in grapes as a potential anticancer agent, and a study examining the effect of pay raises on professional baseball players' performance. For a list of the 40 finalists and their biographies, visit www.sciserv.org/sts/62sts/finalists.asp.

Awards
The Intel Foundation grants more than $1 million to students and schools during the Intel STS competition. The 40 finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation's capital where they compete for college scholarships totaling more than $500,000 and the top scholarship of $100,000. The second-place finalist receives a $75,000 scholarship, and the third-place finalist receives a $50,000 scholarship. Fourth- through sixth-place finalists each receive a $25,000 scholarship, and seventh- through 10th-prize finalists each will receive a $20,000 scholarship. The remaining 30 finalists each receive a $5,000 scholarship award, and all students attending the week-long competition receive a high-performance computer.

Six Decades of Excellence
The Intel STS provides an opportunity for U.S. high school seniors to complete an original research project and have it recognized by a national jury of highly regarded professional scientists. The projects are the result of inquiry-based learning methods that enable students to nurture critical reasoning skills and experience science through the use of the scientific method.

Participation in the competition has often served as a precursor to impressive accomplishments in science. The Intel STS is heir to six decades of science excellence, and past finalists hold more than 100 of the world's most coveted science and math honors, including five Nobel Prizes, three National Medals of Science, 10 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and two Fields Medals. Many alumni have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences or the National Academy of Engineering. Statistics show that 95 percent of former finalists have pursued a branch of science as their major field of study. More than 70 percent have gone on to earn Ph.D.s or M.D.s.

Science Service, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of science among people of all ages through publications and educational programs, has administered the program since its inception in 1942. Over the years, the competition has recognized more than 2,000 finalists with more than $5 million in scholarships. For more information on Science Service, visit www.sciserv.org.

Intel's sponsorship of the Intel Science Talent Search is part of the Intel® Innovation in Education initiative, a collaboration with educators in communities around the world to improve the quality of mathematics, science and engineering education by providing commitments of time, programs and resources to help students realize their full potential. For more information, visit www.intel.com/education.

Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.