Posted on 05/12/2005 6:08:07 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
PHOENIX, AZ -- (ArriveNet - May 09, 2005) -- FPSnewswire/- A record number of young scientists and inventors arrive today to compete for $3 million in scholarships and awards at the 2005 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), presented by Agilent Technologies.
Representing 45 countries, regions and territories, 1,447 high school students will spend the week meeting with senior scientists, sharing ideas and presenting projects on such varied topics as alternative fuels, water quality and organic compounds to fight infection and disease. Students range in age from 13 to 20; the split between females and males is almost even. Nearly one-third of the projects are entered in the engineering or environmental sciences categories, and 19 percent of the students have obtained or are in the process of obtaining patents on their projects.
This year also saw a record number of 550 affiliated regional science fairs participating in the process to select those who would move on to the final event in Phoenix.
"The students here represent a cross-section of scientific endeavors from around the world," said Brenda Musilli, Intel Corporation director of education. "They have embarked on a great scientific adventure that, when properly nurtured, can lead to life-changing discoveries."
Intel ISEF Awards The finalists will compete for a wide range of awards, including:
* Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award: The top three finalists each receive $50,000 college scholarships. * Seaborg Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS) Award: Three individual Best of Category winners will be selected to attend the SIYSS program and the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in December. * Grand Awards: Grand Awards are presented in 15 categories, including the team category. The awards presented include: $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second, $1,000 for third and $500 for fourth. In addition, a "Best of Category" award of $5,000 and an Intel(r) Centrino(tm) mobile technology-based notebook computer are presented to the top-scoring student in each category. * Intel Foundation Achievement Awards: Selected by a panel of Intel judges, up to 15 $5,000 Achievement Awards are given for outstanding work in any field.
Intel ISEF Background
The International Science and Engineering Fair, sponsored by Intel since 1997, is the world's largest multi-country celebration of science showcasing the world's most promising young scientists and inventors in grades 9 through 12. The finalists who will compete in Phoenix began as part of a worldwide field of several million science fair participants during the past academic year. These finalists went on to compete among 65,000 students at more than 500 regional Intel ISEF-affiliated science fairs around the world to win the right to participate at the Intel ISEF.
Judging is conducted by more than 1,000 experts who volunteer their time to judge projects. All Intel ISEF judges have Ph.D.s or equivalent in one of the 14 scientific disciplines or at least six years of related professional experience.
The fair has been administered for the past 56 years by Science Service, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of science around the globe through publications and educational programs. For more information about Science Service and the Intel ISEF, visit www.sciserv.org.
Intel's sponsorship of the Intel ISEF is part of the Intel(r) Innovation in Education initiative, a sustained commitment - in collaboration with educators and government leaders worldwide - to help today's students develop the higher-level thinking skills they need to participate and succeed in a knowledge-based economy. For more information, visit www.intel.com/education.
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 Centrino are marks or registered trademarks 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. # # # #
More info. and Photo:FPSnewswire (http://www.fpsnewswire.com/release.asp?id=199)
Providers of press releases are responsible for content and accuracy not FPSnewswire, Feature Photo Service, Inc., or related entities.
Kanupriya Vashisht
Phoenix, Arizona, May 12, 2005
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1358637,0008.htm
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is to young scientists what World Cup is to cricketers.
Held annually in May, Intel ISEF is the largest international pre-college science fair where the world's best young scientists jostle for over $3 million in scholarships and prize money. More than 1400 finalists from 45 countries, ranging in age from 13-20 years, are competing this year in Phoenix, Arizona.
Eight Indian school kids, six of them from rural and small town backgrounds, have emerged finalists from an original worldwide pool of several million participants.
They are winners already, after having competed with over 65,000 students at 550 regional, state-level, national and international Intel ISEF-affiliated science fairs to win the right to compete at Intel ISEF.
Anitha: A village girl
For 17 years, Mandya, a small village in Karnataka, had been Anitha Ramesh's whole world. So when she packed her bags to fly to the US, the whole village came out with garlands to see off their most promising daughter on her long illustrious journey. Her first stride out of her cloistered universe was literally gigantic. Anitha's farmer father and little educated mother might not understand the scientific terms of her research project but they understood something big was underway. And they were mighty proud. She found Parthenium Hysterophorous, more popularly called the obnoxious weed, growing in her father's farm and discovered that it made a very effective biopesticide.
"People think it is useless but nothing in the world is 100 per cent bad, depends on how we look at it," she says. "I observed Parthenium was never attacked by insects and in turn insects that hovered around it were destroyed," she reveals. That is what propelled her research.
Riddhiman Yadav: Low cost artificial limbs
Riddhiman Yadav doesn't look a day older than 10. But this student of Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, is blessed with talent well beyond his 15 years. For the competition, he has designed an improvised artificial limb for above knee amputees. It is his dream to design affordable, low cost artificial limbs for the poor in India. For his design he has used mild iron and springs that minimise weight and allow cross leg squatting and suitable ankle movement, which is not possible in most available artificial limbs.
His design, he says, costs as little as Rs 595 ($13) and can be made even in a village workshop.
While most students milling around the hotel lobby look nervous about the competition, this bundle of giggles and wisecracks can't wait to dig into a Domino's pizza and then jump into the swimming pool. But don't mistake his passion; his twinkling young eyes are firmly fixed on IIT.
Malvika Tiwari: Inspired by disabled father
Malvika Tiwari, on the other hand, has devised a foot-operated device for people without hands. It is an auto-gear device that can be fitted into a scooter. Her inspiration comes from her disabled father who does not have legs, and mother who teaches mentally challenged kids at an army school in Kanpur. This 16-year-old is the school's basketball captain, a Priety Zinta fan and wants to be an aeronautical engineer.
Shaarika Sarasija: MBSE aspirant
With her doe eyes, flowing hair and sparkly nose pin, Shaarika Sarasija could easily have been a dancer. Instead this Thiruvananthapuram girl is busy researching Chaitavari, a wild asparagus, as potential enhancer of breast milk production. Her tests have mostly been conducted on goats at a government live stock farm. She says the asparagus tuberated device for people without hands. Her inspiration,disabled father. Mother teaches mentally challenged kids.
Shaarika Sarasija: Girl from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Devised Chaitavari, a wild asparagus, as potential enhancer of breast milk production. Asparagus tubers helped achieve 30 per cent increase in milk produce.
Suvrata and Mallika Desai: From Navodaya Vidyalya, Goa. Experimenting with tablets that they have made out of spices like chilli, turmeric, ginger, garlic, as pesticides for store grains.
For 17 years, Mandya, a small village in Karnataka, had been Anitha Ramesh's whole world. So when she packed her bags to fly to the US, the whole village came out with garlands to see off their most promising daughter on her long illustrious journey. Her first stride out of her cloistered universe was literally gigantic. Anitha's farmer father and little educated mother might not understand the scientific terms of her research project but they understood something big was underway. And they were mighty proud. She found Parthenium Hysterophorous, more popularly called the obnoxious weed, growing in her father's farm and discovered that it made a very effective biopesticide.
"People think it is useless but nothing in the world is 100 per cent bad, depends on how we look at it," she says. "I observed Parthenium was never attacked by insects and in turn insects that hovered around it were destroyed," she reveals. That is what propelled her research.
Riddhiman Yadav: Low cost artificial limbs
Riddhiman Yadav doesn't look a day older than 10. But this student of Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, is blessed with talent well beyond his 15 years. For the competition, he has designed an improvised artificial limb for above knee amputees. It is his dream to design affordable, low cost artificial limbs for the poor in India. For his design he has used mild iron and springs that minimise weight and allow cross leg squatting and suitable ankle movement, which is not possible in most available artificial limbs.
His design, he says, costs as little as Rs 595 ($13) and can be made even in a village workshop.
While most students milling around the hotel lobby look nervous about the competition, this bundle of giggles and wisecracks can't wait to dig into a Domino's pizza and then jump into the swimming pool. But don't mistake his passion; his twinkling young eyes are firmly fixed on IIT.
Malvika Tiwari: Inspired by disabled father
Malvika Tiwari, on the other hand, has devised a foot-operated device for people without hands. It is an auto-gear device that can be fitted into a scooter. Her inspiration comes from her disabled father who does not have legs, and mother who teaches mentally challenged kids at an army school in Kanpur. This 16-year-old is the school's basketball captain, a Priety Zinta fan and wants to be an aeronautical engineer.
Shaarika Sarasija: MBSE aspirant
With her doe eyes, flowing hair and sparkly nose pin, Shaarika Sarasija could easily have been a dancer. Instead this Thiruvananthapuram girl is busy researching Chaitavari, a wild asparagus, as potential enhancer of breast milk production. Her tests have mostly been conducted on goats at a government live stock farm. She says the asparagus tubers helped achieve 30 per cent increase in produce.
Shaarika wants to go to New Zealand to pursue a Masters in Business Education (MBSE), but for now she can't wait to get to the Arizona Mall and buy some western outfits and makeup.
Suvrata & Mallika Desai: Making herbal pesticides
Suvrata and Mallika Desai almost didn't make it to America. They got their visas just a day before they were to travel. But to the great pride of their school, Navodaya Vidyalya, Goa, they are here and vying for a grand prize at the fair for their work with traditional spices as biopesticides. They are experimenting with tablets that they have made out of spices like chilli, turmeric, ginger, garlic, as pesticides for store grains. This is the first year Navodaya entered kids in the competition and in their maiden attempt they have two finalists.
Mrunmaye Math: Eyeing patent for malaria drug
A cinematographer's daughter, Mrunmaye Math, 15, wants to be a forensic scientist. She experimented on mice to prove the anti-malarial activity of the leaves of Calycopetris Florida. She says, "Scientifically no one has ever proved if this plant can cure malaria." If her experiments are successful she could soon have her own patent. Already, 19 per cent of the competitors at Intel ISEF have obtained or are in the process of acquiring patents.
Amid the razzle-dazzle of America, all eight look incredibly young, innocent and eager. While it has taken some getting used to the ubiquitous American escalators and air conditioners, beneath these minor apprehensions, each one has a steely personality.
No savoir-faire of big-city kids
Away from home for the first time, they do not have the savoir-faire of big-city kids. However, there is something incredibly appealing in the simplicity of these exceptionally bright young minds from India.
At the helm of affairs at Intel ISEF is another accomplished Indian. Prof B L Ramakrishna, co-chair of the conference, helped persuade the steering committee for the International Science and Engineering Fair to hold the 2005 event in Phoenix.
He says, "Indian kids usually do extremely well at the fair. They are very bright. However, if Phoenix alone can send 10 projects, a country as big as India should be sending many more, maybe even 50."
More than 1,000 experts have volunteered their time to be judges in one of the 14 scientific categories. Of these, over 100 judges are of Indian origin. In addition, over 100 non-resident Indian students are in Phoenix to represent American schools and teams. In the past, these students have managed to bag a good number of the special and grand prizes.
When the prizes are announced on Thursday evening, there will be winners and there will be mega winners. The winners could take home up to $ 50, 000 and win a trip to attend the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden.
No one, however, shall return empty handed. Some will take away thousands of dollars in prize money; others will come back with the confidence of having made a mark - of having secured a future.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.