Science Fair News 2006

October 19, 2005

"America's Top Young Scientist" Chosen at 7th Annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

$100,000 in college scholarships and prizes awarded in "Forces of Nature" science competition

Out of an original field of thousands of middle-school students across the United States, 14-year-old Neela Thangada was chosen today as "America's Top Young Scientist of the Year" by a panel of judges at the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC).

Thangada, a student at Keystone Junior High School in San Antonio, Texas, was selected as the grand prize winner of a $20,000 scholarship award. Thangada's project on plant cloning earned her a spot among the 40 finalists in the competition.

"Discovery is incredibly proud of these 40 young explorers and leaders of tomorrow," said Judith A. McHale, president and CEO, Discovery Communications. "Neela Thangada and the other finalists are blazing a path toward a bright scientific future and setting an example for their peers. Discovery is committed to supporting the next generation of top scientists—young men and women—because we know their talents will be crucial to solving many of the problems we face today."

The second-place winner in the competition was 14-year-old Nilesh Tripuraneni of Fresno, California, and third place was awarded to 13-year-old Mary Lou Hedberg of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Second and third place winners received $10,000 and $5,000 scholarships, respectively.

The National Park Service Explorer Team Award was given to Iftin Abshir, Littleton, Colo.; Anudeep Gosal, Orlando, Fla.; Elijah Mena, Gales Ferry, Conn.; Colleen Ryan, Chillicothe, Ohio; Alexander Uribe, Eagle Mountain, Utah.

Special prizes were awarded by various networks and corporate partners of Discovery Communications. The winners were:

• Elijah Mena (Gales Ferry, Conn.): Discovery Channel "Ice Age" Award
• Anudeep Gosal (Orlando, Fla.): Lowell Observatory "Star Gazer" Award
• Mary Lou Hedberg (North Attleboro, Mass.): Travel Channel "Dream Science Trip" Award
• Gregory Lavins (Solon, OH): Discovery Home "Image Maker" Award
• John Bolander (Memphis, IN): Discovery Commerce "Sights to See" Award
• Susan Pasternak (Santa Barbara, Calif.): Discovery Health Channel "Science Camp" Award
• Camden Miller (Fairview, Texas): Animal Planet "Animals Everywhere" Award
• Garrett Yazzie (Pinon, Ariz.): The Science Channel "Space Camp" Award
• Ruslan Werntz (Coppell, Texas): TLC "Science of Production" Award
• Sheel Tyle (Pittsford, N.Y.): Discovery Kids "TV Star" Award
• Joshua Jones (Titusville, Fla.): Military Channel Army/Navy Award
• Melanie Kabinoff (Boynton Beach, Fla.): Discovery Education "Educator" Award

For this year's competition, the 40 finalists tackled super-sized science experiments centered on the theme "Forces of Nature" at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House. In the wake of the recent natural disasters that ravaged the Gulf Coast of the United States and Southeast Asia, the teams faced simulated challenges—from fog banks to hurricanes to tsunamis—that utilized their broad range of knowledge in order to understand the implications and scope of natural disasters.

J.D. Roth, producer and star of "Endurance" on the Discovery KIDS channel hosted the challenges and lent support to the teams of finalists. The students were judged based on a composite of scores earned from oral presentations of their individual science projects, which they presented at the National Academy of Sciences, and their participation in two days of team competition.

The Finalists

This year, nearly 75,000 students entered science fairs nationwide; 400 of these students were chosen as semifinalists in the competition. The final 40 hail from 19 states and Puerto Rico. The states are Arizona, California (3), Colorado, Connecticut, Florida (8), Georgia, Hawaii (4), Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan (2), Missouri, Montana, New York (2), Ohio (3), Tennessee, Texas (4), Utah (2) and Wyoming.

"These 40 students represent the best scientific minds in the country. It is an inspiration to watch the students tackle complex scientific issues and have a great time doing it," said Carrie Passmore, senior vice president of public partnerships, Discovery Communications. "My heartfelt congratulations go out to every student, but also to the parents and teachers who support these students every day.

Discovery Channel will broadcast a program about the DCYSC on Sunday, December 18 at 12 noon.

Additional information about DCYSC is available at http://www.sciserv.org/dcysc/ and http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/.

Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge Finalists Announced

September 14, 2005

Discovery Communications and Science Service are pleased to announce the 40 finalists of the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC). These students were chosen from 1,976 entrants representing 269 affiliated fairs from 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The 40 finalists come from 18 states and Puerto Rico (most notably, 8 from Florida and 4 each from Hawaii and Texas.) The 40 finalists comprise 21 males and 19 females. By grade level, they comprise 1 fifth grader, 3 sixth graders, 5 seventh graders, and 31 eighth graders. The grade listed for each student is for the 2004–2005 school year. By the time of this announcement these students will have advanced to the next grade level.

The 40 finalists will travel on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-19, 2005, to present their projects and compete in science challenges. They will share over $100,000 in scholarships and other prizes; the top winner will win a $20,000 scholarship. Winners will be announced at a final awards ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005.

Names of the 2005 finalists.

Additional information about DCYSC is available at http://www.sciserv.org/dcysc/ and http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/.

September 14, 2005

Final Forty Chosen in Premier Middle School Science Competition; Winner to be Named America's "Top Young Scientist of the Year"

Scientific Trailblazers of Tomorrow Will Explore "Forces of Nature" at 7th Annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

The countdown to choosing the nation's top young scientist entered its final phase today as Discovery Communications and Science Service announced the 40 middle school students from around the country selected as finalists in the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC). The DCYSC is the nation's premier science competition for students in grades 5–8. The cutting-edge competition gives the finalists the opportunity to demonstrate their scientific know-how and push the limits of their knowledge in the quest for the title of America's "Top Young Scientist of the Year."

The 40 finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., October 15–19, where they will take part in the DCYSC finalist competition at the Cole Field House at the University of Maryland. The finalists will compete in team-based, interactive challenges designed around the theme of "Forces of Nature." In the wake of the recent natural disasters that ravaged the Gulf Coast of the United States and Southeast Asia, each student will face simulated challenges—from fog banks to hurricanes to tsunamis—that utilize their broad range of knowledge in order to understand the implications and scope of natural disasters. The action-packed activities will be taped for broadcast on the Discovery Channel.

"Discovery is proud to cultivate the next generation of American scientists through this competition," said Judith A. McHale, President and CEO, Discovery Communications. "Discovery is committed to understanding how and why disasters happen and what, if anything, through knowledge we can do to prevent or better prepare for them in the future."

The students will compete for more than $100,000 worth of scholarships and special prizes, as well as the title of "America's Top Young Scientist of the Year."

"Our 40 finalists have been chosen from an impressive pool of students nationwide. We are excited to put their science skills to the test as they conquer the 'Forces of Nature' challenges and compete for the top middle school scientist of the year," said Steve Jacobs, DCYSC Head Judge.

The finalists

The "Final Forty" hail from 19 states and Puerto Rico. The states are Arizona, California (3), Colorado, Connecticut, Florida (8), Georgia, Hawaii (4), Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan (2), Missouri, Montana, New York (2), Ohio (3), Tennessee, Texas (4), Utah (2) and Wyoming.

The finalists were chosen based upon the excellence of their projects presented at local Science Service-affiliated fairs across the country. During the DCYSC finals, the finalists will present their research projects to judges to demonstrate their communication skills and creative thinking.

The full list of 40 finalists, where they're from and the titles of their winning entries can be found online at: http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/
finalists/states_finalists/namelist.html.

About the competition

In 1999, Discovery created the DCYSC to be a part of the solution to America's chronic underachievement in science and math. The competition responds to evidence that academic performance and interest in science among American students declines dramatically as students get older—particularly during the middle school years.

The DCYSC identifies and honors America's top middle school student who demonstrates the best skills in leadership, teamwork, and scientific problem solving. In addition, the ability to be an effective science communicator—a goal that reflects Discovery's philosophy that scientific knowledge is most valuable when it is communicated and shared—is a key component of the judging.

More than 9,500 children have entered the DCYSC since its inception. Winners have received more than $500,000 in scholarship awards, federal government recognition, and participated in science-related trips that have taken them to the far corners of the globe.

Discovery is pleased to have Elmer's as DCYSC sponsor. Elmer's has a proud tradition of supporting education, including science. Elmer's believes science taught through science fairs serves as a major benefit to students, allowing students to develop skills in problem solving, research, writing, public speaking, and time management.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with 1.3 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's more than 90 networks of distinctive programming represent 25 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Español, Discovery Kids en Español, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health, and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates 120 Discovery Channel Stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications, and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Science Service administers the DCYSC. Science Service is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of science around the globe through publications, outreach, and educational programs. One of the most respected organizations advancing the cause of science, Science Service has a sterling reputation for producing high-quality competitions on the national and international level, including the Intel Science Talent Search and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and for the publication of Science News.

Additional information about DCYSC is available at http://www.sciserv.org/dcysc/ and http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/.

August 23, 2005

2005 DCYSC Semifinalists Announced!

We are pleased to announce the 400 semifinalists for the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC).

In the seventh year of the DCYSC, more than 7,300 students won a DCYSC nomination at their local, regional, or state fair, where they received a lapel pin, a certificate, and a chance to enter the national competition by completing a written entry form. We received 1,976 entries from 269 affiliated fairs representing 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. All of these students should be applauded for their hard work and efforts! Each received a 2005 DCYSC T-shirt for entering.

Our evaluators and judges spent the summer reading and reviewing the entries, looking for those students with projects that demonstrated scientific merit and originality and who were able to communicate this process clearly and creatively to the judges via the entry form. These reviews led to the selection of the 400 DCYSC national semifinalists.

Semifinalist List

These talented students represent 325 schools from 43 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The semifinalists comprise 206 males and 194 females. Grades are represented as follows: 28 from 5th grade, 80 from 6th grade, 104 from 7th grade, and 188 from 8th grade. (The grade listed for each student is for the 2004-2005 school year. By the time of this announcement, these students will have advanced to the next grade level.)

From this group of 400 semifinalists, 40 finalists will be chosen to take an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-19, 2005, to compete in science challenges. The 40 finalists will vie for more than $100,000 in scholarships and special prizes. Finalists will be announced on Sept. 14, 2005.

The names of the semifinalists are available at http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/finalists/states/list.html.

Additional information about DCYSC is available at http://www.sciserv.org/dcysc/ and http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/.

June 28, 2005

Congratulations to DCYSC Entrants!

Across the country, more than 7,500 students were nominated for the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) at science fairs throughout the spring.

More than 1,900 of these nominees from 270 fairs and at least 1,200 schools submitted DCYSC entries by the June 8, 2005, deadline. Each student received a 2005 DCYSC T-shirt for getting an entry in and is now part of the next phase of the competition.

Currently, DCYSC evaluators are busy scoring all the entries, and the pool will be narrowed to 400 semifinalists. The names of the semifinalists will be announced in mid-August. From the semifinalists, 40 finalists will be chosen for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will compete in scientific challenges and have the opportunity to win various cool awards, including scholarships and trips. Finalists will be announced in mid-September.

Congratulations to all 7,500 students who were nominated and given the chance to enter the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Channel. We hope that the experience has inspired you to continue with your scientific pursuits.

Additional information about DCYSC is available at http://www.sciserv.org/dcysc/ and http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/.

Science Fair News 2006
Science Fair News 2004
Science Fair News 2003

Back to top