On Jan. 27, 40 of the 300 semifinalists will be named finalists and will gather in Washington, D.C. from March 11-16 to compete for more than $630,000 in awards from the Intel Foundation. The winners will be selected based on rigorous judging sessions and announced at a black-tie gala award ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 16. The grand prize is a $100,000 award; the remaining top 10 will receive awards totaling $305,000.

Three-hundred seniors from 175 high schools across the country will be named semifinalists in the Intel® Science Talent Search 2010, a program of Society for Science & the Public. As America’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition, the Intel Science Talent Search brings together the best and brightest young scientific minds in America to compete for $1.25 million in awards. Each semifinalist receives a $1,000 award from the Intel Foundation with an additional $1,000 going to his or her respective school, resulting in $600,000 in total semifinalist awards.

“We believe that fostering a passion for math and science in today’s youth is imperative for America’s future success as a leader in innovation,” said Shelly Esque, vice president of Intel’s Corporate Affairs Group. “The 300 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists recognized today exemplify what is possible when young people are encouraged to apply math and science to solving today’s most challenging problems.”The Intel Science Talent Search encourages students to tackle challenging scientific questions and develop the skills to solve the problems of tomorrow. Projects submitted for consideration cover all disciplines of science, including biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, behavioral science, and medicine and health.

Semifinalists were selected from 1,736 entrants, up from 1,608 last year, and hail from 37 states and the District of Columbia. To learn about specific semifinalists and view a state-by-state breakdown, visit www.societyforscience.org after 4 p.m. EST.

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