Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world,^[1] and is owned and administered by the Society for Science & the Public^[2] a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, DC.^[3] Each May, more than 1500 students from roughly 70 countries and territories arrive to compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes, including one $75,000 and two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $4,000,000.^[4] Two awards ceremonies are held including: Special Awards Organization Presentation (which now includes the Government Awards Presentations) and the Grand Awards Ceremony. The International Science and Engineering Fair was founded in 1950 by Science Service (now the Society for Science & the Public) and has been sponsored by the Intel Corporation since 1997. As of 2012, seven ISEF alumni went on to win Nobel Prizes.^[5]

Location

Although it is an international event, the United States almost always hosts it (the 1995 fair was held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada). Locations for fairs through 2019 have been decided and will rotate between Los Angeles, California; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Phoenix, Arizona. The host city prepares a convention center and arranges hotel accommodations for the event, hosts numerous events, and manages college tours around the convention center.

The 2005 Intel ISEF took place in Phoenix, Arizona, May 8–14.

In 2006 it was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 7–12.

In 2007 it was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 13–19.

In 2008 it was held in Atlanta, Georgia, May 11–17.

In 2009 it was held in Reno, Nevada, May 10–15.

In 2010 it was held in San Jose, California, May 9–14.

In 2011 it was held in Los Angeles, California, May 8–13.

In 2012 it was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 13–18.

In 2013 it was held in Phoenix, Arizona, May 12–17.

In 2014 it was held in Los Angeles, California, May 11–16.

In 2015 it was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 10-15.

In 2016 it will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, May 8-13.

In 2017 it will be held in Los Angeles, California, May 14-19.

In 2018 it will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 13-19.

In 2019 it will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, May 12-17.^[6]

Contestants and Competition

Contestants are selected from regional, district, and state ISEF affiliated fairs. These fairs usually encompass multiple states or entire regions of a country. The regional fair committee is responsible for managing the fair when their city hosts the event.

Individual science projects and team science projects both compete for prizes. Teams are composed of two to as many as four high school students (grades 9-12).

The structure of the competition is as follows:

• Sunday: Arrival, project setup, fixing Display and Safety violations, and pin exchange
• Monday: Continual arrival and setup, opening ceremony
• Tuesday: Final project clearance
• Wednesday: Awards judging over 3 sessions, with both scheduled and unscheduled interviews
• Thursday: Public visitation day, special awards ceremony
• Friday: Grand awards ceremony, project teardown

Additionally, time is set aside for students to experience the host city, with ISEF coordinating signups for various tours and activities. A significant component of the program is social, as students interact with each other during mixers and ceremonies. Throughout much of the week, various seminars are also held for students, mentors, and teachers.

Prizes

Several special awards are given each year at ISEF, including:

• Gordon E. Moore Award

• A 75,000 dollar scholarship that is named after Gordon Moore who is the co-founder of Intel.
• It is given to the top of the Best of Category Award winners.
• Winner is selected based on the basis of innovative research and potential of the project to have an impact in the particular field and the world as a whole.

• Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award

• 50,000 dollar award that is presented by Intel and SSP to two Best in Category projects. Previous winners include Henry Lin and Eesha Khare.

• Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award

• An all expense trip paid trip to the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar, and attendance to the Nobel Prize ceremonies.
• Students must be 18 years old before the Nobel Prize ceremonies to be considered for this award.

• European Union Contest for Young Scientists

• All expense paid trip to European Union Contest.

• Intel Best of Category Awards

• Category winners are awarded a 5,000 dollar scholarship.
• The winner's school and fair they represent are awarded a 1,000 dollar grant.^[7]

ISEF also used to hold a "People's Choice Award" to allow the public to vote for its favorite entries.^[8]

Intel Science Talent Search

The Intel Science Talent Search is a related but separate science research competition for high school seniors studying in the United States. Begun in 1942 as a partnership with Westinghouse then in 1998 with Intel, Society for Science and the Public, a Washington-based nonprofit organization selects 40 contestants annually to present each's original research to the general public and members of the National Academy of Sciences.^[9]

Honors

• List of asteroids named after people#Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (examples only)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

• Official site

References