Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
Encyclopedia
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world, and is owned and administered by the Society for Science & the Public
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
based in Washington, DC. Each May, more than 1500 students from 65 nations are flown in to compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants
, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: one $75,000 or two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $4,000,000. 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. The competition is frequented by some of the brightest young minds in the country, and because of this technological and scientific breakthroughs are often the result of the experiments submitted.
almost always hosts it (the 1995 fair was held in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
]). Locations for 2011–2019 fairs have been decided, and they 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 is to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, May 13-18.
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:
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.
ISEF also holds a "People's Choice Awards" to allow the public to vote for its favorite entries.
.
Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public , formerly known as Science Service, is a 5013 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of science, through its science education programs and publications, including the weekly Science News magazine.Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization...
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
based in Washington, DC. Each May, more than 1500 students from 65 nations are flown in to compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: one $75,000 or two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $4,000,000. 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
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
since 1997. The competition is frequented by some of the brightest young minds in the country, and because of this technological and scientific breakthroughs are often the result of the experiments submitted.
Location
Although it is an international event, the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
almost always hosts it (the 1995 fair was held in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
]). Locations for 2011–2019 fairs have been decided, and they will rotate between Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
; and Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. 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
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, May 8–14.
In 2006 it was held in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, May 7–12.
In 2007 it was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, May 13–19.
In 2008 it was held in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, May 11–17.
In 2009 it was held in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, May 10–15.
In 2010 it was held in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, May 9–14.
In 2011 it was held in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, May 8-13.
In 2012 it is to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, May 13-18.
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.
Prizes
Several special awards are given each year at ISEF, including:- Gordon E. Moore Award: $75,000 Scholarship
- Intel Young Scientist Award: $50,000 Scholarship
- Intel Foundation Achievement AwardIntel Foundation Achievement AwardThe Intel Foundation Achievement Awards are US$5,000 scholarships presented to high school students in recognition of their achievements in the scientific disciplines. Up to 15 are awarded, on selection by a panel of judges, each year at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair...
: $5,000 Scholarships (up to 15, 17 in 2007) - Ricoh Sustainable Development Award: All expense paid trip to the Expo 2005Expo 2005Expo 2005 was the World's Fair held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. It was a Specialized International Exhibition under the scheme of the 1972 protocol of the Convention relating to International Exhibitions...
in Aichi, Japan (2005) - Seaborg SIYSS AwardStockholm International Youth Science SeminarStockholm International Youth Science Seminar is an annual science event organised in connection with the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm...
: All expense paid trip to Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar - European Union Contest for Young ScientistsEuropean Union Contest for Young ScientistsThe European Union Contest for Young Scientists is a science fair, initiated by the European Commission. It is a part of the European Union Framework Programmes on Research, and is managed by the Directorate General for Research in the European Commission....
: All expense paid trip to European Union Contest - MILSET Expo-Science Award: All expense Paid trip to International Youth Science Exhibition In Santiago, Chile (2005)
ISEF also holds a "People's Choice Awards" to allow the public to vote for its favorite entries.
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 SciencesUnited States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.