CSF - Connecticut Science Fair

BETHESDA, MD (September 18, 2000) - Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI), in partnership with Science Service, announced today the forty (40) Finalists in the second annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (DYSC). The DYSC is a national science contest for middle school students established to encourage the exploration, understanding and communication of science among America's youth. The 40 Finalists will compete for $40,000 in scholarship monies and other prizes, with the top winner claiming a $10,000 scholarship.

The Finalists represent 23 states, with the highest numbers from Florida and Hawaii. Twenty-five of the Finalists are girls; 15 are boys. The Finalists were selected from among 400 Semifinalists, who were announced on September 5. The initial 1,623 DYSC entrants were fifth through eighth Grade students who qualified for the DYSC through their participation in a Science Service-affiliated regional or state science fair. The Finalists' projects cover a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including biochemistry and microbiology, as well as behavioral, environmental and social sciences. Their topics range from exploring whether fruit enzymes can control garden snails to evaluating whether turmeric powder can help arthritis sufferers to searching for new, natural forms of antibiotics.

"These 40 students have displayed remarkable intelligence and creativity in their science projects and are, without question, among the nation's best and brightest young scientists," said Judith A. McHale, president and chief operating officer of DCI. "By nurturing their enthusiasm for science, and stressing their ability to communicate effectively, the next generation of American scientists are charter members of this stunning era of discovery." The DYSC targets middle school students, a group that typically performs well in science but does not have many opportunities to compete in science competitions on a national level. By targeting these students, the DYSC reaches a group at a critical age when, according to recent studies, their interest in science and math starts to decline. A primary goal of the DYSC is to encourage these students' interest in science and math while their interest is still active and on the rise, and carry their interest over to high school, where more opportunities to nurture their science talents typically exist.

The 40 Finalists are invited to travel to Washington, DC, all expenses paid, October 21-26, 2000, to compete in science challenges at two Smithsonian Institution museums. Challenges will take -more- 2-2-2 place at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. For three days, student teams will be assigned different challenges, each of which will concentrate on a different discipline of science. Students will be judged on their individual communication skills, leadership skills and problem-solving abilities while working on the challenges. In addition, students will be judged on oral presentations of the projects that won each student a nomination to the DYSC. While in Washington, the Finalists will also be treated to a number of exciting activities, including behind-the-scenes tours of the Smithsonian Institution, tours of the City, and meetings with leading Smithsonian scientists.

"We want to use the DYSC as a means to remind young children that science can be 'cool,'" stated Ann Korando, director of development and public relations at Science Service. "So many children lose interest in science at a young age, but these 5th-8th Graders put the inspiration and the fascination back into the subject." On Thursday, October 26, 2000, DCI will announce the winners and award a $10,000 scholarship for first place, a $5,000 scholarship for second place, and a $3,000 scholarship for third place. Additional discretionary prizes, based on the students' projects and their performance during the science challenges, will be announced at a later date.