National finals for the Broadcom MASTERS were held last weekened in Washington, D.C. The top finalist will be awarded the $25,000 Samueli Education Prize. The finalists consist of 17 girls and 13 boys from 14 states and Puerto Rico and represent 29 schools. See a complete list of the finalists at www.societyforscience.org/masters/2011/finalists. Photos of all finalists and their projects can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/societyforscience.
The Broadcom MASTERS, a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP), is the premier competition for 6th, 7th and 8th graders where they demonstrate their mastery of Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering as Rising Stars through science fair competition.
Through their participation in the Broadcom MASTERS, middle schoolers are inspired, mentored and encouraged to stay with math and science throughout high school so that they are able to pursue exciting careers of science, technology and engineering and mathematics.
Young people who participate in the Broadcom MASTERS will be better prepared to meet the challenges of the future as tomorrow’s innovators who lead the way with scientific breakthroughs, engineering feats and technological know-how.
Why Middle School?
By the time a student reaches middle school, he or she has mastered fundamentals of basic math and communication and is asking, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”
The Broadcom MASTERS competition is designed to give a middle school student a personal “ah ha!” moment when, by tapping into a personal interest or passion in the local science fair, he or she is inspired to continue studying math and science in order to achieve a personal goal or aspiration.
Through participation in the Broadcom MASTERS™ competition, beginning at local SSP-affiliated science fairs and culminating at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., students find mentors, explore new interests and experience the excitement of creating a science or engineering project that ignites a personal passion and keeps them interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning throughout high school.
A science fair project is often a student’s first — and in many cases only — opportunity to apply STEM subjects in ways that directly relate to his or her own life, personal interests or aspirations. An inspiring teacher or mentor, coupled with the intense gratification of creating a hands-on science or engineering project can be the powerful catalyst that redirects a student’s academic choices and opens new pathways to college and an array of exciting careers.
About Our Partner
Established in 1921, Society for Science & the Public (SSP) is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in the U.S. dedicated to public engagement in science and science education. Through its acclaimed education competitions and its award-winning publications, Science News and Science News for Kids, SSP is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. For nearly 70 years, SSP education programs have inspired generations of science enthusiasts, including Nobel Laureates, National Medal of Science recipients, and nearly 100,000 other distinguished program alumni. To learn more about SSP and the competition, visit www.societyforscience.org.