Intel Science Talent Search - History

History

The Society for Science & the Public began the competition in 1942 with Westinghouse Electric Corporation; for many years, the competition was known as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. In 1998, Intel became the sponsor after it outbid Siemens, which had acquired Westinghouse's power generation unit; Siemens subsequently sponsored its own competition. Over the years, 21,000 Finalists and Semifinalists have received $13.8 million in awards through the program.

Entrants to the competition conduct original research—sometimes at home and sometimes by "working with leading research teams at universities, hospitals and private laboratories." The selection process is highly competitive, and besides the research paper, letters of recommendation, essays, test scores, extracurricular activities, and high school transcripts may be factored in the selection of finalists and winners.

Each year, approximately 1,700 papers are submitted. The top 300 applicants are announced in mid-January with each Semifinalist and their school receiving $1,000. In late January, the 40 Finalists (the award winners) are informed. In March, the Finalists are flown to Washington, D.C. where they are interviewed for the top ten spots, which have awards ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 for the first prize winner. The judges have included Glenn T. Seaborg (Nobel Laureate with Edwin M. McMillan in Chemistry, 1951) and Joseph Hooton Taylor, Jr. (Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1993). The remaining 30 Finalists also receive $7,500 awards.

Many Finalists and winners have gone on to receive higher honors in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. Seven went on to receive Nobel Prizes, two earned the Fields Medal, three have been awarded the National Medal of Science, eleven received MacArthur Fellowships; 56 have been named Sloan Research Fellows; 30 have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences; and five have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.