Each year, approximately 1,800 American high school seniors conduct original research projects and submit their work in the country’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition: the Intel Science Talent Search, a program of Society of Science & the Public. Forty of these young innovators, representing la crème de la crème, are chosen as finalists and invited to participate in a nearly weeklong event in Washington, D.C., where they compete for over USD 1.25 million in awards and scholarships.
Inspiring innovation
To support its goals of driving innovation and improving science, technology, engineering, and math education, Intel Corporation assumed the title sponsorship of the Intel Science Talent Search in 1998. Intel is proud to be a part of the competition’s 70 year history of inspiring ingenuity and scientific advancement. To date, former Science Talent Search finalists have achieved some of the world’s most prestigious academic honors. Eleven have won MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grants, six have won the National Medal of Science or the National Medal of Technology, and seven have won the Nobel Prize.
Rewarding excellence
Intel STS prizes include:
- Grand prize: a USD 100,000 four-year scholarship
- Second place: a USD 75,000 scholarship
- Third place: a USD 50,000 scholarship
- Fourth place: a USD 40,000 scholarship
- Fifth place: a USD 30,000 scholarship
- Sixth and seventh place: USD 25,000 scholarships
- Eighth, ninth, and tenth place: USD 20,000 scholarships
- The remaining 30 finalists: USD 7,500 scholarships
Additionally, each finalist receives:
- An all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
- An opportunity to meet with government officials, including the President or Vice President of the United States
- A chance to interact with distinguished scientists and display science project research at the National Geographic Society
