COMPETITIONS

Some of These Are Available Each Year: Check the Deadlines

These opportunities are available each year.  Visiting their web sites will 
give you the most current information about eligibility, procedures, 
deadlines and applications. New ones will be added as I receive information 
about them.  So Check back often. Please contact me if the URLs or other 
contact information does not work.

1. INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH: Will award more than $1 million 
in scholarships and other programs that support high school 
science students.  Deadlines are firm.  See site for details.
http://www.sciserv.org/sts/

2. SIEMENS WESTINGHOUSE: Competition in Math, Science and 
Technology: Rising high school seniors are eligible to enter 
individual research projects in competition, and all high school 
students (grades 9-12) are eligible to enter team projects in 
competition.  Deadlines are firm.  See site for details.
http://www.siemens-foundation.org

3. BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD: Prestigious competition that offers a 
challenging opportunity to excel in Biology. Open to any high 
school student who is a US citizen.  For more information and 
practice exams- check the web site.  
http://www.cee.org/usabo

4. TOSHIBA AND NSTA EXPLORAVISION AWARDS.  For all interest and 
skill ability levels in grades k-12.  Entrants must be US or 
Canadian citizen.  Students work in groups of 3 or 4, select a 
technology and convey their vision to others through both a 
written description and five graphics simulating web pages.  
Wootton teams have won three times. Check site for deadlines.
http://www.exploravision.org

5. MARYLAND JUNIOR SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM: The Junior 
Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) Program invites high 
school students to conduct an original research investigation in 
the sciences, engineering, or mathematics, and to participate in 
a regional symposium sponsored by universities or other academic 
institutions. 

University of Maryland is pleased to invite student delegates and 
their science teachers to the symposium presented by the College 
of Life Sciences, Computer and Physical Sciences, A. James Clark 
School of Engineering and the Office of Admissions.  10th - 12th 
grade students may present their research through PAPER or POSTER 
PRESENTATION. Presenters will be awarded cash prizes ranging from 
$50 - $2000.  Finalists will have the opportunity to 
attend the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.  
Check the web site for all forms and further information. 
Questions:   maggie@umd.edu
http://www.life.umd.edu/jshs

6. YES-YOUNG EPIDEMIOLOGY SCHOLARS: Win $50,000. Epidemiologists 
study populations, find patterns and solve health problems.  
Their work makes headlines and TV shows and saves lives.  Are you 
a promising junior or senior who wants to make a difference?  
Submit a research report that sheds light on a health problem, 
using the methods employed by epidemiologists.  Last year's 
winner wrote a report about indoor tanning practices, another 
developed a mathematical model to compare smallpox vaccination 
strategies.  For more information go to:
http://www.collegeboard.com/yes

7. MARYLAND DESIGN AND BUILD TRAC CHALLENGE: TRAC is a hands-on 
education program designed for use in science, math and social 
science classes. By engaging students in solving real-world 
problems such as magnetic-levitation transportation, TRAC 
connects high school students to the work world of civil 
engineering and inspires them to consider careers in 
transportation. For more information about the TRAC program call 
SHA at 1-800-323-
6742.
http://marylandroads.com/ImprovingOurCommunity/OC/trac.asp

8. BALTIMORE WORLDCON- SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY CONTEST.  
Create science fiction or fantasy art, write essays on science 
topics.
http://www.bucconeer.worldcon.org/

9. DUPONT CHALLENGE: $5000 FIRST PLACE AWARD.  Essay contest 
about technology... 1000 word essay discussing a scientific 
theory, technology, event, or discovery that captured your 
imagnination.
thechallenger.dupont.com

10. MARYLAND BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK COMPETITIONS: Competitions for 
high school students in celebration of Brain Awareness Week.  
FINANCIAL AWARDS FOR WINNERS!

BRAIN BEE: A live questions and answer competition about the 
brain sponsored by the University of Maryland and hosted by the 
Maryland Science Center.  

Also: BRAIN LITERATURE COMPETITION- your thoughts on the 
development, growth or aging of the human brain.  Two categories: 
prose and poetry.

BRAIN ART COMPETITION: Recreate the brain of any person in any 
context.  It can be your own brain or that of a famous person, a 
brain sleeping or composing a great symphony, a brain on drugs or 
a brain of the future.  It can be anatomically correct or 
abstract.  

Three categories: 2 dimensional hand drawn art, 2 dimensional 
computer generated art, 3 dimensional art.
http://www.dana.org/brainweek

11. BRAIN BEE COMPETITION: NATIONAL CAPITAL (SEE MARYLAND- 
ABOVE): Live Q & A competition that tests neuroscience knowledge 
of high school students.  Open to any student 9 - 12.  Cash 
prizes and opportunity to compete in National Chapionship during 
Brain awareness week. Karen Graham:  kgraham@dana.org
http://dana.org/brainweek

12. BRAIN BEE BALTIMORE: Thursday, Feb 15.  5:00 -9:00 pm at 
Maryland Science Center.  Coordinated through University of 
Maryland School of Dentistry.  nmyslinski@umd.edu
http://www.sfn.org/BAW/bee

13. PRESIDENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH AWARDS: Recognizes young 
people across America for projects which demonstrate their 
commitment to the environment.  More info at the website below.
http://epa.gov.enviroed/awards.html

14. CHEMATHON: The Chemathon is an annual chemistry competition 
for high school chemistry students in Maryland, Northern 
Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The Chemathon competition 
is organized by a committee of area high school chemistry 
teachers and chemists, and is hosted by the Department of 
Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Maryland at 
College Park. There are no entry or registration fees. SEE YOUR 
CHEMISTRY TEACHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION.
http://www.chem.umd.edu/chemathon

15. VOLVO CHALLENGE:  The Volvo Adventure International 
competition is an environmental award that rewards environmental 
action taken by young people. The program is open to young people 
around the world between 10 and 16 years of age who are working 
with schools and youth and community groups. Groups of young 
people who enter a project to Volvo Adventure are eligible to win 
an all expenses-paid trip to attend the Volvo Adventure 
Conference in Sweden, where they will present their project and 
practical action to a jury of international experts. Groups 
selected by the jury will be awarded prizes of $10,000, $6,000, 
or $4,000 to fund their projects.
http://www.volvoadventure.org/site/58.asp

16. THINK QUEST: The ThinkQuest competition, sponsored by the 
Oracle Foundation, promotes multicultural collaboration and 
learning by encouraging students to develop creative web sites 
focused on topic categories.Students between the ages of 9 and 19 
are invited to form teams of threeto six students, supervised by 
a teacher-coach. Coaches can enroll their teams now, and the 
official competition begins on or after August 15. Go to website
for details.
http://www.thinkquest.org

17. NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE CAMP: Compete for full scholarship to 
National Youth Science Camp.  Exchange ideas with scientists and 
toher professionals from the academic and corporate worlds  Month 
long experience includes lectures, hands-on research projects, 
overnight expeditions, etc.  Held at Bartow, West Virginia, near 
the Monongahela National Forest. 
http://www.nysc.org

18 PROJECT FEEDERWATCH: Help Scientists study bird populations.  
Coop w/ Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society.  Join 
over 16,000 citizens scientists helping researchers monitor long-
term trends in bird populations.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw

19. APRIL 25TH IS NATIONAL DNA DAY!!!  In celebration of National 
DNA Day, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is 
sponsoring an essay contest for high school students.  Teachers 
and Students win cash prizes & Students can win an INTERNSHIP!
If you are a high school science teacher or know one, this is a 
great opportunity for you and your teachers. The American Society 
of Human Genetics is sponsoring the program.

http://www.genednet.org/pages/k12_dnaday.shtml

20. YOUNG EPIDEMIOLOGY SCHOLARS COMPETITION.  Earn up to $50,000 
for college.  You need to submit a research report that shelds 
light on a health problem using the methods employed by 
epidemiology.  
http://www.collegeboard.com/yes

21. NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH PRIZE: The AAN, the AAN Foundation, and 
the Child Neurology Society sponsor this award to encourage high 
school students to explore the world of the brain and nervous 
system through laboratory research. 

OBJECTIVES: To identify and reward high school students whose 
scientific skill and talent indicate potential for scientific 
contributions in the field of neuroscience? And to recognize the 
efforts of science teachers who have demonstrated support for 
students interested in neuroscience. 

AWARDS: All entries will be reviewed by a panel of physicians and 
scientists who are actively engaged in neuroscience research at 
academic institutions throughout the US. Four prize winners will 
be selected through two rounds of competition.
Four winners will each receive a $1,000 prize. Three winners and 
their teachers will receive an all-expense paid, three-day trip 
to present their work during a scientific poster session at the 
AAN Annual Meeting. One winner and his/her teacher will receive 
an all-expense paid, three-day trip to present his/her work at 
the Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting.

ELIGIBILITY:	Students must be enrolled in secondary school 
(grades 9-12) in the United States, regardless of age.  
Applications must represent original laboratory research as well 
as the original written work of the applicant.  Each project 
should be the work of an individual student; group projects are 
not eligible (teachers are encouraged to provide guidance as 
needed, but must allow each student to demonstrate his/her own 
creativity).  Family members of the judges, the AAN Science 
Committee, or AAN staff are not eligible to apply.

Deadline: Check the web site:  
For more information, please contact Erin Jackson at 
ejackson@aan.com or (651) 695-2704. 

http://www.aan.com/science/awards/index.cfm?fuseaction=awards.login&id=11&award=awards.neuroscience

22. LOTS OF PROGRAMS LISTED AT SLOAN CAREER CORNERSTONE CENTER:  
a sample of programs,  resources, and projects which may be of 
interest to you. Be sure to check with your local university to 
see if they sponsor local math, science, technology, engineering, 
or medicine related competitions.

http://www.careercornerstone.org/pcprogproj.htm