Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2009
Hosted by the City of Reno and Gathering Genius, Inc.
May 10-16, 2009
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world’s largest pre-college science competition. You may have seen the movie “October Skies” that portrays the Rocket Boys competing in one of the first international science and engineering fairs. The fair is now in its 57th year and is the world’s only science, math, and engineering project competition for students working at a high school level. It will be hosted by Reno, NV on May 10-16, 2009.
Intel ISEF, a program with true international flavor, helps students gain the skills necessary to compete in our global economy. These students emerge from a world wide field of several million science fair participants during the year. Winners move on to compete with more than 65,000 students in affiliated fairs in over 45 countries, territories and the U.S. for the right to be one of the 1,500 students who attend Intel ISEF and compete for over $4 million in prizes.
Although scientific discovery can be a reward in itself, another benefit for ISEF participants is the numerous scholarship awards, equipment grants, and scientific field trips. Students compete in 18 different categories including animal sciences, social sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology, earth science, materials and engineering, physics, math, medicine, computer science, and electrical and mechanical engineering. More than 600 prizes are presented at Intel ISEF. Each entry is judged numerous times by a pool of over 1,200 science, engineering, and industry professionals. All judges have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and/or six years of relevant experience.
Intel ISEF 2009 will be hosted by Gathering Genius, Inc. and the City of Reno. The mission of Gathering Genius is to increase student excellence, competitiveness, and participation in science, technology, engineering and math fields (STEM) in the State of Nevada. Our state suffers from a lack of skilled workers in these fields and increasingly, our students must compete on a global scale. Through educational outreach prior to, during, and after the fair, we hope to increase student participation in scientific research, improve our teachers’ mentoring skills, expand Nevada’s participation in science fairs, and create a legacy for science fairs and STEM education outreach in our State.
Hosting Intel ISEF will benefit the entire state in numerous ways:
- Participants and supporters will visit from over 45 countries, many of whom will tour the state
- Some of the brightest future scientists and engineers will experience our city and state
- Student competitors will be introduced to all of Nevada’s academic institutions
- Hundreds of judges from out of state (including Nobel Prize winners) will interact with our resident scientists and engineers and learn more about the state
- Fair events will be broadcast worldwide, informing the global community of Nevada’s role in scientific and engineering leadership and opportunity
- Nevada will host an average of 250 students who gain patents on their inventions
- The fair should generate over $ 6 M in revenue for northern Nevada
- Nevada’s colleges and universities will have the opportunity to offer scholarships to attract the participants
Please join us in this exciting and important endeavor to bring international attention to Nevada, benefit our economy, support some of our world’s most talented youth, and stimulate and encourage our state’s youth to consider pursuing scientific and engineering research and careers.
-Images showcasing Nevada provided courtesy of the Reno-Tahoe Store
and the Las Vegas News Bureau-
For website issues or feedback contact Lisa Wable