The Intel Northwest Science Expo (NWSE), held last Friday, showcased some of the best and brightest middle and high school students in the Northwest.
Over 600 students participated in this year’s competition. Each qualified through participation in a series of local science fairs, and the students from fifth grade through high school had some remarkable exhibits for young scientists.
The event was sponsored by local high-tech giant Intel, which provided scholarships and hosted the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Winners of the NWSE move on to the international competition, which draws students and science projects from all 50 states and over 40 countries around the globe.
Students choose to enter in a broad category, such as behavioral and social sciences, math or physics, then perform research under the supervision of a teacher or local researcher. Exhibits ranged from “Frog Cloning” to “Effects of Caffeine” to “Optimization of Video Game Artificial Intelligence.”
Judges from schools and companies around the region provided their expertise in judging exhibits, and included Portland State, Oregon Health & Sciences University and many others.
Oregon State University and PSU granted several scholarships, including two full-tuition Oregon Laurels and numerous $3,000 awards for students majoring in science and engineering.
The ISEF will be held May 9th through 15th at the Oregon Convention Center. More than 1,200 exhibits will be on display, and with more than 1,000 expert judges, the ISEF bills itself as the world’s largest pre-college science fair. Potential scholarships of up to $50,000 and trips to Washington, D.C. draw the best and brightest worldwide.
For a complete list of exhibits and winners, go to the Northwest Science Expo Web site at www.nwse.org. Check out www.sciserv.org/isef for more information on the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.