DISCOVERY YOUNG SCIENTIST CHALLENGE
NAMES 400 SEMIFINALISTS IN SECOND ANNUAL SCIENCE CONTEST

-- Semifinalists Selected from Over 1,600 Entries -
--Florida, Texas and California Top the List of States with the Most Semifinalists --

BETHESDA, MD (September 5, 2000) - Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI), in partnership with Society for Science & the Public, today announced the names of 400 Semifinalists in the second annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (DYSC). The DYSC is a national contest for middle school students (grades 5-8) designed to encourage the exploration, understanding and communication of science among the next generation of America's youth.

The 400 semifinalists were chosen from more than 1,600 fifth through eighth grade students who qualified for the DYSC through their participation in a Society for Science & the Public-affiliated regional or state science fair. The Semifinalists represent 43 states and the District of Columbia. There are 203 female Semifinalists and 197 male Semifinalists. The students' inventive projects cover a wide variety of subject matter and scientific disciplines, as evidenced by their project titles: James Alexander, of Washington, DC, wondered about "Slime and Other Fluids: What Makes them Stick?"; Claire Blevins, of Roanoke, VA, asked "Are Herbs and Spices Antibiotics for the New Generation?"; and Christen Brown, of Scottsdale, AZ, explored "Sustaining Life on Mars." [please visit www.school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc for a complete listing of student names and their project titles].

"Today's announcement underscores the talent, interest and excitement that America's youth have for this great age of discovery," said Judith A. McHale, president and chief operating officer of DCI. "Making science a priority in the lives of today's young children will help maintain their interest and provide the Information Age with the next generation of scientists and innovators."

The high level of participation in this contest comes at a time when recent studies suggest children lose interest in science as they get older. DCI and Society for Science & the Public created the DYSC to enable middle school students to compete in a national science competition, an opportunity that previously had only been available to high school students.

"These talented young people, with a fascination for exploring the unknown, are serving as ambassadors of science in their communities and are helping to promote the idea amongst their peers that science is indeed cool," says Ann Korando, director of development and public relations at Society for Science & the Public.

On Monday, September 18, 2000 DCI and Society for Science & the Public will announce 40 DYSC Finalists who will be invited to travel to Washington, DC, all expenses paid, October 21-26, 2000, to compete in science challenges at two Smithsonian Institution museums. For three days, student teams will be assigned different challenges, each of which will concentrate on a different discipline of science. Students will be judged on their individual communication skills, leadership skills and problem-solving abilities while working on the challenges. In addition, students will be judged on oral presentations of their projects that won each student a nomination to the DYSC.

On Thursday, October 26, 2000, DCI will announce the winners and award a $10,000 scholarship for first place, a $5,000 scholarship for second place, and a $3,000 scholarship for third place. The remaining finalists will receive $500-$1,000 in prizes. Additional discretionary prizes, based on the student's projects and their performance during the science challenges, will be announced at a later date.

On Monday, September 11, 2000 from 8-9 PM (ET), the Discovery Science Channel will premiere 1999 Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, a one-hour documentary with highlights from the first Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, held in October 1999 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. The program includes the Finalists working on challenges, discussions with Smithsonian scientists, and interviews with the students, their parents and their teachers, who explain the Finalists' projects and what motivates these students to pursue their interest in science. The program will repeat from 11 PM-midnight (ET). The Discovery Science Channel is available around the country on digital cable.

Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 150 countries with 180 million total subscribers. DCI's programming is tailored to the specific needs of viewers around the globe, and distributed through 69 separate feeds in 32 languages. DCI's networks encompass 14 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, and a family of digital channels. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery.com and 165 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States.

Society for Science & the Public Inc., founded in 1921, is one of the most respected non-profit organizations advancing the cause of science. Based in Washington, D.C., Society for Science & the Public seeks to keep the public abreast of the latest in science information and technology. As publishers of Science News, and administrators of the Intel Science Talent Search - the "Nobel Prize" of high school science - and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Society for Science & the Public encourages students, parents, teachers and communities to explore the vast world of science. For information about Society for Science & the Public, please visit www.societyforscience.org.

For more information about the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, including a complete listing of the names of the 400 semifinalists, their school, state and project title, please visit the DYSC website at www.school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc.