DISCOVERY SELECTS 400 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO COMPETE FOR AMERICA’S TOP MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

3RD ANNUAL DISCOVERY YOUNG SCIENTIST CHALLENGE TO AWARD OVER $100,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES

Bethesda, MD (August 13, 2001) - Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) and Society for Science & the Public announced today 400 middle school students from 46 states across America have been selected as 2001 Semifinalists for the 3rd Annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (DYSC).

Designed to be a part of the solution to America’s chronic underachievement in science and math, the DYSC identifies and honors America’s top middle school student who demonstrates the best skills in leadership, teamwork, and scientific problem solving. In addition, the ability to be an effective science communicator -- a goal that reflects Discovery’s philosophy that scientific knowledge is most valuable when communicated and shared -- is a key component of the judging.

From the 400 Semifinalists, a “Final Forty” will be selected to travel to Washington D.C. on October 20 to participate alongside the Smithsonian Institution’s leading scientists in sophisticated challenges related to the most cutting edge scientific mysteries of the day, including renewable energy, genetic mapping and animal conservation.

Today’s 400 Semifinalists include more than 200 girls, continuing an important trend from past years, demonstrating that despite studies showing middle school is a time when girls become less inclined towards studying science, there is a significant level of interest in science among young women from ages 9 through 14.

“The Discovery Young Scientist Challenge is uniquely designed to encourage this critical age group to build upon their skill and enthusiasm for scientific inquiry when many of their peers are losing interest,” said Kyle O’Connor, DYSC program director. “These amazing kids are proof that science can be cool and gender neutral with the right amount of encouragement.”

Today’s announcement represents a wide range of science disciplines and subject matter, including:

• Stacey Bartlett, 13, of Merino, CO, worked with her local police department to determine whether fingerprint characteristics are passed through generations in her project titled, “Gene Prints: Do Genetics Influence Fingerprints?”
  
  
• Christina Durano, 12, of Albuquerque, NM, wondered why male contestants frequently outnumber female contestants on ABC’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” In her project titled, “Is There a Bias behind ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’”, Christina researched whether one gender performs better on multiple choice, sequential questions, which the popular game show uses to screen potential contestants.
  
  
• Brent Rich, 13, of Madera, CA, inspired by his state’s current energy crisis, generated electricity from trash in his project titled, “A New Use for 200-year-old Technology.”

According to Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, DYSC judge and Professor of Science Education, New York Institute of Technology, “These students represent the next generation of great thinkers---who knows what problems they'll solve, or what discoveries they'll make with their ingenuity and imagination?”

The 400 Semifinalists range in age from 9 to 14 and represent 46 different states and were selected from more than 1,700 entries.

More information about the DYSC, including a complete listing of the names of the 400 Semifinalists, their project title, school and state, is available at http://www.discovery.com/dysc.

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 more than 155 countries and territories with over 650 million total subscribers. DCI’s 33 networks of distinctive programming represent 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. Information about Society for Science & the Public is available at www.societyforscience.org.