Society for Science unveils collection of White House Photos

STS finalists pose with Vice President Henry Wallace at the U.S. Capitol Building during the first Science Talent Institute in 1942. Wallace, a scientist himself, conversed with the students about their research and how science could aid the war effort.

1944 STS finalists are greeted by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt outside the White House. Following their meeting with the First Lady, the students toured the White House’s most famous rooms.

President Harry Truman welcomes STS finalists to the Oval Office in 1951. Truman urged the students to pursue careers in science, stating, “The power and welfare of this country is wrapped up in scientific research.”

First Lady Elizabeth “Bess” Truman poses for a photo in front of the White House with the 1948 STS finalists. The students also visited the Agricultural Research Center and the National Bureau of Standards during their week-long trip to the capital.

President John F. Kennedy talks with 1961 STS finalists Rita Manak (front left) and Laura Kaufman (front right) in the Oval Office. Manak’s project examined metabolism in white blood cells and Kaufman’s project investigated factors affecting the perception of lines.

President George H. W. Bush speaks to 1989 STS finalists at the National Academy of Sciences. President Bush told the students: “I think no one proves better than all of you just how much our students are capable of.”

ISEF 2010 top winner Amy Chyao (far right) poses for a photo with First Lady Michelle Obama at the State of the Union address in 2011. The first lady invited Chyao, who developed a photosensitizer for treating cancer for her ISEF project, to join her in her viewing box for the address.

2011 ISEF finalist Taylor Wilson shows President Barack Obama his project at the 2012 White House Science Fair. During his address to the students, Obama stated, “When students excel in math and science, they help America compete for the jobs and industries of the future.”