Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public Announce Middle School STEM Competition Semifinalists

Fifth Annual Broadcom MASTERS Semifinalists Include 300 U.S. Students Now in Consideration for Trip to Silicon Valley and $25,000 Grand Prize

IRVINE, Calif. and WASHINGTON

  • 300 semifinalists selected to compete in fifth annual Broadcom MASTERS® — the nation’s most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition for middle school students
  • Semifinalists hail from 39 states and American Samoa — 61 of the semifinalists are from California, followed by Florida with 44, Texas with 20, Massachusetts with 13 and Oregon with 12
  • 30 finalists to be named September 2 and competition takes place October 1-7; top place winner receives $25,000

Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) today announced the selection of 300 students as semifinalists in the fifth annual Broadcom MASTERS® – the nation’s most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition for middle school students. Semifinalists’ names and a state-by-state breakdown can be found at http://www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters/semifinalists/2015 or https://student.societyforscience.org/broadcom-masters-2015-semifinalists.

The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) rewards and inspires sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who have followed their personal passions in science or engineering and inspries them to continue their studies in math and science throughout high school. As the students focus on Project-Based Learning, the scientific method and the engineering process through hands-on challenges and compeitions, they are taught the 21st century skills of critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.

“Broadcom MASTERS enables middle school students to harness their potential as future scientists, engineers and innovators to solve problems and create inventions that will impact their world,” said Paula Golden, President and Executive Director, Broadcom Foundation and Director, Community Affairs, Broadcom Corporation. “We are extremely proud of the many thousands of young men and women who were nominated to compete because of their amazing science fair projects and congratulate 300 semifinalists from around the United States who have reached this exciting stage of the competition.”

Semifinalist Data Points:

  • Semifinalists hail from 226 middle schools (the majority of which are public schools) in 39 states and American Samoa, and represent 127 regional and state science fairs across the U.S.
  • 61 of the semifinalists are from California, followed by Florida with 31, Texas with 22, Oregon with 19 and Pennsylvania with 14 .
  • Semifinalists were selected from more than 2,230 applicants after each application received three independent readings and evaluations by distinguished scientists, engineers and educators. Nominees qualified to enter the Broadcom MASTERS by placing among the top 10 percent of the participants at their SSP-affiliated science fairs.
  • Semifinalists’ independent research projects include a broad range of topics such as:

Communication Protocol: Self-driving Vehicles at Intersections
Solar Desalination: An Eco-Friendly Solution for California’s Water Independence
2-Gether We Make Football
How can the Ebola Virus Disease be cured through inhibition of Viral Protein 35?
Can You Get Your Transistors In Line?
Developing Assistive Technology for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Wireless, Wearable, and Customizable Electronic Solution to Predict and Prevent Autistic Meltdowns

The 30 Broadcom MASTERS finalists will be announced on September 2. Finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to Silicon Valley, California from October 1 – October 7 to showcase their science fair projects and compete in a four-day STEM competition for awards and prizes, including the top education award of $25,000 presented by the Samueli Foundation.

“We are extremely proud to join with the Broadcom Foundation in congratulating the 300 semifinalists selected,” said Maya Ajmera, President and Chief Executive Officer of Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of the Science News family of media properties. “This year we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of Broadcom MASTERS, and I am more impressed each year by these talented students. We hope competitions like Broadcom MASTERS inspire them to pursue their passions and become the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Sponsored by Broadcom Foundation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation funded by Broadcom Corporation, the Broadcom MASTERS is a program of Society for Science & the Public. SSP has run some of the world’s most prestigious science competitions for more than seven decades.

As a semifinalist, each student will receive an award ribbon, semifinalist certificate of accomplishment, Broadcom MASTERS backpack, a Broadcom MASTERS decal, a one year family digital subscription to Science News magazine, and a one year subscription to Mathematica+, courtesy of Wolfram Research. In recognition of the role teachers play in the success of their students, each semifinalist’s classroom will receive a collection of Sally Ride Science Career Books courtesy of Deloitte.

Resources:
For more information on the Broadcom MASTERS, visit the Broadcom Foundation and SSP websites or visit Broadcom Foundation’s Newsroom and read the B-Inspired Blog.

To keep up with the Broadcom MASTERS on Twitter, use hashtag #brcmMASTERS or follow Broadcom and SSP. And to stay connected, visit the Broadcom MASTERS and SSP Facebook pages.

About Broadcom Foundation:
Broadcom Foundation was founded to inspire and enable young people throughout the world to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through partnerships with local schools, colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations. Broadcom Foundation is the proud sponsor of the Broadcom MASTERS®, a program of Society for Science & the Public – a premier science and engineering competition for middle school children. The Foundation’s mission is to advance education in STEM by funding research, recognizing scholarship and increasing opportunity. Learn more at www.broadcomfoundation.org.  

About Broadcom:
Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With one of the industry’s broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by Connecting everything®. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

About Society for Science & the Public:
Society for Science & the Public is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the achievement of young researchers in independent research and to the public engagement in science. Established in 1921, its vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its acclaimed education competitions, including the Intel Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning publications, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org.  

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything® and the Connecting everything logo are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Broadcom Foundation
Dana Orsini
949-562-3670
danabrz@broadcom.com

Society for Science & the Public
Sarah Wood
202-872-5110
swood@societyforscience.org