Thirty of the Nation’s Brightest Middle School STEM Students Named 2017 Broadcom MASTERS Finalists

Finalists to Compete for More than $100,000 in Awards

WASHINGTON, DC – September 20, 2017 — Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public today announced the selection of 30 finalists in the 7th annual Broadcom MASTERS,® the nation’s most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) middle school competition.  For the second year in a row, there will be an equal number of male and female finalists competing in the Broadcom MASTERS for more than $100,000 in awards.

Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars), a program founded and produced by the Society for Science & the Public, seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators who will solve the grand challenges of the future.  Winners will be named on October 24 after the finalists complete a rigorous competition that will test their abilities in STEM, critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration.

“These talented young scientists, mathematicians and engineers, whose projects range from computer science and mechanical engineering to microbiology and sustainability, are part of the generation that will solve the grand challenges we face today,” said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. “For many of our finalists, their first spark of curiosity was struck by a dedicated teacher, parent or friend who took the time to ignite their personal passion. Congratulations to each of our finalists and their adult role models and mentors who have put them on their road to discovery.”

“I’m thrilled to see that for the second year in a row we have an equal number of male and female Broadcom MASTERS competitors,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News.  “I am proud that the Society for Science & the Public, along with the Broadcom Foundation, is able to inspire and support such extraordinary young people.”

2017 Broadcom MASTERS Fast Facts:

  • Finalists include 15 female and 15 male students, representing 30 schools across 17 states.
  • California has 10 finalists, Pennsylvania has three, and New York and Florida each have two. The other states, who are represented by one finalist each include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
  • Finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers from a record high of 2,499 applicants in 37 states, Puerto Rico and the Department of Defense overseas.
  • Finalist projects cover multiple disciplines of science, including environmental and earth science, medicine and health science, electrical and mechanical engineering, microbiology, biochemistry, bioengineering, computer science, software engineering, behavioral and social sciences, energy and sustainability, animal science, chemistry, and plant science.
  • Finalists’ independent research projects include a range of topics such as
    • Using Flotation Systems to Harness Wave Power Using Electromagnetism
    • Can Technology Be Used To Modify Behavior and Reduce Rates of Melanoma
    • Remote Sensing the Ablation or Accumulation of a Glacier By Using Fractal Analysis on Glacier Images
    • A Novel Method for the Efficient Determination of Long-Term Emulsion Stability
    • Natural Antioxidant and Nano-Antioxidant Effects Against Oxidative Stress
  • For a full listing of the 2017 finalists and project descriptions visit: https://student.societyforscience.org/broadcom-masters-2017-finalists.

During the seventh annual Broadcom MASTERS final competition (October 19 –25), an equal number of young men and women will showcase their projects and compete as teams in hands-on STEM activities. The public is invited to view the top 30 projects and meet the finalists on Saturday, October 21 from 1-4pm at a free event at Union Station. The week’s activities culminate with an awards dinner on October 24 at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

All finalists receive a $500 cash award and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, for the competition, where they will compete for the following awards:

  • $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize, a gift of Susan and Henry Samueli, Co-Founder of Broadcom Corporation, Chairman of the Broadcom Foundation, and Chief Technical Officer of Broadcom Limited, for the student who demonstrates mastery of all STEM fields, and exemplifies how research, innovation and teamwork come together to impact our everyday lives.
  • $20,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance shows the most promise in health-related fields.
  • $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation, awarded to a student who demonstrates prowess in electrical engineering.
  • $7,500 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems.
  • First and Second Place Awards issued in each category of STEM will receive $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to use toward a STEM summer camp experience, plus an iPad.
  • Two Rising Stars in sixth or seventh grade will be named as delegates to represent the U.S. at the Broadcom MASTERS International next spring in Pittsburgh. Delegates will attend the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest international high school science fair in May 2018.

Broadcom MASTERS recognizes finalists’ science teachers with a one year classroom subscription to Science News magazine, and awards the finalists’ schools with $1,000 each to use toward STEM activities.

Resources:
For more information on the Broadcom MASTERS, visit the Broadcom Foundation and Society websites. To keep up with the Broadcom MASTERS, use hashtag #brcmMASTERS or follow Broadcom Foundation and SSP on Twitter or SSP on Instagram. And to stay connected, visit the Broadcom MASTERS and SSP Facebook pages. You can also follow the Society on Snapchat (Society4Science).

About Broadcom Foundation:
Founded in April 2009, the Broadcom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with its main mission to advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education by funding research, recognizing scholarship and increasing opportunity.

The foundation inspires young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through its signature programs, the Broadcom MASTERS® and the Broadcom MASTERS® International, premier science and engineering competitions for middle school students around the United States and the world. Learn more at www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters and follow us on Twitter.

About Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine, 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 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

Society for Science & the Public Press Contact: 
Gayle Kansagor
703-489-1131
Gkansagor@societyforscience.org