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Getting Ready For Year 2000 Contest

Discovery Communications, in partnership with Science Service, launched the annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge last year. The contest is designed to encourage the exploration of science among America's middle-school students. The only contest of its kind, it drew entrants from 46 states.

The organizers hope this contest and others of its kind will remind students that science can be informative and a gateway into higher learning.

"We want to use the DYSC as a means to remind young children that science can be 'cool', said Ann Korando, director of development and public relations at Science Service.

"So many children lose interest in science at a young age, but these fifth-eighth graders put the inspiration and fascination back into the subject. They also want more students will be dazzled and motivated by these contestants' success.

"It is our hope that the success of these young people will encourage other future scientists to pursue science through high school and into adulthood," said John Hendricks, founder, DCI CEO and chairman.

The 40 finalists are invited to Washington DC, all expenses paid, to compete in a week of science challenges from October 13 to 17 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. For two days, student teams will be assigned different challenges, each of which will concentrate on a different discipline of science. They will be judged on their individual communication and leadership skills, problem-solving abilities and an oral presentation.

There are scholarship prizes for all contestants:
Ist place: $ 10,000 scholarship;
2nd place: $ 5,000 scholarship;
3rd place: $ 3,000 scholarship;
4th to 10th places: $ 1,000 scholarships;
11th to 40th places: $ 500 scholarships.

To get into the 2000 Discovery Young Scientist Challenge, a student needs to present a project at his or her local or regional International Science and Engineering Fair. A science teacher could help the student in the process.

Judges at the ISEF-affiliated fair will determine nominees for the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge based on the quality of the science fair project and the student's ability to communicate science. Prizes will be given out at the local fair, and then an entry form will be mailed to the student. All entrants must be in grades five through eight when they enter their local fair.

For questions about entry forms, call(202) 785-2255. For other questions, write to dysc@sciserv.org.

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