Broadcom Foundation Announces Semifinalists in Broadcom MASTERS® National Science Fair Competition

IRVINE, Calif., and WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• 300 semifinalists selected to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS^® – leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition for middle schoolers
• California counts greatest number of semifinalists, followed by Florida, Texas, Ohio and Oregon
• 30 finalists to be named August 29; winner receives $25,000 in Washington, D.C., on October 2

Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) today announced the selection of 300 middle school students as semifinalists in the Broadcom MASTERS^® – a leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition for middle school students. Semifinalists' names and a state-by-state breakdown can be found at www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters or www.societyforscience.org/masters.

The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) was created to reward and encourage sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to continue their studies in math and science throughout high school by igniting a passion for innovation through a unique competition that exposes them to independent research, scientific inquiry, hands-on learning and teamwork.

Key Semifinalist Data Points:

• The 300 semifinalists come from 290 middle schools in 38 states representing 117 fairs across the United States and Puerto Rico.
• California has the greatest number of semifinalists (54), followed by Florida (26), Texas (23), Ohio (17) and Oregon (16).
• Semifinalists' individual science fair independent research projects include a range of topics such as:
  • A Robotic Simulated Lunar Terrain Transportation Challenge
  • The Eco-Friendly Diaper, Landfill Design: The Type of Cloth Versus the Rate of Decomposition
  • The Effect of Windmill Blade Pitch and Surface Area on Energy Production
  • Waste Heat Recovery Using Thermo-Electric Power
  • A Novel, Efficient Pattern Matching Algorithm for the DNA Alphabet
• Semifinalists were selected from more than 1,460 applicants after rigorous evaluation and judging conducted by distinguished scientists, engineers and educators. Applicants qualify to enter the Broadcom MASTERS by placing in the top 10 percent of the participants at their SSP-affiliated science fairs and winning the nomination.
• The 30 Broadcom MASTERS finalists will be announced on August 29. Finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., September 28 – October 3 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.

Sponsored by Broadcom Foundation, a non-profit public benefit organization 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 eight decades.

In total, Broadcom Foundation and classroom partner Elmer's^®  Products, Inc. will contribute more than $500,000 in prizes, awards and rebates to nominees, entrants, semifinalists, finalists, and their teachers and schools. In recognition of the role teachers play in the success of their students, each semifinalist classroom will receive a collection of Sally Ride Science Career Books.

Quotes:

Paula Golden, Executive Director of Broadcom Foundation and Director of Broadcom Community Affairs

"All of us at Broadcom are thrilled to congratulate each semifinalist who has achieved so much to make it to the next round of the Broadcom MASTERS. Through science fairs, every student has a unique opportunity to showcase his or her science or engineering project to discerning judges and experience the give-and-take of competition. These 300 students represent the finest competitors in the nation."

Elizabeth Marincola, President of Society for Science & the Public

"The skills acquired by students through participation in hands-on scientific and engineering research will help prepare them not only for further education, but for their future careers. SSP is proud to join Broadcom Foundation to inspire and reward the 2012 Broadcom MASTERS semifinalists for their project-based pursuits."

Resources:

For more information on the Broadcom MASTERS, check out the Broadcom Foundation and SSP websites or visit Broadcom Foundation's Newsroom and read the B-Connected Blog. To keep up with the 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 non-profit 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 the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software 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 Kids, as well as a weekly e-publication for the iPad, Science News Prime, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org.

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything®, the Connecting everything logo and Broadcom MASTERS® 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

SOURCE Broadcom Foundation; BRCM Corporate

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