Broadcom MASTERS® Alumni Students Welcomed to White House Science Fair to Share STEM Projects with President Obama

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Broadcom MASTERS® alumni attended the third White House Science Fair today where President Obama honored winners of the nation's top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions and viewed award-winning projects. Broadcom MASTERS students invited to participate included Jack Andraka, 16, of Crownsville, Md., Jessika Baral, 13, of Fremont, Calif, and Mabel Wheeler, 13, of Orem, Utah. Learn more at www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters.

Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) is a leading national STEM competition for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students created to inspire future scientists and engineers to stay with science and math throughout high school. 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.

Students met the President and had the opportunity to discuss their research including projects such as innovating new detection for pancreatic cancer, engineering peripheral vision and preventing the degradation of polymers. Following the Fair, the President addressed the students, science educators and business leaders in attendance about the critical important of STEM education to address our country's economic and societal challenges.

"We are incredibly proud of these young people who represent the excellence and dedication that middle schoolers can bring to STEM education. By competing in the Broadcom MASTERS in middle school, young scientists and engineers are inspired to achieve at the highest level in high school and beyond," said Paula Golden, Executive Director, Broadcom Foundation. "President Obama's support for science and engineering competitions, including the Broadcom MASTERS, is critical for focusing public attention on the need for students to stay with math and science through their high school years in order to achieve college and career aspirations."

About the Broadcom MASTERS Alumni Participants

Jack Andraka
Andraka was recognized as one of the top 300 semifinalists in the 2011 Broadcom MASTERS for his project "A Comparative Study of the Toxicity of Nano and Bulk Metal Oxides on Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna." He was also awarded first place for his new method to detect pancreatic cancer at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2012.

Jessika Baral
Baral won the Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation at the Broadcom MASTERS 2012 for her project "A Novel Way to Strengthen Eye Muscles and Enhance Peripheral Vision." She was inspired to study vision after noticing that her friends often use handheld electronic devices for long periods of time – a habit that can result in eye muscle fatigue. She decided to put her engineering skills to use creating a device to strengthen tired eye muscles and improve peripheral vision using LED lights.

Mabel Wheeler
Wheeler won a Rising Star award at the Broadcom MASTERS 2012 for her project on the "Impact of Sunscreen on the Degradation of Polymers." She noticed that plastic objects in her yard, such as balls and lawn chairs, had become brittle and discolored by time spent in the sun. She wondered if the same sunscreens that protect her skin from the UV radiation could prevent the degradation of polymers, the long molecules that make up plastics, rubbers, and proteins.

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 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's mission is to 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 SSP
Society for Science & the Public (SSP) is one of the nation's oldest non-profit membership organizations dedicated to public engagement in science and science education. Established in 1921, SSP is a leading advocate for 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 its weekly e-publication for the iPad, Science News Prime, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire.

For more information about SSP and its work, please visit societyforscience.org or follow SSP on Facebook: facebook.com/societyforscience and through Twitter: twitter.com/Society4Science. Become a member of the Society at societyforscience.org/join.

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