National Competitions in Science and Math

Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology

The Siemens Foundation in conjunction with the College Board offer an incredible opportunity for high school students in a prestigious competition called the Siemens Competition. Students undertake research projects in some area of math or science, either alone or in teams (your choice). They then present their project to a prestigious board of judges. Finalists are selected once the judges review all submissions.

The competition is highly regarded by colleges such as MIT, Georgia Tech, and Carnegie Mellon University. Students who participate can meet influential people in math and science, but they can also win big awards. The scholarships run as high as $100,000 for national awards.

Intel Science Talent Search

Intel is the sponsor of a talent search for high school seniors who have completed all coursework requirements for college. This nationwide competition is America's highly regarded as a pre-college science contest. In this contest, students mush enter as single members--no teamwork here!

To enter, students must submit a written report with tables and charts with a page limit of 20 pages.

National Science Bowl

The National Science Bowl is a highly visible educational event offered by the Department of Energy which is open to students from ninth to twelfth grades. It is a team competition, and teams must consist of four students from one school. This competition is a question and answer format, with the questions being either multiple choice or short answer.

Students first participate in regional events around the US, and those winners compete at a national event in Washington, D.C. In addition to participation in the competition itself, students will build and race a model fuel cell car. The will also have the opportunity to meet well-known scientists as they lecture on current topics in math and the sciences.

Competition for Future Architects

Are you an aspiring architect, at least 13 years of age? If so, you may be interested to know that the Guggenheim Museum and Google™ have teamed up to offer an exciting opportunity. The challenge for this competition is to design a shelter to be located on a specific spot on earth. You'll use Google tools to build your creation. Students compete for travel and money prizes. Visit the web site for specifics on the competition, and how you can get involved.

National Chemistry Olympiad

This competition is for high school chemistry students. The program is multi-tiered, meaning it starts on a local level and ends as a worldwide competition with big prize potential! It begins with your local school or community where local officials of the American Chemical Society coordinate and administer exams. Those coordinators choose nominees for the national competition, and national winners can compete with students from 60 nations.

DuPont Challenge© Science Essay Competition

Writing is an important skill for scientists, so this competition is designed for science students at least 13 years of age who can craft a great essay. This competition is unique because students are judged on the originality of their ideas, but also on things like writing style, organization, and voice. The competition is open to students in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Essays are due in January.