Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Kicks off

Young scientists descend on Reno in hopes of winning scholarships and other prizes

More than 1,500 high school students are trying their luck in Reno, Nev., this week at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. While some students will hit the jackpot, they all have already won big — previously taking top prizes at 500 or so science fairs for ninth- through 12th-graders held across the country and globe. Now the young scientists will present their projects in Reno, competing for nearly $4 million in scholarships, tuition grants and scientific trips and equipment.

Some of the students have been working on their projects for months, others for years. Categories include energy and transportation, cellular and molecular biology, physics and astronomy, medicine and health, microbiology, engineering and mathematics. After a week of showcasing their projects, interviewing with judges and attending talks and events, three of the students will be awarded $50,000 scholarships.

Society for Science & the Public, publisher of Science News, partners with Intel, which — along with dozens of other corporate, academic, government and science-focused sponsors — provides support and awards for the Intel ISEF each year.

Tune in all week for updates from Reno, and visit the Intel ISEF site for more information: http://www.intelisef2009.org/

Credit: The article was produced by Rachel Ehrenberg for sciencenews.org

Technology Sharing Forum Launched for OIC Countries

COMSTECH Technology Sharing Forum for OIC Countries

Organization of the Islamic Conference Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) has launched a Technology Forum through which all OIC member states can offer their endogenously developed technologies to other countries of the OIC. The countries seeking some specific technology can also contact COMSTECH Secretariat for routing of their demand to other member states.

“There are a number of technologies which have been developed within the OIC member states and have been commercialized. These are available in various fields of engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, agro-food, energy etc. There may be many companies within the OIC member states who are willing to offer such technologies to other OIC countries on mutually acceptable terms of sharing of royalties or as joint venture partnerships. COMSTECH has therefore launched the “COMSTECH Technology Forum” which will allow member states having suitable technologies to offer to other OIC member states through this forum.” said the Program in-charge.

“Similarly OIC Member States which are interested in acquiring specific technologies can place their requirements on the COMSTECH website so that they can benefit through the expertise available in other Member States”, he added.

It is expected that COMSTECH Technology Forum will serve as an important open tool for the promotion of industrial and technological collaboration and cooperation among OIC member states through sharing of useful technologies for industrial production. Further information regarding how to share technology is available at COMSTECH website www.comstech.org.

Report by: Ameen Amjad
Islamabad, Pakistan