IRVINE, Calif. and WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• 30 U.S. middle school students awarded all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for more than $40,000 in cash prizes on October 2
• California has the most finalists, followed by Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio
• Sponsored by Broadcom Foundation, Broadcom MASTERS inspires future scientists and engineers to stay with science and math throughout high school

Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) today announced the names of 30 middle school finalists in the 2012 Broadcom MASTERS® – a leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition for middle school students. The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) winners will be named on October 2 in Washington, D.C., after completion of a rigorous competition that tests their abilities in STEM subjects, teamwork and collaboration. Find the full listing of 2012 finalists at www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters and www.societyforscience.org/masters.

Key Finalist Data Points:

• The 16 girls and 14 boys come from 17 states and represent 29 schools. California has the greatest number of finalists with six, followed by Florida with four, Texas with three, and Massachusetts, New York and Ohio with two in each state.
• Finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers from among 300 semifinalists, who were chosen on August 15 from more than 1,470 applicants in 38 states and Puerto Rico.
• Finalists' independent research projects include a range of topics such as:
  • The Impact of a Parabolic Reflector on Wi-Fi Reception at Different Angles
  • The Effect of Oxygen Removal Treatments on the Mold Growth of Blueberries
  • Can 'Artificial' Intelligence Be More Intelligent Than Human Doctors and Professors in Playing Blokus?
  • Could a Small Aquatic Plant Have Reversed Global Warming 49 Million Years Ago?
  • The Tsunami Safety System: Deploying the Barrier
  • What is the Environmental Source of Cryptococcus gattii?

During Broadcom MASTERS week (September 28 – October 3), finalists will showcase their projects for the public and compete as teams in hands-on STEM activities. The top award is the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Award, a gift of Susan and Henry Samueli, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation. Other honors include $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place from Broadcom Foundation in addition to numerous experiential awards such as STEM-focused summer camps and a chance to attend the world's largest international high school science fair in May 2013.

Broadcom Foundation and Elmer's® Products, Inc, the 2012 Broadcom MASTERS official classroom partner, also recognize the middle school teachers who have inspired and mentored the finalists. Elmer's will award each finalist classroom with merchandise, rewards and a $125 Walmart gift card, and  Broadcom Foundation will give each finalist school $1,000. In total, Broadcom Foundation and Elmer's will contribute more than $500,000 in prizes, awards and rebates to nominees, entrants, semifinalists, finalists, and their teachers and schools.

While in Washington, D.C., the students will enjoy an exciting introduction to the nation's capital, experiencing historical sites and organizations that celebrate innovation, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The finalists also will visit the U.S. Capitol to meet their elected representatives. The week's activities culminate with an awards dinner at the Carnegie Institution of Washington on October 2, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Nicholas Alexopoulos, Broadcom Vice President of Antenna and RF Research and University Relations.

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.

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 Broadcom MASTERS on Twitter, use hashtag #brcmMASTERS or follow Broadcom and SSP. And to stay connected, visit the Broadcom MASTERS and SSP Facebook pages.

Quotes:

Paula Golden, Executive Director of Broadcom Foundation and Director of Broadcom Corporation Community Affairs
"We are thrilled to bring these talented young scientists and engineers to Washington, D.C. Experiences like the Broadcom MASTERS that focus on collaborative team building and project-based learning are powerful catalysts to keeping middle schoolers excited about applied math and science into high school and helping them make academic choices that open exciting new pathways to college and careers in science and engineering."

Elizabeth Marincola, President of Society for Science & the Public
"Independent research and hands-on learning is vital to the success of our bright young students, both while still in school and later in their careers. SSP is proud to join with Broadcom Foundation to honor these 30 talented young scientists and looks forward to following their future paths. We hope that programs like the Broadcom MASTERS encourage students to expand and continue the process of scientific inquiry."

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