Discovery Selects The 'Final Forty' Competitors In The 4th Annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

9/18/2002

From: Christy Lynn Wilson of Widmeyer Communications, 202-667-0901, christylynn.wilson@widmeyer.com, or Georgia Juvelis of Discovery Communications, 212-732-8987, georgia_juvelis@discovery.com

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 18 -- Today, Discovery Communications, Inc. and Science Service announced the 40 middle school students who have advanced to the finals in the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC). Selected from more than 1,700 entrants, the "Final Forty" represent an elite group of young Americans who demonstrated exceptional innovation, creativity and communication skills in original science research projects.

The DCYSC, the nation's premier middle school science contest, reinvigorates science learning at an age when interest in the subject typically begins to decline.

"America's strength has always depended on those who push the limits of innovation and exploration and these students have demonstrated they have the curiosity, creativity and talent required to push those limits," said Judith McHale, President and Chief Operating Officer, Discovery Communications, Inc. "These remarkable kids provide a glimpse of America's future top-flight workforce literate in science and math, for which the demand has never been greater."

The "Final Forty" will compete in the DCYSC National Competition in Washington, D.C., October 19-22. The students will compete in complex science challenges and will be judged on their scientific ability, leadership, teamwork and effective communication skills. The "Final Forty" will work as real-life "Spy Kids" at the CIA; study forensics with the Washington, D.C. Capitol Police Force; and fight cyber-crime alongside cyber-criminologists. Other challenges will test the students in the science behind emergency communications, and explore the physics of baseball, with the help of Hall of Fame players. The finalists' work in some of the challenges will involve original research related to the environment and space exploration. The winners will be announced at the Final Challenge and Awards Ceremony at the National Zoo on Wednesday, October 23.

About the "Final Forty"

The "Final Forty" represent 17 states, with Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida topping the list of states with the most finalists. For the fourth consecutive year, girls outnumber boys at the finalist level, with 21 females and 19 males. The "Final Forty," who range in age from 12-14, were selected from 400 semifinalists announced in August and who qualified for the DCYSC by winning or placing in their Science Service-affiliated state or regional science fair.

Popular topics for finalists' original science projects include methods for fighting pollution and improving the environment; the medicinal value of natural products; and new ways to prevent illness. Projects include:

-- A Great Neck, NY, student determined that electromagnetic radiation from computers has a harmful effect on living things in her project, Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Mutation Rates;

-- A Grants Pass, OR, student examined ways to make buildings safer in the case of fire in his project, Insulating Steel;

-- A Pittsburgh, PA, student, who started his own business at age 9, studied why French smokers do not get cancer at the same rate as their American counterparts in his project, Effects of Resveratrol on A549 Cells (lung cancer cells).

For a listing of the finalists and their projects, visit http://www.discovery.com/dcysc.

"Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge Background"

Created in 1999, Discovery designed the DCYSC to be a part of the solution to America's chronic underachievement in science and math. The contest responds to evidence that academic performance and interest in science among American students declines dramatically as students get older - particularly during the middle school years.

The DCYSC identifies and honors America's top middle school student who demonstrates the best skills in leadership, teamwork, and scientific problem solving. In addition, the ability to be an effective science communicator -- a goal that reflects Discovery's philosophy that scientific knowledge is most valuable when communicated and shared -- is a key component of the judging.

More than 6,000 middle school students have entered the DCYSC since its inception. Winners have received more than $400,000 in scholarship awards, federal government recognition, and participated in science-related trips that have taken them to the far corners of the globe.

The Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge is proud to announce GMC and Leapfrog as distinguished sponsors.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 155 countries and territories with over 700 million cumulative subscribers. DCI's 33 networks of distinctive programming represent 14 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids and a family of newer, targeted channels. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery.com and 167 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L), Cox Communications, Inc. (NYSE: COX), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder, Chairman and CEO.

Science Service administers the DCYSC. One of the most respected non-profit organizations advancing the cause of science, Science Service has a sterling reputation for conducting high-quality competitions on the national and international level, including the Intel Science Talent Search and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.