Earlier today, the results for the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology — “the nation’s most prestigious teen science prize” — were announced.

A record-setting 1893 students entered with a total of 1205 individual and team projects.  Out of this pool, the largest yet by 10%, outstanding entries were selected as semifinalists and regional finalists.  The regional finalists, around 100 in total, will be called to compete at one of six Regional Competitions in November.  From each region, one team and one individual will advance to the national competition in New York, putting them in the running for six scholarship prizes ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.  A live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation will be viewable at the Siemens Competition website on December 8, 2008, at 9:30 AM U.S. Eastern Time.

Projects may be in any of the following categories (click to read sample abstracts):

• Astrophysics and astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Bioengineering
• Biology
• Biostatistics
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Genetics
• Geology
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics

Descriptions of past winners’ projects are viewable at the competition website.  Here’s a video on the 2007-2008 national finalists:

That said, now seems like the right time … to announce … that I’m a regional finalist!

I learned four hours ago that my project in Biology, “Morphological Phylogeography of a Giant American River Prawn, Macrobrachium carcinus (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae)”, had been selected, and I’m still absolutely elated.  Joining me in the Region 6 competition at Georgia Tech will be my friend and classmate Varun Bansal.

Seven other students attending Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology were semifinalists.  A big congratulations to them and everyone else who entered!

All Semifinalists

All Regional Finalists

Expect to read more about my project and the competition process here on Amphidrome.