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Four Young Scientists to represent Australia on international stage

Announcement posted by Intel 01 May 2001

Four local students will represent Australia at the 52nd Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in San Jose, California, from 6-9 May 2001. As students across the country celebrate Science Week, the four representatives will join thousands of students from around the world in what is described as the Olympic of science fairs.

Award winners Alison Fernandes and Ceridwen Cherry, a team of two Year 11 students from Sydney Girls High School; Andrew McLeod, a Year 9 student at North Sydney Boys High School; and Zoe Spratt, a former student at Blue Mountains Grammar School, will travel to Intel ISEF representing Australias talented science and technology youth.

Alison Fernandes and Ceridwen Cherry investigated the effects of music, including classical, popular and heavy metal, on problem solving ability, particularly during study. Andrew McLeod examined the degree of salinity effects on carrots as a possible short-term solution to reduce the deterioration of agricultural land while maintaining crop yield. Zoe Spratt researched the visual phenomenon of binocular rivalry, which occurs when each eye is shown a different stimulus and the subject consciously perceives the stimuli in an alternating sequence.


Intel ISEF is the worlds only international science fair, representing all life sciences, for students between the ages of 12 and 18. It aims to promote and encourage talented students to pursue their interests in the areas of sciences technology and engineering. It is also the worlds largest pre-university science competition, with students from more than 40 countries invited to participate. Past fairs have seen an estimated two million students from around the world participating in local ISEF-affiliated science fairs in the hope of advancing to the ISEF.

In Australia, ISEF representatives are chosen from entrants to the Intel Young Scientist Awards and are selected for ISEF on the basis of projects that demonstrate strong research skills and clear and concise communication of findings.

Intel's sponsorship of ISEF is part of the Intel Innovation in Education initiative, a global, multimillion dollar effort to help realise the possibilities of science and technology in education. The goal is to prepare today's teachers and students for tomorrow's demands. Intel develops and supports education programs that help meet the needs of students and communities worldwide through improving science, math, engineering and technology education; improving education through the effective use of technology in classrooms; and broadening access to technology and technical careers.

Intel, the worlds largest chipmaker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
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