Intel Science Talent Search crowns 10 promising students. Eric Larson, 17, of Eugene, Ore., takes top honors

Ten teenage super-scientists joined the ranks of former Nobel Prize winners and genius grant winners Tuesday night when they were awarded top honors at the Intel Science Talent Search.

The competition, the oldest and one of the best-known science competitions in the USA, for years has given scholarships to future experts who have gone on to win Nobels or MacArthur Foundation genius grants. This year’s winners were seniors in high school who, in many cases, have made scientific breakthroughs and published research papers.

"This isn’t just a fluke," says Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the sponsoring Intel Foundation. "These kids are the real deal."

Hawkins says the company views the sponsorship as an investment in the nation’s top young scientists and a way to ensure they can afford the top universities for their field.

Eric Larson, 17, of Eugene, Ore., won the top prize, a $100,000 scholarship for his project classifying mathematical objects called fusion categories.

By Jeanette Der Bedrosian, USA TODAY

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-03-11-intel-winners_N.htm