OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Oct. 30, 2008 — The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring the inaugural Science & Energy Research Challenge (SERCh), Nov. 9-10, 2008, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is partnering with Oak Ridge Associated Universities to host the event.
SERCh is a national poster competition which will showcase high level research projects from 84 of the nation's top undergraduate students. The students will compete for research internship and scholarship prizes by presenting abstracts, posters and oral presentations detailing scientific research they have completed as DOE undergraduate research interns.
Student mentors and faculty also are scheduled to participate in informational workshops and lectures about how to work with DOE. Local high school students will visit ORNL during the event and learn more about scientific fields of study through special guest speakers, poster viewing, and interaction with scientists and competitors.
SERCh student projects focus primarily on energy solutions, with competition categories in biological sciences, materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics, and environmental science.
Student researchers will vie for scholarship awards in each of the five categories; 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place, for $3,000, $1,500, and $1,000 scholarships, respectively. One overall winner will receive a grand prize scholarship of $10,000.
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