Intel to End Sponsorship of Science Talent Search

[hunter]

SAN FRANCISCO — Intel, the world’s largest maker of semiconductors, is dropping its longtime support of the most prestigious science and mathematics competition for American high school students.

The contest, called the Science Talent Search, brings 40 finalists to Washington for meetings with leaders in government and industry and counts among its past competitors eight Nobel Prize winners, along with chief executives, university professors and award-winning scientists.

Over the years, the award for work in so-called STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — has made national headlines and been an important indicator of America’s educational competitiveness and national priorities. When it was started as an essay competition in 1942, its first topic was “How science can help win the war.” The male winner, or “Top Boy,” went on to develop an artificial kidney. The “Top Girl” became an ophthalmologist. A single winner was first named in 1949.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/technology/intel-to-end-sponsorship-of-science-talent-search.html

This is madness on Intel's part.

The STS is a big deal to high school science teachers and students.

I wonder which mega-technical corporation will be picking up what intel dropped...

[gvstn]

1. I think I saw a thread on this in GD yesterday.

It is unbelievable that would scrap their contribution to this extremely worthwhile cause when they are a very profitable company.

The kids that enter and win this contest are coming up with brilliant concepts and proving them workable on a small scale. Exactly what Intel should be looking to encourage. Their entire contribution was $6m a year. Let a couple execs get a slightly smaller bonus and keep on contributing.

Whatever happened to this Intel from just 4 years ago?