Broadcom MASTERS

Broadcom MASTERS, a program of Society for Science, is a national science competition for U.S. middle school students. ^[1] The Broadcom Foundation launched the competition in 2010 and pledged $6 million over the next 6 years. ^[2] In 2014, approximately 6,000 middle school students were eligible for entry and 2,054 students completed and submitted an application. As of 2023, the competition is known as the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator's Challenge.

Overview

The name MASTERS is an acronym for Math, Applied Science, Technology, & Engineering for Rising Stars. ^[3] Each year, the top 10% of students from certain SSP-affiliated regional and state science fairs across the nation are eligible for entry in the Broadcom MASTERS competition. ^[4] The first stage is an online application that consists of project information and other essays. On the basis of the online application, 300 semifinalists are selected and announced. The 30 finalists are selected from the pool of semifinalists, and the finalists are then invited to meet and compete with the other finalists in-person. From 2011 through 2022, finalist week has occurred either in Washington DC or virtually due to COVID-19. Judging occurs over three days and consists of project judging as well as a variety of STEM challenges performed by six teams of five students each. Judges weigh individual performance much more than combined team performance. ^[5]

Awards (as of 2019)

Broadcom MASTERS grand prizes include: ^[6]

• Samueli Foundation Prize: $25,000 Grand Award for the top STEM student
• The Robert Wood Johnson Award for Health Advancement: $10,000 for showing most promise in health related fields
• Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: $10,000 Award for the top innovator with engineering skills and a project in electrical engineering
• STEM Talent Award: $10,000 sponsored by DoD STEM
• Lemelson Award for Invention: $10,000
• Broadcom Coding With Commitment: $5,000
• STEM awards (First and Second Place): to the top two students in each area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
  • First Place STEM Awards: $3500 stipend for a STEM-related summer camp and iPad
  • Second Place STEM Awards: $2500 stipend for a STEM-related summer camp and iPad
• Rising Star Awards: Trip to observe International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). These awards are given out to the top 6th and 7th graders (at time of project application) that show the most promise.
• Team Award: A $200 STEM supply gift card is given out to each member of the team that performs the best during the STEM challenges.

Various awards are also given to all finalists as well as to the top 300 finishers and their teachers. ^[6]

Winners

2011

• 1st Place: Daniel Feeny (Woodside, California) ^[7]
• 2nd Place: Benjamin Hylak (Oxford, Pennsylvania)
• 3rd Place: I-Chun Lin (Plano, TX) ^[8]

2012

• Samueli Foundation Prize: Raymond Gilmartin (South Pasadena, California) ^[9]
• Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: Jessika Baral (Fremont, California) ^[10]

2013

• Samueli Foundation Prize: River Grace (West Melbourne, Florida) ^[11]
• Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: Eitan Acks (San Diego, California) ^[12]

2014

• Samueli Foundation Prize: Holly Jackson (San Jose, California) ^[13]
• Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: Sahar Khashayar (San Diego, California)
• STEM Awards (First and Second places respectively)
  • Science: James Roney (Santa Barbara, California) and Daniel Bruce (San Diego, California)
  • Technology: Aditya Jain (Portland, Oregon) and Nikhil Behari (Sewickley, Pennsylvania)
  • Engineering: Chythanya Murali (Little Rock, Arkansas) and Annika Urban (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
  • Math: Rajiv Movva (San Jose, California) and Jonathan Okasinski (Harleysville, Pennsylvania)
  • Rising Stars Award: Annie Ostojic (Munster, Indiana) and Raghav Ganesh (San Jose, California)

References

1. "Society for Science website". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
2. "Broadcom Foundation launches $6 million science contest". ocregister.com. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
3. "Bringing Individual Potential to a Team Opportunity". scientificamerican.com. 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
4. "Why This Broadband Pioneer Wants Engineers to Run the World". pcmag.com. 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
5. SSP Website FAQ
6. Broadcom Masters FAQ
7. Wood, Barbara (Oct 21, 2011). "Daniel Feeny, 15, of Woodside wins $25,000 science prize". The Almanac.
8. "Broadcom MASTERS 2011". Student Science. Society for Science and the Public. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
9. "South Pasadena student wins national science fair". sgvtribune.com. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
10. "Broadcom MASTERS 2012". Student Science. Society for Science and the Public. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
11. Lim, Andrew (October 3, 2013). "Freshman wins $25,000 in Broadcom MASTERS". The Roar. West Shore Junior – Senior High School.
12. "Broadcom MASTERS 2013". Student Science. Society for Science and the Public. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
13. Recent Results, SSP website