the-BA : ISEF results 2007

For Immediate Release

Holly Batchelor, 17, from Edinburgh has won an impressive three prizes at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Holly was the 2007 BA CREST Award winner, giving her the chance to represent the UK at ISEF against 1,500 of the brightest and most talented youngsters around the world. All students there were winners from a national science fair, in Holly’s case this was the BA CREST Science Fair organised by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) in February.

At ISEF, Holly won the First Award in the Physics and Astronomy Category (this included $3000 prize money and having an asteroid named after her), an Agilent Technologies paid Summer Internship, and a Certificate of Honourable Merit from the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Physical Society.

Commenting on her achievement, Holly said: 'I thought that so many of the other finalists’ projects were absolutely amazing, so when listening to the ascending role-call of winners, I couldn’t believe my ears when they called out my name. Even though the noise in the auditorium was deafening, I could still hear the screams of my chaperones from the BA. More than the prize money, I love the idea of having my name in space forever - it’s a huge privilege – I don’t think it’s sunk in yet!'

Holly had to present her project, which investigated cosmic rays – high energy particles that travel close to the speed of light, to no fewer than 12 judges for a gruelling duration of 15 minutes per judge. She was commended for her enthusiasm of her subject, her fantastic communication skills and the wide applications of her project.

Sharmila Banerjee, Young People's Programme Manager at the BA, which runs the BA CREST Awards said: 'We are very proud of Holly and delighted that her CREST project has allowed her to be part of such an exciting international event. Her success highlights the talent and creativity of our young scientists and engineers.'

The BA would like to thank Intel for sponsoring the trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair, and AstraZeneca and Research Councils UK for their sponsorship of CREST.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net

Note for editors

1. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) exists to advance the understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. This means helping create a social climate in which science, and the organisations dependent on it, advances with the involvement and active support of non-scientists. We aim to promote openness about science in society and to affirm science as a prime cultural force by engaging and inspiring adults and young people directly with science and technology, and their implications. For more information about the BA, please visit http://www.the-ba.net.

2. The BA CREST Science Fair showcases some of the best science and technology projects from students aged 11-19 across the UK. Budding scientists present their projects to a panel of judges including research scientists, and have the opportunity to win trips to prestigious international science fairs across the globe and receive cash prizes for the school’s science department.

3. BA CREST is a nationally recognized accreditation scheme for project work in the fields of science and technology. Aimed at students aged 11-19, BA CREST awards encourage students of all abilities to develop their scientific curiosity, problem-solving and communication skills by enabling them to explore real scientific, engineering and technological problems. BA CREST awards motivate students, build confidence and encourage them to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology. For more information, visit http://www.the-ba.net/crest.

4. Holly Batchelor’s winning project can be seen on YouTube here.

5. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college celebration of science. Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF brings together nearly 1,500 students from more than 40 nations to compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: a $50,000 college scholarship. For more information, visit http://www.sciserv.org/isef.

6. The goal of Intel Education is to prepare young people for Twenty-First Century success. Intel Teach Programme is a worldwide effort to help both experienced teachers and pre-service teachers integrate technology, create assessment tools, and align lessons with educational learning goals and standards into classroom teaching in order to develop students' higher-order thinking skills and enhance learning.

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