In what is essentially a fancy science fair sponsored by Intel, over 1,700 high school seniors enter projects each year in order to not only be crowned the country’s youngest mad scientists, but have a chance to win $100,000. This year, Sara Volz claimed that crown and a $100,000 four-year scholarship, thanks to her efficient algae-based biofuel lab — that she created under her bed.
The Science Talent Search has been running for 70 years, and Intel hopped on board as the sponsor back in 1998. Since the competition’s beginning, seven participants have won the Nobel Prize, and 11 have won MacArthur Foundation Genius grants. So, the competition has a bit of pedigree. Up to 30 finalists receive a monetary scholarship, with first place bringing home $100,000, second place bringing home $75,000, and third place raking in $50,000. This year, 17-year-old Colorado Springs student Sara Volz took explored if algae can become an economically viable form of biofuel. Like any good high school or college project, she developed the majority of the system in her room, under her loft bed.
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