Science Fair Season

February 14, 2011
Dutton (Secrets from the Sex Lab) reveals the minds and hearts of the students driven to excel in high school science fairs. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the "Super Bowl of science fairs," where students present experiments in high-stakes research like nuclear fusion and genetic engineering. Participants have the chance to win money, college scholarships, and the attention of scientific heavyweights, from elite universities to NASA and the National Institutes of Health. Dutton introduces us to 12 brilliant students and explores their drive to excel. Garrett Yazzie invented a solar-powered heater to keep his family warm. Katlin Hornig thought that interacting with horses could help stressed-out cops like her father. Ryan Patterson's single-minded tinkering with robots led to a groundbreaking glove that could read and translate sign language. Dutton alternates stories of science fair legends with those of six finalists brought together at the 2009 ISEF, revealing their vision, determination, and courage—as well as the important role of supportive mentors. This saga is sure to entertain and enlighten parents, teachers, and anyone who longs to peer into the creative forces that drive the world's youngest scientists. (Apr.)
Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's

February 15, 2011

A heart-gladdening tale of 11 students contesting for top honors in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

The Intel ISEF showcases the work of 1,500 high schoolers across the globe vying for $4 million in prizes and scholarships. It is the first-stop recruiting venue for universities, research and development labs and medical programs. The quality of work is astounding; said one judge: "The level of sophistication in these projects is in many cases beyond the level of graduate school and doctoral research." Though Dutton (How We Do It: How the Science of Sex Can Make You a Better Lover, 2009) occasionally lapses into a schmaltzy mode—"The lesson I would learn from her was that the ultimate reward for doing science fairs isn't fame, or money, or college scholarships...It's about connecting with the people you care most about"—there is no denying her genuine admiration and affection for the contestants. The characters include Garrett, whose project brought heat and hot water to his hardscrabble family; BB, who brought her bout with leprosy to the fore; and Eliza, the anti-nerd, a rich, beautiful model who investigated the collapse of honeybee colonies and contended with her looks as a deterrent. Dutton describes the projects with an easeful clarity, illuminating the world of "the most hardworking, humbling, and heartbreaking group of young men and women."

It's been a while since science nerds were true outcasts, but this group shines in the best of oddball company.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 1, 2011
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) has a top prize of $50,000, with a total of $4 million in prizes available to high-school students for their achievements in fields from physics to behavioral science. A baking soda volcano isnt going to cut it. Not even drug-sniffing cockroaches make rank. Dutton profiles six promising studentsincluding a horse trainer, a leper, and possibly the youngest nuclear physicists in the countryon the road to ISEF 2009 and discusses (to some extent, demystifying) the work of five hall-of-fame competitors in previous years. With warmth, wit, and a sense of awe, Dutton conveys the students dedication and curiosity, dissects their motivations, sifts through their pasts, and breaks down the science behind their innovations into plain, palatable English. As these kids strive for scholarships, take meetings with Homeland Security, and earn the ire of large corporations, its easy to forget that theyre teenagers. Science Fair Season humanizes them while inspiring and firing the imagination of readers along for the ride.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)