Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge


Broadcom MASTERS, a program of Society for Science, is a national science competition for U.S. middle school students. The Broadcom Foundation launched the competition in 2010 and pledged $6 million over the next 6 years. 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. 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. 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.

Awards (as of 2019)

Broadcom MASTERS grand prizes include:
  • 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 : to the top two students in each area of STEM
  • * 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]. These awards are given out to the top 6th and 7th graders 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.

Winners

2011

  • 1st Place: Daniel Feeny
  • 2nd Place: Benjamin Hylak
  • 3rd Place: '''I-Chun Lin'''

2012

  • Samueli Foundation Prize: Raymond Gilmartin
  • Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: '''Jessika Baral'''

2013

  • Samueli Foundation Prize: River Grace
  • Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: '''Eitan Acks'''

2014

  • Samueli Foundation Prize: Holly Jackson
  • Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: Sahar Khashayar
  • STEM Awards
  • * Science: James Roney and Daniel Bruce
  • * Technology: Aditya Jain and Nikhil Behari
  • * Engineering: Chythanya Murali and Annika Urban
  • * Math: Rajiv Movva and Jonathan Okasinski
  • * Rising Stars Award: Annie Ostojic and '''Raghav Ganesh'''