NEW YORK, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT:

The National Finals of the prestigious Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology comes to New York University the first weekend in December, where America's brightest high school minds will battle for the most coveted science prize in the country.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )

WHO:

America's science superstars present sophisticated research projects as they compete for the top prize of $100,000. Past winners have done the extraordinary: Invented anti-bacterial coatings for medical devices, solved age-old math phenomena, researched cures for drug-resistant Tuberculosis, reinvented string theory, explored zebrafish spines for an inside look at bone growth and developed a device to generate energy from ocean waves.

This year's 20 National Finalists hail from California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. These remarkable students have:

• Explored the potential to develop a urine test for the early detection of colorectal cancer, identifying a probable new approach to spot the disease
• Developed a novel and biologically compatible material for protein drug delivery
• Examined a specific protein's potential for improving therapeutic methods for treating diabetes
• Investigated the molecular basis of a prominent mechanism of chemotherapy drug resistance
• Looked at a novel method to maximize efficient platinum catalyst loading and enhance the performance of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMPETITION INCLUDE:

WHEN:

Friday 12/4: Students arrive in New York

Saturday 12/5 8:30am - 1:30pm: Student exhibition set up (Rosenthal Pavilion)

5:00pm - 6:30pm: Public viewing of student exhibition (Rosenthal Pavilion)

Sunday 12/6 8:00am - 3:30pm: Students present to the judges (E&L Auditorium)

Monday 12/7 9:30am - 11:30am: PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE WINNERS (E&L Auditorium)

WHERE:

Kimmel Center at New York University, 60 Washington Square South, New York City

MORE:

The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology is a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, which provides more than $7 million in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. The Siemens Competition is administered by the College Board. More information can be found at www.siemens-foundation.org. Visit www.siemens-foundation.org on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. EST to view the students' presentations and on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. EST to view a live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation.

SOURCE Siemens Foundation