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Google Seeks Entrants for Global Science Fair

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 02/28/12

Google is seeking entries for the second annual Google Science Fair through April 1.

Open to students between the ages of 13 and 18, the international competition asks participants "to be curious, ask questions, and perform science experiments to answer those questions," according to information on the contest's Google+ page.

To enter, students must register at the competition's Web site, build a site for their project, and then submit their site for judging.

Ninety regional finalists will be selected in May, each of whom will receive a Google Chromebook. The judges will then select 15 finalists to be flown to Mountain View, CA to compete for a chance to become the finalist winner in one of three age categories. One of those three winners will be chosen as the grand-prize winner.

In addition to the Chromebook, the 15 finalists will receive a Google prize bag with an Android phone, a Lego Mindstorms set, two Lego Technic sets, and a 1-year subscription to Scientific American.

The grand-prize winner will receive a National Geographic expedition to the Galapagos Islands, a $50,000 scholarship from Google, a learning experience of their choice at Lego, Google, or CERN, a personalized Lego prize, and one year of digital access to Scientific American's archives for their school.

The runners up will receive a $25,000 scholarship from Google, one of the learning experiences not chosen by the winner, a personalized Lego prize, 30 Chromebooks, one charging cart, and a Cloud Print Printer for their classroom, and a 1-year subscription to Scientific American's digital archives for their school.

Another contestant will be awarded the science in action prize, sponsored by Scientific American. This winner will receive $50,000 "to assist the winner to further their research and possibly to develop the project," according to information released by Google. They will join the 15 finalists in Mountain View to present their project and receive their award.

Participants can enter as individuals or in teams of two or three. The three age groups are 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18.

To learn more, or to enter the competition, visit the Google Science Fair site. Additional information is also available at the competition's Google+ page.