The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, providing an annual forum for more than 1,700 high school students from over 70 countries to showcase their independent research and compete for more than $5 million in awards.

Millions of students worldwide compete each year in local and school-sponsored science fairs; the winners of these events go on to participate in regional and state fairs from which the best win the opportunity to attend Intel ISEF.

Intel ISEF unites these top young scientific minds, showcasing their talents on an international stage, where doctoral level scientists review and judge their work.

Hawaii winners, Grand Awards:

• 3rd Place, Animal Science: Hot Biology: Use of Thermal Imaging to Detect Nesting Behaviors of the Endangered Hawaiian Coot — Sarah 'Alohilani Jenkins, 16, Molokai High School
• 3rd Place, Physics & Astronomy: Observational Detection of Solar g-mode Oscillations Using Doppler Velocity Signals — Christopher Kim, 16, and Thomas Sturm, 17, Maui High School
• 3rd Place, Plant Sciences: Examining Potential False Positives for Genetic Modification in Taro — Anuhea DeLude, 18, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
• 4th Place, Biochemistry: The Toxicity of Kavalactones and Flavokavain A and B from Different Plant Areas of Kava on HepG2 Liver Cells — Keanu Pinner, 16, Hilo High School
• 4th Place, Chemistry: Synthesizing a STAT3 Dimerization Inhibitor Molecule via Retrosynthetic Analysis — Maria Andrea Jurado, 18, Waipahu High School
• 4th Place, Physics & Astronomy: Rocks of the Rainbow: Asteroid Classification Using SDSS Filters — Stephanie Hiromi Spear, 16, Kaiser High School
• 4th Place, Physics & Astronomy: Experimental Investigation of Segregation Mechanisms in Horizontally Shaken Granular Media — Mikiko Takato, 17, Hilo High School ($500)

Hawaii winners, Special Awards:

• Sarah Jenkins, Molokai High School
  Drexel University (full 5-year scholarship valued at $250,000)
• Stephanie Spear, Kaiser High School
  Arizona State University (Partial Scholarship), National Aeronautics & Space Administration (2nd Award of $2,000), American Assoc of Physics Teachers & the American Physical Society (Honorable Mention), American Geosciences Institute (3rd Award of $250)
• Christopher Kim & Thomas Sturm, Maui High School
  Sigma Xi (1st Award of $2,000)
• Anuhea DeLude, Kamehameha Schools
  American Society for Horticultural Science (1st Award of $1,000)
• Julia Hirano, Waimea High School
  Arizona State University (Partial Scholarship)
• Kayla Ishida, Waimea High School
  NOAA Award (Alternate-Internship & $500 Award)
• Kyle Yoshida, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus
  American Society for Microbiology (5th Award $400)
• Brandon Kinard, Mililani High School
  Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (Honorable Mention)

Other events of the week included a keynote address and talks by Nobel laureates; symposia on everything from programming with Intel Galileo to making science fiction a reality through robotics technology; and a nothing-but-fun excursion to nearby Universal Studios Hollywood. The Hawaii kids also got to explore the sights of Hollywood Boulevard.

The 2015 Intel ISEF will be held in Pittsburgh May 10-15.