Science Fair Season: Twelve Kids, a Robot Named Scorch... and What It Takes to Win - Hardcover

"Dutton goes behind the scenes with twelve extraordinary kids. We are talking fourteen-year-olds who build nuclear reactors in their basements and train cockroaches to sniff for drugs. Two-year-olds who ask Santa for an extension cord. Their stories converge at the biggest science competition in the world, a sort of American Idol for geeks like me. An inspiring tale, deftly told."--Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Packing for Mars

"A genuine delight! It's exhilarating to see the spirit of history's great scientists in these students. Judy Dutton's tale is filled with drama and the adventure of scientific discovery. Glee with test tubes!"--Henry R. Schlesinger, author of The Battery: How Portable Power Sparked a Technological Revolution

"Despite the attention placed on athletics, our future will not be made by the boys and girls who play on America's lavish playing fields. Instead, everything we cherish depends on the sturdy young people who compete in the dusty halls of our science fairs. Within the book's pages are tales of true heroism, that of courageous students who are willing to struggle and persevere and finally succeed."--Homer Hickam, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller October Sky

"I'm a big fan of international science fairs and have longed for a book that sings their praises. This book delivers in spades. These kids prove that the creativity and drive that make this country great are alive and well. If you're tired of hearing how American kids have fallen behind in terms of science education and otherwise, read this book for a renewed sense of hope."--Leon Lederman, Nobel Laureate and author of The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is the Question?

"We must teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Superbowl that needs to be celebrated but the winner of the science fair."--President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address

Follows the participation of 12 exceptional teens in the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, revealing their groundbreaking achievements as part of an effort to win millions of dollars in prizes and scholarships as well as a visit to the White House. By the author of Secrets from the Sex Lab. 50,000 first printing.