WHAT: Could tomorrow's Albert Einstein or Alexander Graham Bell currently be a student in high school? What did the next generation of innovators come up with this year? Find out when the regional finalists of the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology -- America's premier science research competition -- head to the University of Texas at Austin November 13 & 14. At stake is a $3,000 prize for one individual, $6,000 for one team, and an invitation to the National Finals in New York City for a shot at the $100,000 Grand Prize!

WHO: Seventeen whiz kids unveil graduate level research projects to a distinguished panel of university judges. Past Siemens Competition winners and Alumni have tackled some of the world's hardest and most pressing problems through math and science. Their feats include: invention of anti-bacterial coatings for medical devices, research of cures for drug-resistant Tuberculosis, exploring zebrafish spines for an inside look at bone growth, reinventing string theory, and developing a device to generate energy from ocean waves. What research will the Nation's brightest teen minds unveil this year?

The 2009 Siemens Competition regional finalists are:
Individual Finalists:

• Sai S. Achi, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, TX
• Somak R. Das, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, TX
• Prianka Ghoshal, Westlake High School, Austin, TX
• Peter D. Hu, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, TX
• Sahil Khetpal, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, TX

Team Finalists:

• Favyen Bastani and Jonathan Z. Lin, Jasper High School, Plano, TX
• Sumit Gogia and Patrick J. Kim, The Science Academy of South Texas, Mercedes, TX and Vincent E. Yu, Sha Tin College, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
• Sean P. Karson, Trinity Preparatory High School, Winter Park, FL; Dan Liu, Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School, Austin TX; and Kevin Y. Chen, William P. Clements High School, Sugar Land, TX
• Sunil K. Pai, The Kinkaid School, Houston TX; and Aneesh Sampath, Ward Melville High School, East Setauket, NY
• Tianjiao J. Zhang and Liang Gu, Bellaire High School, Bellaire, TX

WHERE: On the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, San Jacinto Hall, 309 E. 21st Street, Austin TX
(Accredited media may park to unload equipment at loading zones on 21st Street. Parking is available in the Brazos Parking Garage at the corner of Brazos and Martin Luther King, Jr. Streets. Pull a parking card on entry and bring it with you to the event for validation.)

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 13 "“ Room 207C
10:00 am - 11:30 am: Students set up projects
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Public viewing of projects
Saturday, Nov. 14 - Room 207B
8:00 am - 1:00 pm: Students present to judges

MORE: Want to be the first to find out who will head to the National Finals in New York?
Log into and follow Siemens Foundation on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SFoundation) on Saturday, November 14, 2009 between 6:30 pm and 9:00 pm CST, when we announce the winners live!

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.

Winners of the regional events are invited to compete at the National Finals at New York University in New York City, December 3 - December 7, 2009. Visit www.siemens-foundation.org on December 7, 2009 at 9:30 am EST to view a live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation.

Interviews and Photo Ops available with students, judges and Siemens Foundation executives

Siemens Foundation

Siemens Foundation

More from Siemens Foundation