Check out what Amy Chyao, who is a guest of the President and First Lady at tonight’s State of the Union address, has to say about her breakthrough cancer research, which landed her the $75,000 top prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2010, a program of Society for Science & the Public.

At age 16 she has furthered a treatment for cancer. For that scientific achievement, she won the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair Gordon Moore Award, its top prize of $75,000. And now, Texas resident Amy Chyao is joining First Lady Michelle Obama in her box for President Obama’s State of the Union address. If she can fit it in, we hope she will blog here about her experience. Last year Li Boynton and Gabriela Farfan, of the 2009 Intel International Science & Engineering Fair and the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search, respectively, blogged about their experience. Not only did they sit in the First Lady’s box, but they also met the President and had photos taken with the couple following the event. Check back later in the week for a blog about Amy’s experience at tonight’s State of the Union.

Over the past few weeks Amy Chua’s Wall Street Journal article titled “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” has been a hot topic of media debate. The article highlights the debate over cultural differences, parenting and education, and poses the question of what does it take to have the most successful children possible?

Notable outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle and Huffington Post have posted op-ed pieces in response to this article. Yoav Gonen of New York Post had an interesting article, which referenced results from last week’s Intel Science Talent Search 2011, a program of Society for Science & the Public, semifinalist competition. Gonen pointed out that in New York, the number of Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists had decreased by 75 percent since 1998, and that this decrease can be directly linked to the recent local education budget cuts and teacher lay-offs. Michael Goodwin of New York Post took his commentary piece a step further, as he also referenced the Intel Science Talent Search statistics and suggested that New York City’s new school chancellor, Cathie Black “channel her inner Tiger Mom.”

Who do you believe should be held accountable to play the role of the “Tiger Mom?” Should parents institute stricter parenting practices because of the lack of education funding? Let us know your thoughts on our Speak Up page, and stay tuned for exicting Intel Science Talent Search news next Wednesday, January 26!

The following blog was written by Rula Habash, Intel Corporate Affairs Manager, and originally appeared on the CSR@Intel Blog: http://blogs.intel.com/csr/2011/01/celebrating_the_brightest_pre-.php

On December 9, 2010 in Alexandria, Egypt, under the patronage of the Arab League, Intel Corporation and Science Age Society announced the top winners of the first Intel Science Competition - Arab World. The top three Grand Award winners - all females - included Fatimah Abdulhakim from Saudi Arabia who received $3000 for her project “Super Swabs”, Sarah Al-Shaarawy and Yousr Al Shaarawy from Egypt who received $2,500 for their project “Green Power Plants”, and Woroud Al-Rimawi from Palestine who received $2,000 for her project “Safe Electrical Socket”.

At the first ever science competition in the Arab World, 102 young scientists from 10 Arab countries presented 68 projects spanning from biochemistry and microbiology, to computer science, to electrical and mechanical engineering to energy and transport. In addition to the Grand Awards winners, 16 additional projects received ‘Best of Category’ awards, 10 received ‘Best of Country’ awards and 3 others received scholarships from Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime and Transportation.

The event was attended by Shelly Esque, Intel Vice President for Legal and Corporate Affairs, Director of Corporate Affairs Group and President of the Intel Foundation, Dr. Khaled Al-Habbas, Advisor to the Secretary-General of the Arab League who attended on behalf of the His Excellency Amr Moussa, Arab League Secretary-General, Dr. Essam Sharaf, Science Age Society CEO, Dr. Hoda El-Mikati, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director of the Planetarium Science Center, Arab and African ambassadors, Ministers of education and higher education, university presidents, as well as regional academics and scientists.

During the award ceremony, Shelly Esque noted, “The Intel Science Competition is the first of its kind in the Arab world. These finalists represent the best and the brightest young scientists, innovators and leaders from the Arab World.” She added, “Judging by the caliber of the projects presented this week, I am confident that these young innovators will make our world a better place.

Several speeches were made by the Arab League, Governor of Alexandria and Egypt Ministry of Education, who all commended Intel’s initiatives to promote 21st century skills, R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship skills for the youth in the region. Dr. Essam Sharaf, Chairman of the Science Age Society and former transport minister of Egypt, said, “Our strategic partnership with Intel to organize a competition for the first time in the Arab world out of our belief that focusing on students’ creative skills has become a basic need.” Dr. Hoda El-Mikaty, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Center said, “Today is a day to remember, where we witness the birth of our future Arabic speaking science society. Our gift to these talented youth is giving them the opportunity to excel in science and technology, where we expect them to exert all efforts to enrich the advancement of science and technology on all levels: national, regional and international.”

Today, 300 American high school seniors became semifinalists in the nation’s most prestigious pre-college science competition. What an honor!

Each year, the Intel Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science & the Public, brings together the most innovative young American thinkers to compete for $1.25 million in awards. This year’s brilliant minds were selected from the largest applicant pool since 1996 and truly represent America’s best and brightest future innovators. These students are on the path to curing cancer, developing the latest clean energy technologies, preventing the extinction of animal and plant species and having a profound impact on our world in countless other ways.

On January 26, 40 of these 300 semifinalists will be selected as finalists and will travel to Washington, D.C. in March for the competition with the winners announced March 15. Stay tuned, right here, on Inspire and through our Facebook and Twitter accounts so you can be the first to hear about and congratulate this year’s Intel Science Talent Search finalists and winners.