The DuPont Challenge Winners Take Part in the First White House Science Fair in 2010

Young scientists from around the country gathered at the Washington DC on October 18, 2010, in the first-ever White House Science Fair. Winners from 36 competitions in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, including six competitions sponsored by DuPont, were recognized and given the opportunity to exhibit their projects. This select group included The 2010 DuPont Challenge first-place winners: Alex Sincere (Senior Division) and Alexander Xu (Junior Division).

President Barack Obama—who called for the event because he felt young scientists deserved as much recognition as sports champions—viewed the exhibits and remarked that is was “hard to describe just how impressive these young people are.”

“It’s in these pursuits that talents are discovered and passions are lit, and the future scientists, engineers, inventors, entrepreneurs are born,” Obama said in his address. “That’s what’s going to help ensure that we succeed in the next century, that we’re leading the world in developing the technologies, businesses, and industries of the future.”

See a full video of President Obama’s address, as well as highlights from CNN.

The audience in the East Room included several Nobel laureates, newly sworn-in National Science Foundation Director Subra Suresh, and science television personality Bill Nye the Science Guy. Also in attendance were Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, hosts of the Discovery Channel series MythBusters, for which President Obama announced he had taped a segment for a future episode.

Looking ahead to the future, President Obama set a goal for America: “We will move from the middle to the top in math and science education over the next decade. We are on our way to meeting this goal … That’s why it’s so important that we promote math education and science education, on behalf of not just this generation but all the generations to follow.”

Read more about The DuPont Challenge Winners at past White House Science Fairs:
2014 White House Science Fair
2012 White House Science Fair
2010 White House Science Fair