Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Established by Congress in 1986 to foster and encourage excellence in science and mathematics, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation operates an educational scholarship program designed to provide opportunities for American undergraduate students with excellent academic records and outstanding potential. Goldwater Scholarships support study in the fields of mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences as preparation for careers in these areas. The Foundation will award up to 300 Goldwater Scholarships to students who will be college juniors or seniors during the 2006-2007 academic year. Awards are made on the basis of merit.

Each award covers eligible expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Goldwater Scholars are eligible for one or two years of support. Approximately 1,100 students were nominated in 2003.

Eligibility

Current full-time sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, engineering or the natural sciences are eligible. It is expected that Goldwater Scholars will pursue advanced degrees. Candidates who intend to study medicine are eligible if they plan a career in research rather than a career in private medical practice. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.7 or above and must be U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or U.S. nationals. In selecting the award recipients, the candidate's field of study and career objectives will be considered, as will the extent to which the candidate has demonstrated the commitment and potential to make a significant contribution to his or her field. Financial need is not a criterion for selection.

Nomination Process

UK may nominate up to four students to the Goldwater Scholarship competition. Individuals may not apply directly to the Foundation. Applicants for nomination submit application materials to Dr. David Bettez, Director of the Office of External Scholarships. A committee reviews applicants' materials and establishes who will be nominated to the Goldwater competition. The UK nomination deadline is October 24, 2005.

Application materials include a nominee information form, a 2-page essay discussing a significant issue or problem in the nominee's field, three letters of recommendation with nominee evaluation forms, college and high school transcripts, and proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

A profile of UK's 2003 Goldwater recipient Jack Challis can be found online at http://www.uky.edu/PR/News/Archives/2003/April2003/03-04_goldwater_scholar.htm; other recipients' research and career goals are listed on the Goldwater website.

For additional information about the scholarship and the application process, see http://www.act.org/goldwater/.

UK Nomination deadline: October 24, 2005.

Goldwater Application Deadline: February 1, 2006.

Awards announced: April 2006.

Examples of the educational plans of some former Goldwater Scholars are listed below (this list is not inclusive):

Undergraduate Major	Career Objectives	Undergraduate Major	Career Objectives
Aerospace Engineering	Advanced propulsion systems	Mathematics	Statistical population research
Aquatic/Natural Resources Management	Aquatic biology/environmental resources	Mathematics	Robotics
Astrophysics	Astronomy	Mathematics	Research in theoretical mathematics
Applied Science	Medical research	Mathematics/Chemistry	Research chemistry
Biochemistry/Microbiology	Clinical research in infectious diseases	Mathematics/Computer Science	Computer applications in pure mathematical research
Biology	Agricultural/environmental science	Mathematics/Physics	Research in theoretical physics
Biology	Genetic engineering	Mathematics/Physics	Experimental physics
Biology	Immunology	Mathematics/Physics	High energy physics
Biology	Molecular biology	Mechanical Engineering	Development of micro and nano technologies
Biology/Chemistry	Biomedical technology	Microbiology	Microbial genetics
Botany	Research in plant physiology	Molecular Genetics	Antiviral chemotherapy
Chemical Engineering	Research in chemical kinetics	Neurobiology	Field biology
Chemistry	Research in environmental chemistry	Nuclear Engineering	Research in nuclear engineering
Chemistry	Nutritional chemistry	Physics	Physical oceanography
Chemistry	Environmental chemistry	Physics	Alternate energy sources
Chemistry	Biotechnology/biochemistry	Physics	Nuclear physics
Computer Science	Artificial intelligence research	Physics	Theoretical physics
Electrical Engineering	Solid states research	Physics	Environmental physics
Engineering Physics	Research in mathematical physics	Physics/Astronomy	Astrophysics and nonlinear dynamics
Entomology	Research in ecology or entomology	Quantum Mechanics	Neurological research
Environmental Engineering	Research in hazardous waste treatment	Zoology	Zoologist/medical research
Environmental Science	Conservation ecology	Zoology	Organism physiology
Geology	Planetary geology
Geology/Biology	Paleontology
Mathematics	Applied math in operations research
Mathematics	Math analysis or topology
Mathematics	Research in pure mathematics