Surya Narayanaraju Bhupatiraju, 17, of Lexington, MA, was one of the 40 finalists in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search. His project in mathematics explored the computational complexity of the marginal satisfiability problem (MSP). An example of the MSP would be to determine whether, given summaries of data, it is possible to prove that the summaries correspond to actual data. Surya explored the MSP, identified several variations of the problem, and invented efficient algorithms for them. In particular, he developed an algorithm that permitted negative values, such as might occur with profits and losses, and a randomized algorithm that could be used to find approximately correct solutions to MSP problems. Surya's results may improve data compression techniques and summary tools used in data security. Surya attends Lexington High School, where he competes as part of the math and science bowl teams, as well as the Ultimate Frisbee team. He is also a member of the school's computer science league and volunteers as a tutor. The son of Venkata and Indira Bhupatiraju, he is fluent in his native language, Telugu, and has co-authored two published papers. His hobbies include running and breakdancing.

Innovation, from improving robot navigation to advancing treatment for breast cancer, was the focus at this year’s Intel Science Talent Search Competition. Honoring high school seniors with exceptional promise in math and science, Intel Corporation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) recognized the winners of what is considered the nation’s most elite and demanding high school research competition. the Intel Science Talent Search.

“The Intel Science Talent Search is an opportunity to reshape the dialogue around our nation’s youth,” said Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the Intel Foundation. “We believe it’s crucial to U.S. innovation to bring greater attention to math and science achievement, encourage more youth to embrace these fields, and demonstrate the impact these subjects have on our country’s future success.”

This year's finalists hailed from 20 states and represented 40 schools. Of the 1,712 high school seniors who entered the Intel Science Talent Search 2013, 300 were announced as semifinalists in January. Of those, 40 were chosen as finalist s and invited to Washington, D.C. to compete for the top 10 awards. These finalists join the ranks of other notable Science Talent Search alumni who, over the past 72 years, have gone on to win seven Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, five National Medals of Science, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and even an Academy Award for Best Actress. Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, has owned and administered the Science Talent Search since its inception in 1942.

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