EU Conference Scholarship Program

From humble beginnings over the past two years, the conference scholarship program for college and graduate students has produced exceptional results. Former conference scholarship recipients have included Cameron Mercer, Alireza Moayed and David Kuhness. Now the program is being expanded to reach middle school and high school students as well.

In recent years, education in the sciences has risen to an urgent priority. Each year, our colleges graduate fewer students with science majors, and all of the space sciences have suffered greatly diminished funding due to the collapse of public interest. Yet nothing occurring in the world today can compare to the power of the Electric Universe to re-animate scientific education and attract young people to new frontiers in the sciences.
~ David Talbott, The Thunderbolts Project 

Is it possible that a new generation of scientists could arise, one with a passion for discovery and fully supported by the explosion of new technologies and limitless potential for creative expression?

Follow Our Announcements of Scholarship Winners!

David Talbott, Alireza Moayed and Wal Thornhill

Up to 8 scholarships covering travel, room expense and all conference fees will be granted to the second annual Thunderbolts conference, Electric Universe 2013: The Tipping Point, January 3-6, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The scholarships will be awarded based on unique strengths of individual applicants, including responses to questions, educational initiatives, depth of interest, recommendations from counselors, teachers or professors and possible follow-up interviews.

Cameron Mercer
Photo by Michael Steinbacher

An IndieGoGo crowd-funding campaign was launched in mid-September featuring Cameron Mercer, a former scholarship recipient, making a pitch for scholarship monies.  Check out our IndieGoGo fundraising campaign at Electric Universe Scholarship Program.

For those considering $500 or more, tax deductible contributions are possible by private arrangement.  To do so, contact susan@thunderbolts.info.

If you are a student at any level from the seventh grade through college or postgraduate work and have aspirations to be a young scientist on the frontiers of discovery, you are invited to submit an application for a conference scholarship. Of course, there will be “judges,” but all bureaucratic protocols have been tossed out. Only the tests of factual accuracy, originality, insight and personal motivation will apply. This is a student’s best opportunity to draw on his own natural talent and imagination, to open doors within the growing Electric Universe community and beyond!

Submitting Your Application

Details

• Applications will be accepted beginning September 1, 2012.
• Deadline for submissions will be November 1, 2012. PLEASE NOTE: the deadline has been extended to November 15, 2012!
• All finalists will be announced by November 15, 2012.  PLEASE NOTE: scholarship announcements have been extended to November 30, 2012!
• Students 12 years of age or older are encouraged to apply.
• You choose the style and content of your submission. Feel free to tell your own story by using the suggestions below or your own ideas.
• Appropriate subject matter includes all topics and themes at www.thunderbolts.info and the Thunderbolts Project channel on YouTube.
• The highlight of the message should emphasize the driving force of the Electric Universe movement today: ideas and discoveries that will change our world.
• Award specifics will be negotiated with each finalist.

 Personal Information

• Send your full name, date of birth, grade level, current address (including country), email address and phone number.
• Send us a personal recommendation from a teacher or professor.

Suggestions

Write an essay, compile a video presentation or present your personal observations on camera.  Feel free to choose whatever mode of communication conveys your message best.

• Tell us about yourself, your special interests or notable accomplishments.
• How did you discover the Electric Universe?
• Describe the Electric Universe evidence that you’ve found most convincing.
• Tell us about your favorite scientist, scholar or published author.
• Do you dream of a career in the sciences? If so, what has been your inspiration?
• Describe your science fair project.
• Interview a scientist or a teacher and offer your own reflections.
• Write a science-based story for your school newspaper or other publication.
• Submit an experiment and explain what you are trying to prove.

Agreements

• All applicant submissions will be held in the strictest confidence except where written permission of the applicant or legal guardian is given for promotional or other uses of submitted content.
• Accuracy in all information provided is expected, and false information will be grounds for disqualification.
• All adolescents under the age of 18 will be accompanied to the conference by a parent or designee, who will take sole responsibility for the minor.

Submission

Send applications to scholarship@thunderbolts.info.  If your submission requires URLs to videos, articles, or images, these URLs can be included in the email submission. The same email should include all attachments. Any second submission will automatically replace the prior submission.

Questions

Send any questions regarding this scholarship program to coordinator Susan Schirott: susan@thunderbolts.info.