AMERICA'S TOP YOUNG SCIENTISTS CROWNED AT 5th ANNUAL DISCOVERY CHANNEL YOUNG SCIENTIST CHALLENGE

Winners from AZ, CA, FL, GA, MD, MO, NM, NY, TX, UT and WY

SILVER SPRING, MD – October 22, 2003 – Thirteen-year-old Joseph Stunzi of Watkinsville, Georgia, today was named "America's Top Young Scientist of the Year" by the judges of The Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC). Stunzi, who attends St. Joseph School in Athens, GA, bested the nation's 39 other top middle school science students during the competition for the title and the top share of $100,000 in scholarships and prizes.

The crowning of the winner took place today at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. The ceremony feature taped remarks by Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and personal appearances by two-time Columbia mission specialist, NASA astronaut Catherine "Cady" Coleman, and Dr. Oz of Discovery Channel's program, Second Opinion.

Second place in the competition was awarded to 15-year-old Elizabeth Monier of Boerne, TX, and third place to14-year-old Elena Ovaitt of Weston, MO. Other prizes included:

• Bryan Yancey (Miami, FL) Lowell Observatory Star Gazer Award
• Justin Koh (Bakersfield, CA) Travel Channel Dream Science Trip Award
• Scott Presbrey (Ft. Myers, FL) National Park Service Explorer Award
• Patrick Saris (Newbury Park, CA) Department of Commerce Award for Youth Technology
• Discovery Channel Team Prize (David Edwards, (Tucson, AZ); Sarah Gerin, (West Palm Beach, FL); Luis Lafer-Sousa, (San Antonio, TX); Spencer Larson, (Springville, UT); Jacob Rucker, (Del Mar, CA)
• Erica David (Pinedale, WY) Discovery Health Channel Science Camp Award
• Jeffrey Luttrell (Tempe, AZ) Animal Planet Emergency Vets Award
• Rachel Clements (Albuquerque, NM) The Science Channel Space Camp Award
• Daniel Steck (San Antonio, TX) TLC Hot Rod Award
• Anthony Burnetti (Derwood, MD) Wings Channel EAA Aviation Camp Award
• Michael Klein (Atlantic Beach, NY) Discovery Consumer Products Telescope Award
• Jacob Rucker (Del Mar, CA) Discovery Kids TV Star Award

The winners were judged on the basis of scores from oral presentations of the projects they presented at Society for Science & the Public-affiliated fairs across the country, as well as their participation in a two-day series of rigorous Wright Brothers-themed team challenges, that took place at a Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport hangar in Washington, DC.

In celebration of 100 Years of Flight, the team-based experiments involved all aspects of aviation and aeronautics. Inside the hangar, the students tested jet fuel propulsion in rocket cars, explored wing design using wind tunnels and experimented with spy helicopters.

"The application of science, particularly aviation and aeronautics, has always inspired the dreams of children. Through the competition, we hope to continue to keep children engaged in science at a time in their life when studies show interest begins to decline," said Judith McHale, President and COO of Discovery Communications, Inc.

The Children

This year, 7,300 students were nominated to participate in the competition. The 40 finalists represented 16 states, including Arizona (3), California (8), Florida (5), Georgia (1), Indiana (1), Maryland (1), Missouri (3), New Mexico (2), New York (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (5), Utah (4), West Virginia (1) and Wyoming (1). Descriptions of the finalists' projects are available at www.discovery.com/dcysc.

"For these excited students, it came down to three days, six challenges and a lot of teamwork. Most importantly, these young scientists will return home as reinvigorated ambassadors of science to their peers, having accomplished a once-in-a-lifetime mission," said DCYSC Program Director Kyle O'Connor.

The DCYSC will be broadcast on The Discovery Channel December 21st at 10 a.m.

About the Competition

In 1999, Discovery created the DCYSC to be a part of the solution to America's chronic underachievement in science and math. The contest responds to evidence that academic performance and interest in science among American students declines dramatically as students get older – particularly during the middle school years.

The DCYSC identifies and honors America's top middle school student who demonstrates the best skills in leadership, teamwork and scientific problem solving. In addition, the ability to be an effective science communicator – a goal that reflects Discovery's philosophy that scientific knowledge is most valuable when it is communicated and shared – is a key component of the judging.

More than 6,000 children have entered the DCYSC since its inception. Winners have received more than $400,000 in scholarship awards, federal government recognition and participated in science-related trips that have taken them to the far corners of the globe.

The DCYSC is proud to have GMC and Leapfrog as distinguished sponsors.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 155 countries and territories with over 950 million cumulative subscribers. DCI's 33 networks of distinctive programming represent 14 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, Discovery Home & Leisure Channel, Discovery en Español, HD Theater and The Health Network. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery.com and 138 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L), Cox Communications, Inc. (NYSE: COX), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder, Chairman and CEO.

Society for Science & the Public administers the DCYSC. One of the most respected non-profit organizations advancing the cause of science, Society for Science & the Public has a sterling reputation for conducting high-quality competitions on the national and international level, including the Intel Science Talent Search and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Society for Science & the Public in a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of science among people of all ages through publications and educational programs.

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For downloadable photos of the winners, all of the finalists, and more information about them, their original projects and the DCYSC, visit www.discovery.com/dcysc