At the 2007 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, a partnership of Discovery Communications and Society for Science & the Public, finalists work together to measure and cut piping needed in the competition.

In 2008, Society for Science & the Public launched an independent program offering its affilated fairs across the nation a national competition to 5th-8th grade science fair partcipants. Students begin involvement in the SSP Middle School Program by competing in their local, regional, and state SSP-affiliated science fairs in the spring of each year.

Society for Science & the Public has affiliate fairs across the nation – all of which are eligible to participate in the SSP Middle School Program if they have participants in the 5th through 8th grades. Fairs in an area where there is not a fair currently associated with Society for Science & the Public may affiliate their middle school fair to become involved. Please contact Society for Science & the Public for more information.

Nominees from affiliate fairs are encouraged to complete an entry from by a June 4, 2008 deadline to compete to become one of 300 semifinalists and ultimately 30 finalists who win an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in October 2008.

The SSP Middle School Program was first launched in 1999 in partnership with Discovery Communications, Inc. as the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) . The DCYSC was designed to award students in the 5th through 8th grades for their knowledge of science and their ability to communicate effectively about science.