ConEdison's Covanta Teacher Challenge State of Virginia
Calling All Scientists:
Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge Announces Call For Entries
3M Joins Discovery Education to Host Premier National Science Competition for all
Middle School Students Nationwide
Silver Spring, MD (March 18, 2008) - Discovery Education and 3M have joined forces to present the 2008 Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge, which is officially open for submissions through June 15. 3M joins the Young Scientist Challenge, the nation's premier science competition for middle school students, as it heads into its 10th year of nurturing the next generation of American scientists. The Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge reaches out to students during the critical years when research indicates that their interest in science begins to fade, encouraging them to explore everyday scientific concepts and creatively share their findings with peers.
In 1999, Discovery Communications launched the Young Scientist Challenge in response to evidence that academic performance and interest among American students declines dramatically beginning in middle school. The Young Scientist Challenge is open to all 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders nationwide.
A student's innovative use of everyday technology to communicate scientific knowledge is a key component of the 2008 Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge. Since its inception, the competition's philosophy has been that scientific knowledge is most valuable and effective when shared. As part of their entry, this year's Young Scientist Challenge competitors will shoot short videos demonstrating their understanding of a scientific concept, modeling the same techniques creative educators across the country use when they employ digital media to convey critical or complex concepts to students.
Submission Process
In order to enter, students must be in grades 5 through 8, residing in the United States, and must submit a video entry online at www.discoveryeducation.com/youngscientist. The competition is open for entries between now and June 15, 2008. Students will be challenged to create a one- to two-minute video about a specific scientific concept, which they will select from a list of concepts provided by the Young Scientist Challenge judges. All concepts will relate to the 2008 Young Scientist Challenge theme, "The Science of Space." Each entry must demonstrate the student's understanding of the scientific concept explained and his or her comfort level discussing science in general.
For more information, please contact:
--Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education, 240-662-2893, stephen_wakefield@discovery.com
--Glenn Carter, 3M , 651-737-0687, gacarter1@mmm.com