Deadline: March 1, 2013
Level: Boys and girls in grades 3-12

The 2013 EngineerGirl! Essay Contest from the National Academies & National Academy of Engineering focuses on the role of engineering in modern medicine. Contestants in three age categories compete for monetary prizes and recognition through writing essays on and researching the topic.

Grades 3-5/Ages 8-11: (No more than 500 words)
Describe an advance in the treatment or prevention of one of the diseases (Heart disease, Stroke, Influenza (and other lower respiratory infections), Emphysema (or COPD), Diarrhea) that was developed through engineering. Explain why it is important and how engineers were involved. No more than 500 words.

Grades 6-8/Ages 12-14: (No more than 750 words)
Describe an advance in the treatment or prevention of one of the diseases (above) that was developed through engineering. Explain why it is important and how engineers were involved. Identify specific engineering disciplines that have contributed to the technology and explain how the unique contribution of these different engineering disciplines is significant. No more than 750 words.

Grades 9-12/Ages 15-18: (No more than 1,500 words)
Describe an advance in the treatment or prevention of one of the diseases (above) that was developed through engineering. Explain why it is important and how engineers were involved. Identify specific engineering disciplines that have contributed to the technology and explain how the unique contribution of these different engineering disciplines is significant. Describe the design process that went into the development of this technology, and explain what engineers are doing currently to improve upon it. Describe how future treatment or prevention of the disease may be different based on these potential engineering improvements. No more than 1500 words.

Prior winners having received a cash prize from EngineerGirl! in any of the above grade categories may not enter again in the same age group.

How to Enter

Write an essay which addresses the requirements in the contest description. Essays should be written clearly. They may be shorter than, but should not exceed, the word limit. Submit the essay through the Online Submission Form on the EngineerGirl! website, and include all required information.

Entries must be received by 6:00 p.m. (EST) on March 1, 2013.

What are the Awards?

All winning entries will be published on the EngineerGirl! website. (Please review the publication agreement before you submit your essay.) In addition, all winners will receive the prizes listed below:

• First-place winners will be awarded $500.
• Second-place entries will be awarded $250.
• Third-place entries will be awarded $100.

Honorable Mention entries will not receive a cash reward but will be published on the EngineerGirl! website.

Additional Rules

• Essays will be judged on the basis of design content, research, expression, and originality. You may wish to preview the 2013 Contest Scorecord.
• All essays must be the original work of the author submitting the entry and must not have been published anywhere else.
• A contestant may enter only one essay.
• All entries will be read by a panel of judges, whose selections will be final.

For more information and to apply, click here.

Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs

Tags: Competition, Competitions for Students, Contest, Contests, Essay Competition, Essay Contest, Programs for Girls, Programs for Students