Who are top all-star “hitters” in  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? Spinning off the concept of baseball trading cards, DuPont celebrated the 25th anniversary of its student essay writing contest by creating a series of STEM collectible trading cards. The bench now include 25 women scientists and engineers who have made an impact through STEM research and education.

Featured thus far:

• Stephen Hawking (above: physicist and cosmologist)
• Ellen Kullman (above: mechanical engineer and Dupont’s first woman President and CEO)
• Sosinna M. Haile (chemical engineer and California Institute of Technology professor)
• Ann Lopez (environmental scientist, first female biologist to teach college in California)
• Neil DeGrasse Tyson (astrophysicist)

Inspired?

Enter the 30th anniversary DuPont Challenge©, an essay writing contest for students in middle and high school that gives out $100,000 in awards, with top winners receiving an expenses-paid trip to Orlando, Florida, to visit Walt Disney World and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. (Elementary students write a science story instead of an essay). Sponsoring teachers also can win grants and expenses-paid trip with their student to Florida, as well as to attend next year’s National Science Teachers Association national conference.

All entries must be submitted by January 31, 2016. Click HERE for details, watch the 30th anniversary video highlighting the 2015 winners, or see the DuPont Challenge Facebook page.

Previous winning essays include such titles as “Can a Potato Chip Revolutionize Architecture and Save Lives?”

To get those creative juices flowing, teachers can  download the whole set of STEM All-Star trading cards for their classrooms.

Filed under: Competitions and Contests, For Teachers, Special Features

Tags: Competitions for Students, Contest, Disney World, Dupont Challenge, Essay Competition, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, NASA, STEM trading cards, women in STEM