On Wed., December 9, 2009, at 7 p.m., “Whiz Kids,” a documentary that follows battling 16-year-olds in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, shows at the National Academy of Sciences Auditorium (2100 C St., N.W., Washington, D.C.). The event is free, but reservations and photo ID are required.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Education News, K-12 Outreach Programs | Comments Off on Event: Whiz Kids Film, Dec. 9, Wash., DC

Tags: Competitions for Students, Events

The National Society of Black Engineers Pre-College Initiative (PCI) Program is designed to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and to encourage students in grades K–12 to attend college and pursue technical degrees. Student members have access to scholarships, a national conference, Bridge magazine, and other benefits. The website also provides downloadable curriculum units.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs, Web Resources | 1 Comment »

Tags: African-American Students, Competitions for Students, Curriculum, Pre-College Engineering Society, Scholarships and Fellowships, Student Conference

Disney’s Planet Challenge project-based environmental competition for 4th – 6th grade classrooms invites students to identify a local environmental issue and devise a solution that they manage and document from start to finish. Classrooms develop a portfolio to be evaluated on environmental-relevance, student learning, changes in practices and attitudes, community involvement, lasting benefits to students, school and/or community and originality. A array of national, state, and regional prizes are offered. Application deadline: Dec. 18, 2009

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Tags: Competitions for Students, Environmental Engineering, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5

The essay contest “Biomedical Breathroughs and My Life” for 7th and 8th grade students in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho, invites essays on how biomedcial research has impacted, or has the potential to impact, someone students know personally. Entry deadline: Dec. 9, 2009.

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Tags: Biomedical, Competitions for Students, Essay Contest, Grades 6-8

Science teacher Paul McElligott and his students regularly compete for scholarship money and prizes. Here are some examples.

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Filed under: Special Features | Comments Off on Contests entered by Paul McElligott’s students

Tags: Chemistry, Competitions for Students, Grades 9-12, Physics, Robotics, Science

The Society for Design Administration (SDA) has come up with an engineering competition that helps feed the hungry. In Canstruction®, builders create giant structures made of cans filled with food. After their works are exhibited, the cans are sent to food banks, soup kitchens and other charitable places. The competition has already distributed over 10 million pounds of food.

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Tags: Competitions for Students

ToyChallenge is a national toy design competition for 5th-8th graders. Register for the 2010 contest by Nov. 20, 2009. The website provides help with brainstorming ideas, engineering design, and fundraising, as well as photos, videos, and discussion of previous winning entries.

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Tags: Competitions for Students, Design

Move over, NASA. Remy Dou’s high school students are developing plants that can survive in space. They are learning to master aeroponics, an engineering process in which a nutrient-rich mist is sprayed on the roots. Requiring no soil and very little water, the plants can grow even inside the International Space Station, though Planet Earth is also an option.

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Tags: Biotechnology, Competitions for Students, Environmental Engineering, Research on Learning

*Update: You can now vote for your favorite of 3 finalist teams online: http://fuelourfuturenow.com/contest/

Hurry, voting ends May 31, 2010!

DASH+ is an innovative, hands-on contest which challenges teams to design, describe, and pitch the next generation of automotive dashboards that supports behavior change to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The winning team will make their mark in the automotive industry by inventing a new way to think about transportation and eco-driving behaviors by collaborating with fellow students and putting their STEM skills to the test.

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Tags: Competitions for Students, Transportation