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The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world’s largest student rocket contest and a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry’s strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), TARC was created in the fall of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight, but by popular demand became an annual program.

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The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world’s largest student rocket contest and a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry’s strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), TARC was created in the fall of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight, but by popular demand became an annual program.

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The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world's largest student rocket contest.

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Where do nature’s building blocks, called the elements, come from? They’re the hidden ingredients of everything in our world, from the carbon in our bodies to the metals in our smartphones. To unlock their secrets, NOVA's Hunting the Elements spins viewers through the world of weird, extreme chemistry: the strongest acids, the deadliest poisons, the universe’s most abundant elements, and the rarest of the rare—substances cooked up in atom smashers that flicker into existence for only fractions of a second.

The media resources below allow educators to explore the periodic table in detail with their students—from its basic structure and properties to the sometimes volatile behavior of specific elements.

For additional classroom resources, download the periodic table handout to use as a reference for your students, or as an activity where students can color code the element groups. You can also download a periodic table poster to use as a visual aid in your classroom.

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About ExploraVision

More than just a student science competition

Since its inception in 1992, more than 350,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision. It's a fun and engaging program that can inspire a lifelong love of science, technology and innovation for students and teachers alike.

What is ExploraVision?

The ExploraVision competition for K-12 students engages the next generation in real world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students envision and communicate new technology 20 years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology.

ExploraVision is a science competition that goes beyond the typical student science competition and into what it takes to bring ideas to reality. A teacher will sponsor and lead his/her students as they work in groups of 2 – 4 to simulate real research and development. A teacher will guide his or her students as they pick a current technology, research it, envision what it might look like in 20 years, and describe the development steps, pros & cons, and obstacles. Past winners have envisioned technologies ranging from a hand-held food allergen detector to a new device to help people who have lost limbs regain movement in real time. To download an ExploraVision brochure, please click here.

Who can participate?

ExploraVision is designed for K – 12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels. The competition is open to students enrolled in public, private or home school in the United States and Canada. See our full eligibility requirements here.

How do I get my students involved?

The most important step is educating them about the program. You can then either implement it as part of your curriculum or become a coach for the students who would like to participate. But if they don't know about it they'll never know if they want to register. See our Teacher Resources page for more information.

Why does Toshiba sponsor ExploraVision?

Toshiba was founded with a strong commitment to technological innovation, and this commitment goes hand in hand with the company's passion for science education. Through Toshiba's shared mission partnership with NSTA (National Science Teachers Association), the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition makes a vital contribution to the educational community. Participants are provided the opportunity to better understand the core disciplinary ideas in science, and engage in the scientific and engineering practices espoused in the Next Generation Science Standards, as they wrestle with solving real-world, authentic problems presented via the ExploraVision competition. ExploraVision is one of the world's largest K-12 science competitions and is a cornerstone of Toshiba's efforts to inspire youth in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

About NSTA

The National Science Teachers Association, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of 60,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education.

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From: Science Information for Teachers <sift@cpet.ufl.edu>
Date: September 13, 2016 at 7:35:37 AM EDT
Subject: UF CPET -SETS Program Information

Florida Educators,

Are you interested in a fun and exciting science experience for your students?  Take a look at CPET’s Special Explorations for Teachers and Students (SETS) program, with new offerings for Florida teachers!  Please visit www.cpet.ufl.edu/teachers/sets for more detailed information.

Please direct any questions to sets@cpet.ufl.edu

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ScienceThrillers.com, the only website dedicated to page-turning fiction with real science, is proud to compile the internet’s most comprehensive list of 2016-2017’s top science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) contests and competitions. Please share, tweet, re-post this list to parents, educators, potential sponsors and judges.

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ScienceThrillers.com, the only website dedicated to page-turning fiction with real science, is proud to compile the internet's most comprehensive list of 2016-2017's top science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) contests and competitions. Please share, tweet, re-post this list to parents, educators, potential sponsors and judges.

Encourage your kid to participate. Help your niece, nephew, grandchild, or the neighbor kid complete a science project. Volunteer to work at your local science fair; if you're a scientist, technician, or engineer, volunteer to be a judge or mentor a team at your neighborhood school. Make a donation or sponsor a special award. Get involved to support STEM education!

K-12 students in US

5-12 year-old and 13-19 year-old divisions

Top winners earn trip to Houston/Johnson Space Center; also MakerBot 3D printers

Entry deadline: January 25, 2017

2. ExploraVision: ExploraVision is a science competition that goes beyond the typical student science competition and into what it takes to bring ideas to reality. Students work in groups to simulate real research and development. A teacher will guide his or her students as they pick a current technology, research it, envision what it might look like in 20 years, and describe the development steps, pros & cons, and obstacles. Past winners have envisioned technologies ranging from a hand-held food allergen detector to a new device to help people who have lost limbs regain movement in real time.

K-12 students in US and Canada in public, private, or home school

2-4 students per team; four age categories

Entry deadline: February 6, 2017

Entry consists of an abstract, project description, bibliography, and 5 web pages

Sponsored by National Science Teachers Association and Toshiba

Prizes include travel and thousands of dollars in savings bonds

View summary brochure

3. US FIRST Robotics & Tech Programs: World-wide eligibility. Team competitions. You've probably seen winners of these competitions featured in the media.

FIRST Lego League Jr.: For kids ages 6-10. Team event. Event season is now until April 2017. This year's theme is "Creature Craze" (the animal kingdom). Kids use basic engineering concepts to build a model made of LEGO elements. They will also present information through a Show Me Poster.

FIRST Lego League: For kids grades 4-8. Team event. This pdf is a nice summary. Season starts in the fall. This year's theme: Animal Allies. Identify a problem when people and animals interact. Design a solution. Share with others.

FIRST Tech Challenge: For grades 7-12, teams of 10+ members. Big scholarship prizes at stake. Kickoff on September 10, 2016.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High-school student participants call it "the hardest fun you'll ever have." Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of 20 or more students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It's as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.

4. Science Olympiad: School-based team competitive science tournaments for K-12.

Elementary Science Olympiad (K-6) (Division A) Wide-ranging, hands-on content using kids' natural curiosity. Host an all-building Science Olympiad Fun Day. Can be used as a feeder program for middle school Science Olympiad. Some people even use the content for birthday parties!

Grades 6-9 (Division B): Up to 15 students allowed per team. Here are the events for 2017.

Grades 9-12 (Division C): Up to 15 students per team. Division C events 2017

5. National STEM Video Game Challenge: Grades 5-12; Solo or small team.

Goal is to motivate interest in STEM learning among America's youth by tapping into students' natural passion for playing and making video games. No programming experience required. Competitors may use a variety of game design platforms including Scratch, Gamestar Mechanic, and others

Categories for middle school (grades 5-8) and high school. Also prizes for educators. Homeschoolers are eligible.

To enter, you or your team of up to 4 people must design a "video game" (defined at the site) that incorporates STEM learning

Game can be fully programmed and playable (in one of the platforms suggested) or submitted as detailed written game design documents

Entry dates are different from most other competitions, which match the school year. For this one, last year they STARTED accepting entries in April, with a deadline in August.

Prizes: laptop computers + $2000

6. American Statistical Association poster and project competitions: Grades K-12

Poster competition for K-12; entry deadline April 1

Project competition for grades 7-12; entry deadline June 1

"A statistical project is the process of answering a research question using statistical techniques and presenting the work in a written report."

"A statistical poster is a display containing two or more related graphics that summarize a set of data, look at the data from different points of view, and answer specific questions about the data."

Cash prizes in the hundreds of dollars

7. Odyssey of the Mind: A wide-ranging intellectual team competition for grades K-12+ that includes solving problems in these categories, most of which involve STEM:

Each year, five new competitive problems are presented for the teams to solve. These long-term problems are solved over weeks and months. Some of the problems are more technical in nature, while others are artistic or performance based.

Worldwide

Find dates for coaches training in your state/country here. Most are in September.

Categories: Mechanical/Vehicle; Classics; Performance; Structure;Technical Performance

8. EngineerGirl Essay Contest: Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Individual contest; open to girls and boys

Write an essay describing a promising new technology (see website for details)

Deadline: February 1

Cash prizes

9. 3M/Discovery Young Scientist Challenge:

U.S. students in grades 5-8

Submit entry December-April

To enter, students need to submit a 1-2 minute video which describes a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact an everyday problem related to: [1] the way we move; [2] the way we keep ourselves healthy; or [3] the way we make a difference. {These topics may change for this year's Challenge.}

Ten finalists will be mentored by 3M scientists and win a trip to 3M headquarters in Minnesota

First place wins $25,000. All finalists win a Discovery Student Adventures trip

Finalists announced June-July

10. eCyberMission: is a web-based STEM competition free for students in grades 6 through 9 sponsored by the U.S. Army. Teams can compete for state, regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their community.

Registration deadline: December 7, 2016

Project submission deadline: February 22, 2017

3 or 4 student members in the same grade and state, with an adult team advisor. US citizens or permanent residents only.

Team chooses one category of "mission challenge", asks a question, and tests it using scientific method. Basically an online science fair with lots of structure.

1/5 of final score is based on project's potential benefit to the community

Virtual judges and other volunteers needed. Can you help?

11. Junior Solar Sprint: Grades 5-8

"free educational program for 5th through 8th grade students where students design, build and race solar powered cars using hands-on engineering skills and principles of science and math."

Timeline: late fall, webinars and local training for teachers and students; January-March: build cars; spring: competitions

12. Future City: Grades 6-8

A national, project-based learning experience where students imagine, design, and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a citywide sustainability issue.

Students (up to three) work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using SimCity™ software; research and write solutions to an engineering problem; build tabletop scale models; and present their ideas before judges at Regional Competitions in January. Regional winners represent their region at the National Finals in Washington, DC in February, travel expenses paid.

This year's topic (2016-17): Power of Public Space.

Educators can do the program without competing if they wish. Teams of 3 students + educator + engineer mentor. More students can participate but only three will present.

Register by October 31, 2016

School, chapter, state and national contests. National competition is a major event held in May; 12 students vie for title of Raytheon Mathlete Champion

Enroll your school online now to get your MathCounts handbook (early deadline: November 18, 2016; final deadline: December 16, 2016). Homeschools are eligible. Club program is free. Competition teams of 1-4 students: fee $25-$100.

Competitions begin in January

14. MathCounts Math Video Challenge: Grades 6-8, through schools or non-school groups. Free.

Students develop their math, communication, and technology skills in a collaborative video project. Must solve a math problem from this year's handbook and show a real-world application of the math concept used in the problem. Link to FAQ.

Teams of four

Video less than five minutes

Video entry deadline: February 13, 2017

Sponsored by National Science Teachers Association

"The goal of the Bright Schools program is to create a learning experience that will help students, parents and teachers better understand the link between light, sleep and student health and performance. Through the Bright Schools competition, students in grades 6-8 will select a topic related to light and sleep and select one of three exploration options (developing a prototype, creating an awareness campaign or writing a research proposal) to create an original project."

Submissions due February 6, 2017

Cash prizes up to $5,000 per student

Design, build and fly a model rocket that reaches a specific altitude and duration determined by a set of rules developed each year. (This year: carry two raw eggs to an altitude of 850 feet and return uncracked within 44-46 seconds)

The contest is designed to encourage students to study math and science and pursue careers in aerospace. The top 100 teams, based on local qualification flights, are invited to Washington, DC in May for the national finals. Prizes include $100,000 in cash and scholarships split between the top 10 finishers. Overall winning team will travel to United Kingdom to compete in International Rocketry Challenge at the Farnborough Air Show in July.

Enter your team before December 2, 2016

17. Verizon Innovative App Challenge: Grades 6-12, teams of 5-7 students

Registration opens in August

Submission deadline is November 18, 2016

The app challenge is a nationwide contest in which students are challenged to develop concepts for mobile apps that solve a problem in their community. It's a unique, hands-on activity that teaches collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and coding.

Prizes: up to $20,000 and chance to work with app development experts from MIT

Teams of 4-5 students

School-based. Regional competitions feed into national event (all expenses paid to Washington, DC in April)

"The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. These teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and math."

19. Technology Student Association TEAMS: Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) is an annual competition for Grades 7-12 students to discover engineering and how engineering can help make a difference in the world. Students work collaboratively to solve real-world engineering challenges, applying their math and science skills in practical, creative ways.

Teams of 4-8 students

Open to any group or organization (homeschoolers, Scouts, 4H, etc.)

Register online starting in September

One-day competition (sometime between Feb. 13-March 19, 2017) includes essay and multiple choice test and hands-on build. The 2017 TEAMS competition "Engineering the Environment" focus on topics such as geothermal heat pumps and wastewater treatment.

Events are held at schools and universities around the U.S.

National finals June 21-25, 2017 Orlando, FL. TEAMS take a multiple choice test to apply math and science to novel situations, then offer ideas for engineering solutions in response to five tasks.

20. World of 7 Billion video contest: Grades 6-12

Create a short video - up to 60 seconds - about human population growth that highlights one of the following global challenges: Climate Change, Ocean Health, or Rapid Urbanization. All videos must include a) how population growth impacts the issue and b) at least one idea for a sustainable solution.

Entry deadline February 23, 2017

Cash prizes in multiple divisions

21. Science without Borders Art Challenge: Ages 11-19. International.

Purpose: to get students and teachers more involved and interested in ocean conservation through various forms of art. This annual contest inspires students to be creative while using different types of media to promote public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world's oceans and aquatic resources

Submission deadline: April

Challenges girls all over the world to build a mobile app that will address a community problem

Depends on volunteers coaches/mentors; volunteers needed

Middle school (age 14 and under) and high school (age 18 and under) divisions

Top teams win $10,000 and trip to San Francisco

Registration begins in October

23. Engineering For You video contest: Happened in 2016, not sure if it is annual

Traditional science fairs like these require students to perform actual research / do experiments. Many other contests in this list are more "thought experiments."

Science fairs were a crucial formative experience for me. I'm competitive by nature but not interested in sports. I loved science and I was smart. Science fairs were a perfect match for me. Competing in three ISEFs truly changed my life. (Thank you, Minnesota State University SC/SW Regional Science Fair -so happy to see you're still honoring kids with a passion for science!)

Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to compete in affiliated regional fairs. ISEF itself is for high school students only.

Individuals or small teams perform a real scientific investigation (sometimes engineering, math, or computer programming) with well-designed experiments following the scientific method. This can be from the most basic level (such as, testing effect of water on seed germination) to the most advanced (ISEF national winners often have worked in university laboratories on cutting-edge science).

Check your regional fair's website for deadlines. Regulations for use of human subjects, chemicals, etc. are quite strict and most projects require pre-approval as early as December, but certainly before the student starts work.

ISEF is May 14-19, 2017 in Los Angeles. Volunteers needed. Local/regional fairs always need qualified judges. Find your local fair and volunteer.

Broadcom MASTERS competition is part of the ISEF enterprise, a kind of junior ISEF. Top winners in grades 6-8 at ISEF-affiliated regional science fairs are nominated to enter their work in Broadcom MASTERS. Entry is by nomination only. Semifinalists are announced in August/September from the previous school year.

"an online science competition seeking curious minds from the four corners of the globe. All you need is an idea. Geniuses are not always A-grade students. We welcome all mavericks, square-pegs and everybody who likes to ask questions." As best I can tell, Google Science Fair entries are traditional science fair projects (real experiments performed using the scientific method and following all safety/ethics rules of the sponsoring fair) that the student enters online in a virtual science fair. You are allowed to enter a project that you also entered in a "real" science fair. Ideal for kids who don't have access to an ISEF-affiliated regional fair.

Individual or team entries (up to three students per entry)

Entries begin in February; close in May

Awards in 3 age divisions. Big prizes: previous year's winners won tens of thousands of dollars, media coverage, a trip to Google, and even a visit to the White House, and a grand prize ten-day trip to the Galapagos Islands.

26. Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge: Team event (2-5 kids) for high school students, ages 13-18.

Season is September through April

Choose one of four categories: Aerospace & Aviation, Energy & Environment, Cyber Technology and Security, and Health & Nutrition

Challenges high school students to create innovative product or service that solves a real-world problem in their chosen industry. Open to students worldwide.

Initial entry is Investor Pitch and video, conducted online (deadline: early November). Entries chosen for semifinals work in prototype development and submit a Draft Development business Plan.

Teams compete for the opportunity to attend Innovation Summit and share an anticipated $500,000+ in awards including: seed funding grants, investment opportunities, patent support, business services, scholarships and other opportunities (as provided by our partners and sponsors) to grow their solution into a real business.

27. NCF-Envirothon: Grades 9-12. Teams of five.

Nationwide team competition for high school students in U.S. and Canada.

Teams organized in schools, homeschools, scout groups, etc.

In-class learning + hands-on outdoor activities to learn environmental science.

Key topics: soils/land use; aquatic ecology; forestry; wildlife. 2017 focus: Agricultural soil and water conservation

Students are tested at local competitions. National event is five-day competition held July 23-29, 2017. Hosted at a different location each year.

Registration will open in late fall.

New listing! National Ocean Sciences Bowl: Grades 9-12. Teams of 4 or more. The NOSB is an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education by introducing high school students to and engaging them in ocean science, preparing them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helping them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards.

Teams can be formed by schools, homeschools, or youth groups

Teams compete at regional "bowl" location for chance to attend national bowl event

Teams score points by answering questions in a live, head-to-head "buzzer" format, plus team challenge questions

Winning teams awarded trips to unique hands-on field and laboratory experience in the marine sciences.

28. Microsoft's Imagine Cup: Ages 16 and up. Global. For budding tech entrepreneurs, teams of up to four. Three technology competitions for high school & university students worldwide. Imagine Cup World Finals 2016 will be in Seattle in July. Huge cash prizes. Contests:

Code Hunt Challenge: 24-hour intense individual coding event. Next challenge begins April (probably). Play/practice any time at codehunt.com

Games: Best new game made by students. $50,000 prize.

Innovation: "Incredible, world-changing software innovations often come from students. Social networks, music services, digital photography apps, gadgets and robotics - the list goes on. We're looking for the next big thing and we know students like you are going to make it." Top team wins $50,000.

Competitions begin in September; final submissions deadline March 15

29. CubeSat Competition: Grades 9-12, US and abroad *2016 event over; uncertain if it will be repeated*

Sponsored by the Museum of Science Fiction

"CubeSats are small, grapefruit-size spacecraft that use commercially available space technologies and simple logistics for launch and operation. CubeSats usually have a volume of about one liter (a 10 cm cube) and a mass of no more than 1.33 kilogramsto offer the most compelling concept for a new CubeSat."

Competitors submit a CubeSat mission design proposal

Math competition to solve an open-ended, realistic, applied math-modeling problem focused on a real-world issue. Sample problems here.

High school juniors & seniors. Homeschoolers eligible.

Teams of 3-5 students have 14 hours over one Challenge Weekend to do the problem; prepare by working on problems from previous years. In 2016, challenge weekend was February 27-28.

Entirely internet-based

Scholarship prizes total $150,000

Registration begins in November, closes in February.

Registration opens May 2017; all materials due in September

Scholarship awards from $1,000-$100,000

Individual, or two or three team members

"The Competition is the nation's premier science research competition for high school students and seeks to promote excellence by encouraging students to undertake individual or team research projects. It fosters intensive research that improves students' understanding of the value of scientific study and informs their consideration of future careers in these disciplines."

Lots of regulations governing research; make sure you know the rules ahead of time.

Students entering this competition likely should also enter an Intel science fair

Along with Intel ISEF and Siemens, another option for big-time high school science projects/research

Specifically for biotechnology research

Categories: Global Healthcare (medical biotech); Global Sustainability (agricultural biotech); Global Environment (industrial/environmental biotech)

Students in US and Canada enter science projects that meet criteria in a local BioGENEius Challenge fair to be held in April

"The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is the world's most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project. Projects should be aimed at enhancing the quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resources management, or water and wastewater treatment. The competition is open to any high school student in grades 9-12, and are 15 years of age by August 1st of the competition year.

Deadline to enter state competition: April 15th

All state winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the SJWP National Competition. The national winner will receive $10,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden to participate in the SJWP International Competition.

Eligibility and rules here

"I-SWEEEP, The International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, and Environment) Project, is a groundbreaking science fair competition open to high school students. It is the largest science fair event of its kind world-wide. I-SWEEEP works with local, national, and international science fair organizations to bring top-ranking participants and qualifying projects to Houston each year."

"promotes engineering inventions and energy efficiency/management discoveries, that will nurture environmentally friendly technology concepts"

Affiliated with the Intel/ISEF science fair network, this is a specialty science fair and symposium that targets the best science projects on sustainability themes.

Most participants are nominated from their local/state science fair but you can apply directly here

35. MIT THINK competition: Grades 9-12

Students submit a proposal; finalists receive free trip to MIT, mentorship from MIT students, funding and support to complete their project, and superb networking opportunities

"THINK project proposals are science, technology, and engineering ideas that span many fields from green technologies and practical devices to software applications. As long as it can be completed in one semester with a $1,000 budget, almost anything is fair game! A good proposal has an insightful idea, clearly defined goals, and a well thought-out procedure for implementation."

Application deadline: January 1, 2017

36. The Tech Challenge: Grades 4-12. Teams. This is an awesome program with tons of support (workshops and clinics throughout the preparation process) but everything is at The Tech Museum of Innovation in Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA) so contest is effectively restricted to Bay Area teams.

The Tech Challenge is an annual team design challenge for students in grades 4-12 that introduces and reinforces the science and engineering design process with a hands-on project geared to solving a real-world problem.

Teams of 2-6 people compete in three divisions: Elementary (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-8), High (grades 9-12)

Teams put their solutions to the test in front of judges at the showcase on April 29-30, 2017 at the Tech Museum.

This year's challenge: Build a device to help explorers cross an ice field with multiple ravines

Registration begins in October 2017

37. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Invention Challenge: Southern CA middle & high schools

a friendly, yet challenging competition open to JPL employees and contractors, their family members, and students from local middle and high schools. Each year, a different engineering challenge is selected. The goal of the Invention Challenge is to show students that math, science, and engineering can be fun.

The theme for this year's contest is:"Don't Waste a Drop Contest" Create a device that can transport water in a plastic cup into the water vessel located 2 meters away in the fastest time without wasting a drop of water. The winner will be the team whose device accomplishes the task in the fastest time.

Monday, August 29 - Saturday, October 1, 2016

38. Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research poster contest: For K-12 students in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia only.

Students illustrate different aspects of biomedical research through art

Prizes $25 and feature page in a calendar. Entry deadline: April 2, 2017.

Do you know about another contest which should be on this list? Please leave a comment!

Teachers: Combine science learning with thriller fiction. Use the PETROPLAGUE Teacher Guide to easily incorporate Dr. Amy Rogers' page-turning eco-disaster novel Petroplague into your advanced biology or microbiology curriculum. For more information or to schedule a virtual visit from Dr. Rogers, email amy@AmyRogers.com

What if bacteria turned all the gasoline in Los Angeles into vinegar?
Carmageddon doesn't begin to describe it.
Petroplague does.
A microbiology-themed science thriller in the style of Michael Crichton
Want to know more about how to do a science project? Need project ideas? ScienceBuddies.org will walk you through everything.

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Top science / STEM contests for kids 2016-2017

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ScienceThrillers.com, the only website dedicated to page-turning fiction with real science, is proud to compile the internet's most comprehensive list of 2016-2017's top science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) contests and competitions. Please share, tweet, re-post this list to parents, educators, potential sponsors and judges. Encourage your kid to participate.

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Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAAProfessional Developmentfor Educators of Grades 6-12 Saturday, November 5, 2016 8:00 am - 4:00 pm 

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Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAAProfessional Developmentfor Educators of Grades 6-12 Saturday, November 5, 2016 8:00 am - 4:00 pm 

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In Partnership with University of South Florida, College of Marine Scienceand Hosted by the Calm Bayou Marine Education CenterSt. Petersburg, Florida All life on Earth relies on the ocean— yet, the ocean is 95 percent unexplored, unknown and unseen by human eyes…An essential component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) mission is to enhance ocean science literacy and enhance understanding why it is important to explore our little-known ocean world. To help fulfill this mission, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection was developed to encourage educators and their students to become engaged with expeditions and discoveries made by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer—America’s first Federal ship dedicated to ocean exploration. Educators are invited to join NOAA OER facilitators to learn Why We Explore (Volume 1) and How We Explore (Volume 2) the deep ocean. Participants will learn about the importance of ocean exploration and the advanced technological capabilities of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer used to explore the deep ocean. This 7-hour professional development will introduce standards-based, hands-on activities and online resources that guide classroom teaching and learning. Ocean health, sophisticated underwater mapping technologies, unique deep-sea ecosystems, remotely operated vehicles and telepresence are just a few of the topics covered. Registration is required and space is limited. Educators will receive the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection Volume 1: Why Do We Explore? and Volume 2: How Do We Explore?, additional resources and a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation. Continental breakfast, lunch and  a $75 stipend will be provided. If you have previously participated in a Why Do We Explore? or How Do We Explore? Professional Development, this offering will be redundant. Registration Deadline is October 14, 2016 To register, go to: http://www.marine.usf.edu/documents/usf-college-of-marine-science-noaa-workshop-registration.doc. E-mail the form to Angela Lodge at alodge@usf.edu or fax it to her attention at 727.552.2581.

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Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program at the Institute of International Education, We are excited to announce the launch of the 2017-2018 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DA) Program Online Application for K-12 teachers! This program seeks to improve mutual understanding among teachers, their schools and communities in the U.S. and abroad by providing teachers with international professional development opportunities for three to six months. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The U.S. Department of State and IIE are committed to recruiting qualified primary and secondary teachers. As part of our recruitment, we would appreciate your assistance in promoting the DA program to teachers. Listed below you will find an announcement that we hope you will share broadly within your networks. You may also wish to share our DA informational flier.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your support of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program! Best regards, The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program Team Website: www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org| Email: fulbrightdat@iie.org Twitter: @FulbrightTeach | Facebook: Fulbrightteachers Phone: 202-326-7778  Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program Announcing the launch of the 2017-2018 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DA) Program Online Application for K-12 teachers!
Are you a U.S.:  Primary and/or secondary classroom teacher?Guidance counselor?Curriculum specialist?Curriculum head? Talented and Gifted coordinator? Special Education coordinator?Media specialist/librarian? You may be eligible to participate in a unique international professional development opportunity for 3-6 months through the Fulbright Program! By conducting educational research abroad, U.S. teachers gain new skills, learn new instructional methods and assessment methodologies and share best practices with international colleagues and students. Teachers also have the opportunity to expand their understanding of other cultures and international education systems that will enrich their U.S. schools and local communities with global perspectives.  Teachers may travel to: Botswana, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Palestinian Territories, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam *Countries are still pending and may change. Please visit the program website for updates. CLICK HERE TO START YOUR APPLICATION TODAY! Application deadline: December 1, 2016 Eligibility Requirements: www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org  This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute of International Education.

National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington Virginia 22201
United States

Fulbright Offering

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Volusia County Farm Bureau mini-grants for science teachers.

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Volusia County Farm Bureau mini-grants for science teachers.

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I wanted to let your teachers know that Volusia County Farm Bureau is now accepting applications for agri-science mini-grants. Please pass the following information along to all fourth- through eighth-grade agri-science teachers.

Fourth- through eighth-grade Volusia County agriculture and science teachers can apply for up to $200 in grant funds from Volusia County Farm Bureau. Monies can be used for school gardens, hydroponic projects, aquaculture projects and anything else agriculture related.

Besides the application form, educators will need to submit learning objectives, provide a list of materials and costs and a brief lesson plan.

Applications are available in the Volusia County Farm Bureau office, 3090 E. New York Ave., DeLand or by calling 386-734-1612. Deadline is Sept. 22.

Thank you,

Kathleen Rasche

Managing Editor

Volusia County Farm Bureau newspaper

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PLANT CAMP 2016

Dear Educators,

WELCOME  BACK to the 2016-2017 school year!  We hope you had a great summer and are looking forward to an inspiring new academic year.

Following our exciting and productive PLANT CAMP 2016, our new team is fired up and ready to provide you with the information and resources needed to teach students about the harmful impacts some non-native, invasive plants have on our natural areas and neighborhoods.  We have developed core modules with related lessons with hands-on-activities to help you present this knowledge to your students so they might become responsible future environmental stewards.

Unfortunately, we are still experiencing problems with the Florida Invasive Plant Initiative website devoted to teachers and not all materials or resources from the website are available for download.  If you need materials or resources that you cannot find on the website, contact us at caip-education@ufl.edu and we will provide you with what you need.  We have some new lesson plans and resources as well which will hopefully be uploaded to the website soon.  We will keep you posted.

In the meantime, we invite you to watch a few short videos produced from PLANT CAMP 2016 footage.  These videos are now on our YouTube channel as part of a playlist called Teacher Resource Videos.  We are already making plans for PLANT CAMP 2017 which will be held June 12-16, 2017.  We will be sending out information on that around the end of this year.

If you have suggestions, comments, questions or need further information, please contact us at caip-education@ufl.edu.  Our website address is http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education/.

Thank you for all you do,

Dehlia, for the CAIP Outreach Team

The CAIP Outreach Team

Dehlia Albrecht, Education Initiative Coordinator

Lynda Dillon, Program Assistant

Italo Lenta, Project Assistant

caip-education@ufl.edu

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education

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Free books - for Volusia teachers @ Deltona Library - in the Friends of
the Library's Used Book Store Volusia County teachers can pick up a bag of free books from Aug. 13 to 20 at The Book Nest used-book store inside the Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona.  Teachers must show their school identification.

The Book Nest, run by the Friends of Deltona Library, has more than
4,000 books, magazines, CDs and DVDs in stock. It’s open from 1 to 5
p.m. Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:30a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  To donate gently used books or inquire about volunteering, call The Book Nest at 386-624-8767.

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Call for Presenters......   FAST Conference

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Call for Presenters......   FAST Conference

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The Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST) Conference will be held in October and they are accepting presentation proposals through June 1st.

If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please contact Amy Trujillo at amy.trujillo@orlandoscience.org

For additional details and attendance registration - visit the website at www.fastscience.org .

Science is FUNdamental,

Relevant, and Engaging!

Doubletree Orlando

October 20-22, 2016

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Engineering for You Video Contest 3 (E4U3)

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Engineering for You Video Contest 3 (E4U3)

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|  The competition is open to individuals or teams (up to 4 members) in four categories: middle school students, high school students, tertiary education students, and general public.

The National Academy of Engineering has  announced the 3rd annual Engineering for You Video Contest (E4U3) on Mega  Engineering! Most of humankind’s biggest endeavors are mega engineering  projects that provide solutions that span disciplines, geographies, and  cultural boundaries.  We are looking for 1 to 2 minute videos  that (i) introduce a particular mega-engineering project, (ii) highlight its  importance/contribution to people and society, and (iii) suggest  contributions to its development.   The Grand Prize of $25,000 will go  to the most inspiring 1-2 minute video. We hope that you will participate in  the contest and also encourage those in your communities to enter as well!  The E4U3 Video Contest is open for video  submissions from March 1, 2016 to May 31, 2016.   Visit www.e4uvideocontest.org  to learn more!  For any additional questions, please email E4Uvideocontest@nae.edu.

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UF Summer Teacher Workshop in Florida Ecosystems

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UF Summer Teacher Workshop in Florida Ecosystems

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This five-day, four-night workshop brings perspectives from the humanities into dialogue with current research in ecosystem science. Guided by the lead scholars and Master Teachers, educators will interact with prominent faculty at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College from history, forestry, English, archival preservation, religion, biology, archaeology, and classics.

For more information, cost and a link to apply see:

http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/teachers/florida-ecosystems-in-an-era-of-rapid-change/

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STEM spring series 2016:

March 21 - Large Scale Biomedical Image Analysis and Imaging Informatics Using Big Data - Lin Yang, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida

March 28 - Variation in Mutation Explains a lot, and it Accumulates Pretty Fast - Charles Baer, Department of Biology, University of Florida

April 4 - Brain-Machine Interfaces and Bioelectronic Medicines: Research at the Intersection of Engineering and Neuroscience - Jack W. Judy, director of the Nanoscience Institute for Medical and Engineering Technologies, University of Florida

April 11 - Physics Demonstrations - Weiping Yu, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, FL

April 18 - What's Right and What's Wrong with Micro-neural Interfaces? - Kevin J. Otto, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida

April 25 - In Situ Resource Utilization: How to Live and Thrive in Space - Paul E. Hintze, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, FL

May 2 - Lessons Learned from Space Shuttle Columbia's Disaster - Ron Caswell, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, FL

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FSU Research Experience for Teachers (RET) at the Magnet Lab.

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FSU Research Experience for Teachers (RET) at the Magnet Lab.

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Florida State University and the National High Magnetic Field lab will host their annual Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in June 2016. RET is a professional development program that pays elementary, middle and high school teachers to come to the Magnet Lab for six weeks and do research with a scientist.
Teachers work with resident scientists on projects related to high magnetic fields and engage in education related topics that can help translate program information to classroom materials. To view the program’s application and information, visit https://nationalmaglab.org/education/teachers/professional-development/research-experiences-for-teachers.  If you have any questions, contact Jose Sanchez at sanchez@magnet.fsu.edu or 850-645-0033.

Thanks,

Jose A Sanchez
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Assistant Director, Center for Integrating Research & Learning
1800 E Paul Dirac Dr
Tallahassee FL 32310
sanchez@magnet.fsu.edu Office: (850) 645-0033

Fax: (850) 644-5818

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Who:

·         Eligible teachers of specific middle school science courses, middle/high school teachers of Biology, middle/high school teachers of Algebra 1, and middle/high school teachers of Geometry.

What:

·         FCR-STEMLearn Program 2016

Where:

·         Please visit www.fcr-stemlearn.org for all program information and to access the application link.

When:

·         The application is available now on a first-come, first-served basis.

Why:

·         $1,000 stipend upon completion of ALL program requirements related to Summer Institutes, the post-tests, and selecting the lessons that the participant plans on using in their classroom.

·         Hotel accommodations will be provided for eligible participants. Please see the program webpage for more information.

·         Attend the 2016 FCR-STEM Conference. Both the conference registration (valued at $435) and lodging (if qualified based on the information provided in the program webpage) will be covered.

·         District in-service points; each district determines the number of points or credit earned for teacher participants.

·         Access unique curricular resources along with access to the FCR-STEM/MySTEMKits 3D printed kits and curriculum when applicable. Some of the schools of participating teachers will receive 3D printers and be among the first to have access to the MySTEMKits software.

·         Participants in some of the tracks will receive probeware/sensors kits that will be used for conducting experiments in the classroom.

·         Participants will receive training to different freely available software applications related to their field.

·         Overall value of the kits, sensors, curriculum, and stipend can add up to $4,000 in value.

·         Working closely with university faculty who have not only a deep understanding of the content, but also knowledge of the latest research and findings in their areas.

·         An opportunity to work with other secondary STEM teachers in your region and build your professional network.

·         Receive training on CPALMS.

·         Receive the FCR-STEMLearn Certificate after completing all the required phases.

Questions:

·         Please contact us at fcr-stemlearn@cpalms.org.

The program includes a summer institute provided over two non-consecutive weeks (full attendance at both weeks is required) and is focused on increasing teachers' content knowledge for the targeted courses. Participation in the FCR-STEMLearn program includes participation in the evaluation of the program, which will involve the completion of several questionnaires and assessments.

Again, please visit www.fcr-stemlearn.orgfor all program information and to access the application link. If you have any questions, please contact us at fcr-stemlearn@cpalms.org.