Enter the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

It’s time for one of my favorite science competitions of the year, the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge? If you know clever young scientists in your home, extended family, local club, or classroom, can you please help make sure they find out about this amazing opportunity soon?

As a classroom teacher I taught in a math, science, and technology magnet school, and I saw firsthand how science can play a key role in motivating students. I also love to see how kids would approach everyday problems, because they often see things differently than we do as adults. I find it fascinating! There’s a special place in my heart for programs that encourage math and science enthusiasm from a young age, so I am excited to share this sponsored post with you in hopes that your young scientists can participate, too.

What is the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is the nation’s premier science competition for middle school students.

How is it Different from Other Science Competitions?

Each finalist in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge will be paired with a 3M scientist mentor. Cool, right!? Then the mentors will help guide finalists as they create an innovation to preset at the final competition.

Who Can Participate?

The challenge is for kids in grades 5-8. It is designed to target students in the years when research indicates their interest in science begins to fade. The competition encourages kids to explore scientific concepts and creatively communicate their findings.

Are There Prizes?

Oh yes! Ten finalists will be chosen to work with a 3M scientist during a summer mentorship program.  State merit finalists will also be recognized.

The winner will receive $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” Past Challenge winners have gone on to speak in front of members of Congress, work with the nation’s top scientists, participate in the White House Science Fair, meet the President and pursue academic careers in the sciences.

How Do You Enter?

Kids in grades 5-8 are asked to develop a possible solution for an everyday problem. Then they will  create and submit a one to two-minute video communicating the science behind the solution.

Based on the video entry, ten finalists will be chosen to work with a 3M scientist during a summer mentorship to create an innovation that will be presented to a panel of judges at the final competition at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota in October. How awesome is that? The complete rules and official details are all available on the competition website.

When is the Deadline to Enter?

Soon!

Applications are being accepted through April 21st.

Please Help Spread the Word

Now will you help me spread the word so as many young scientists as possible get a chance to hear about this opportunity?

You can use those fancy sharing buttons above and below this post to share on your favorite social media sites. Email this to friends, family, teachers, and group leaders who work with middle school aged kids. And of course, good old-fashioned word of mouth is always helpful, too.

If someone you know joins in the challenge, stop back by and let me know so I can cheer them on as the competition moves forward. You can also follow along via Facebook and Twitter (@DE3MYSC).

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. All opinions are my own.