National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), 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 more than 55,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education.
Visit the National Science Teachers Association Web Site for more information.
NSTA Programs & Competitions for Science Educators and their Students—
2010-11 School Year with Deadlines
ExploraVision: The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards competition encourages K-12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels to explore a technology and then imagine how it could work 20 years into the future. Students work in teams of two-to-four under the guidance of a teacher and an optional mentor to research current technologies and scientific principles as a basis for designing innovative technologies that address an issueor propose a benefit to society.First- and second-place winning teams, along with their families, teachers and mentors, receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to showcase their design, and winning students each receive a savings bond valued at $5,000 or $10,000 at maturity. The competition awards up to $240,000 in savings bonds annually.
To learn more about ExploraVision and how teachers are using the competition in classrooms, sign up for any of the free web seminars at NSTA’s Learning Center. Check-out the archives of past seminars and register for upcoming seminars to dialogue with ExploraVision ambassadors and former coaches, ask questions, and find out how previous winners developed their lessons around this competition. To apply, go to www.exploravision.org; call or email NSTA with questions at
1-800-EXPLOR9 or exploravision@nsta.org. The application deadline is February 2, 2011.
Disney’s Planet Challenge: Enrollment is now open for Disney’s Planet Challenge, a free project-based environmental and science competition developed in collaboration with NSTA and the K-12 Alliance for classrooms nationwide. Now in it second year, the Challenge is being expanded to include two tracks: one for elementary schools (grades 3-5), and another for middle schools (grades 6-8).
The Challenge offers students the chance to use their imagination and creativity to help the planet while giving educators a fresh new way to motivate students with the help of an educationally sound curriculum that meets national and state guideline requirements.
For more information or to enroll in the program, visit www.Disney.com/planetchallenge. Enrollment is open through December 17, 2010. Final projects are due February 16, 2011.
Mars Education Challenge: New this year, the Mars Education Challenge calls on high school science educators to develop new and innovative curriculum support materials that focus on Mars science and exploration. Developed in collaboration with NSTA and the Planetary Society, the Challenge will recognize six winning entries with five regional awards and one national award. Regional winners will receive $2,500 grants and the national winner will receive a $5,000 grant. Additionally, all of the winners will have an opportunity to do field research with well-known planetary scientists.
Submissions are due January 5, 2011. More information, including entry details, curriculum support materials requirements, and prizing information for the Mars Education Challenge can be found at www.exploremars.org.
Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge: The third year of this national sustainability challenge—now expanded to include high school students—encourages all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade to team up with their classmates to create replicable solutions to environmental issues in their schools (grades K-5), community (grades 6-8) and world(grades 9-12). Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to grade level, include savings bonds, school grants, exciting trips and much more.
The deadline for all entries is March 15, 2011. Finalists and winners will be announced in April 2011 and the national winners will be announced in May 2011. For more information, visit www.wecanchange.com or www.facebook.com/wecanchange.
Spirit of Innovation Awards: The Conrad Foundation’s Spirit of Innovation Awards program gives high school students an opportunity to design commercially viable innovative products using science and technology that address real world challenges. Teams are composed of students, 13 to 18 years of age. Teams compete in three categories: Aerospace Exploration, Renewable Energy and Cyber Security.
Finalists in each category will attend the ‘Innovation Summit’ hosted by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicone Valley, CA. The finalists will have the opportunity to present, discuss and receive guidance from industry professionals on the viability of their products. The winners will be chosen during the summit and awarded seed money and other support to manufacture their product.
To register, go to http://www.conradawards.org. The deadline to register is December 17, 2010. Registration is free. Finalists will be announced on January 10, 2011.