High school students are asked to imagine that they are living 25 years in the future and have been invited to write an article for ChemMatters, a magazine for high school students that focuses on the role of chemistry in everyday life. The subject of the article is:

“Describe a recent breakthrough or innovation in chemistry (and/or its applications) that has improved the quality of people’s lives today.”

In addition to the article, students are asked to design a cover for the magazine.

The article must be written as if the student is living in the year 2037, looking back at innovations that have occurred since 2012.

The innovation must fall into one of the following categories:

* Alternative Energy Sources

* Medicine/Health

* Environment

* New Materials

Examples of areas where development is expected are: nanometer-scale systems, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, microfluidics, intelligent devices for sensing, proteomics, climate models, biopharmaceutical therapies, medical devices, new energy sources and implants.

Evaluation is based upon:

1)      the written article which is submitted in advance, and

2)      the presentation of the innovation on a self-standing display and interviews with judges (much like science fair judging)

TIE-IN TO NATIONAL STANDARDS

The grades 9-12 Content Standards of the National Science Education Standards support a multidisciplinary perspective and encourage teachers to provide opportunities for integrated/multidisciplinary approaches to science teaching. In particular, the History and Nature of Science Standards support the need of students to understand that “science reflects its history and is an ongoing, changing enterprise.” Engaging students in this project will give them the opportunity to see that science is a human endeavor which incorporates the ability to ask questions, think critically and logically, make decisions based on data, and communicate scientific arguments.

ELIGIBILITY/REQUIREMENTS

• Each school can submit up to eight entries (1 or 2 per category) – 8 maximum*

• All students must be currently enrolled in a grades 9-12 science class at an accredited school or home school in the area.

• Students and their parents are responsible for transportation to and from the meeting site.

• Schools must notify the competition coordinators in writing of their intent to participate in Chemagination by the date set by the Chemagination Coordinator and remain in communication with the Chemagination Coordinator during the time leading up to the competition.

• All entries become the property of the ACS and will not be acknowledged or returned.

• The ACS, its agents and contractors, are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or postage-due entries.

• Acceptance of the prize constitutes consent to use the winners’ names, likenesses, and entries for editorial, advertising, and publicity purposes. This includes publication of the articles, if selected; in an actual issue of ChemMatters magazine.

• Prizes are not transferable.

• Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winner.

• Participants will be asked to provide a Photo Release Form signed by a parent or guardian prior to attending the competition.

* Contact the competition coordinator if you have questions about this requirement.

Additional resources:

* Guide for students

* Guide for teachers

Must be returned by:

March 23, 2012

RULES

ARTICLES must:

• be written by a team of two or three students; each student may be on only one team.

• be no more than 1000 words (figure captions are not included in the limit).

• present the chemistry/scientific concepts/ideas/principles behind the innovation.

• describe the innovation and indicate how it has improved people’s lives.

• present a “history” of the changes that had to occur in 25 years to develop this innovation; a graphic timeline is strongly recommended to convey this history..

• include drawings, diagrams, illustrations and descriptions of the chemistry and any technology involved in all key aspects of the innovation.

• cite a minimum of three technical references.

• include a cover design for the magazine. The cover design can be an original computer graphic or a free-hand drawing.

DISPLAYS must:

• be 24” deep, 40” wide and 48” tall or less, and be able to sit on a table, much like at a science fair.

• include the cover of the magazine.

• be a visual representation of the article’s content with a minimum of text; a graphic timeline is strongly recommended to convey milestones in the history of the innovation.

• include a list of references cited.

ATTENDANCE

• At least one member of the team must attend the competition to present the display and interview with two or three judges to be eligible for prizes.

SCORING

• Winners are selected by the judges based on the two scores the students have received (one for the article and one for the interview/poster)

• Criteria for scoring include scientific thought, creativity, clarity, thoroughness and teamwork.

• Recognition will be given to First Place in each category. Recognition for Second Place in each category and Overall in the competition will be at the discretion of the judges, depending on the total number of teams competing.