Student and Teacher Finalists Compete in National Science Competition at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center October 5 and 6

Student and Teacher Finalists Compete in National Science Competition at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center October 5 and 6

 SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ --    WHAT:      The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is              bringing 10 middle school student finalists and five teacher              finalists to the nation's Capital from October 5 to 6, 2008 for              the competition finals.  Students will vie for the chance to              win $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds ($25,000 cash value) as well              as the title of "America's Top Young Scientist," while five              teacher finalists contend for recognition as "America's Top              Science Teacher."  NASA will host the competition finals at its              world-renowned Goddard Space Flight Center, where students and              teachers will demonstrate their science prowess in a series of              team-based, interactive challenges focused on this year's              theme, "The Science of Space" (schedule outline below).    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080722/NETU095LOGO )               Student Finalists:              -- Avni Bavishi from Hoffman Estates, IL              -- Margaret Botros from Wichita, KS              -- Shyamal Buch from Folsom, CA              -- Megan Gleason from Tucson, AZ              -- Michael Koehler from Allison Park, PA              -- James Kruse from New Brighton, MN              -- Peter Ku from Princeton Junction, NJ              -- Mathew McGuthry from Richmond Hill, GA              -- Melissa Rey from Chesterfield, MO              -- Jack Uesugi from Wahiawa, HI                NOTE: Student submission videos can be viewed at              http://www.discoveryeducation.com/YoungScientist.               Teacher Finalists:              -- Edward Evans from Welch, WV              -- Lania Ho from Melbourne, FL              -- Paul Kuhlman from Avon, SD              -- Steve Latshaw from Westlake Village, CA              -- Philip Pack from Kingston, PA     WHO:       Ten student finalists and five teacher finalists, in addition              to scientists, educators and representatives from Discovery              Education, 3M and NASA.     WHEN:      Sunday, October 5, 2008              8:00 AM-2:00 PM and 3:15-4:45 PM               Monday, October 6, 2008              8:00 AM-12:00 PM, 4:00-6:00 PM and 7:00-9:00 PM     WHERE:     NASA Goddard Space Flight Center              8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771               [Oct. 6, 7:00-9:00 PM -- Discovery Communications Headquarters              One Discovery Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910]     About the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge  

The Young Scientist Challenge is the nation's premier science competition for middle schoolers. The YSC targets students in the years when research indicates their interest in science begins to fade and encourages them to explore scientific concepts and creatively communicate their findings. As a way to further reinforce its longstanding commitment to scientific innovation, 3M came on board this year as the Presenting Sponsor of the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge with the common goal of engaging and inspiring every middle school student in America to explore science and share their findings. For more information, please visit http://www.discoveryeducation.com/YoungScientist.

              Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge                 Finals at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center                           October 5 and 6, 2008    Sunday, October 5*    8:00 AM-2:00 PM    Round One Challenges**                        - Three teams of five (Two student teams and one                          teacher team)                        - Three 90-minute space-themed challenges, with a                          break between each challenge                      Location: Buildings 7, 10 and 29    3:15 PM-4:45 PM    Round Two Challenges**                        - Three teams of five (Two student teams and one                          teacher team)                        - Three 30-minute "whelmer" (not over or                          underwhelming, just whelming) challenges                      Location: Building 28     Monday, October 6*    8:00 AM-12:00 PM   Round Three Challenges**                        - Six teams of two and one team of three (Five                          student teams and two teacher teams)                        - Eight 20- to 30-minute round-robin style challenges                      Location: Building 8    4:00 PM-5:00 PM    Round Four Challenge                        - Students participate individually, competing                          against each other                        - Buzz-in style Q&A                      Location: Building 8    5:00 PM            Top Five Students Announced                        - Top five students are announced, then asked to                          complete one last challenge                      Location: Building 8    5:45 PM            Winning Student Announced                        - Countdown style, with 5th place announced first and                          1st place announced last                      Location: Building 8    7:00 PM-9:00 PM    Closing Dinner / Winning Teacher Announced                      Location: Discovery Communications World Headquarters                      (One Discovery Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910)     *Schedule and logistics are subject to change.   **Challenges run concurrently during first three rounds.  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080722/NETU095LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Discovery Communications

CONTACT: Tammy Shea, Discovery Communications, +1-240-662-6506,
tammy_shea@discovery.com; or Glenn Carter, 3M, +1-651-737-0687,
gacarter1@mmm.com

Web site: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/YoungScientist

NOTE TO EDITORS: For day-of inquiries and/or directions to the various locations within NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, please contact Anna Duerr (cell: 240-678-5931) or Bonnary Lek (cell: 240-515-5266).

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