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June
18, 2003
Middle
School Science Students to Face Off in Battle
of Brains
Teams from around the nation to test their science
skills and knowledge
GOLDEN, COLO. - Sixteen teams of some of the brightest
sixth through eighth grade students from around
the United States will test their mental agility
in the National Middle School Science Bowl June
25-28.
The teams, all winners of regional contests, will
build and race solar-powered model cars and compete
in rapid-fire question and answer sessions to
test their knowledge of science and math.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General
Motors (GM) are the Science Bowl's chief sponsors.
The event is being hosted by DOE's National Renewable
Energy Laboratory at the Colorado School of Mines
in Golden, Colo.
"Students participating in the National Middle
School Science Bowl are among the great minds
that will make our future brighter and full of
wonderful possibilities," said Dr. Raymond
L. Orbach, director of the DOE Office of Science.
"I hope this event plays a positive role
in attracting many young people to a career in
the exciting world of science."
Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president of environment
and energy, said, "At GM, we believe that
it is important to encourage students' interest
in math and science. We are committed to offering
opportunities that will educate our future engineers
and scientists about advanced technology."
Each of the teams will be given a solar cell,
electric motor and other components to construct
a model solar-powered car, which they will race
on Thursday, June 26 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Building
and racing the cars challenges the students' engineering
and design skills. The race at the School of Mines'
Student Center Intramural parking lot will be
open to the public.
The next day, Friday, June 27, the students face
off in a fast-paced question and answer contest
that tests their knowledge of earth science, physical
science, life science, math, and general science.
The round robin academic competition starts at
8:30 a.m. at Alderson Hall and concludes with
an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Student Center.
Prizes will be given to the first, second and
third place winners in both the academic and the
model solar car competitions.
The schools selected in regional contests for
this year's Middle School Science Bowl are from
Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington. (Editors note:
A complete list of participating schools follows.)
Following on the success of the National Science
Bowl for senior high school students begun in
1991, the DOE Office of Science began the National
Middle School Science Bowl in 2002 to encourage
middle school students also to excel in math and
science and to pursue careers in these fields.
The department supports math and science education
to help provide a technically trained and diverse
workforce for the agency and the nation. More
information about its programs is available at
www.scied.science.doe.gov.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest
vehicle manufacturer, employs 342,000 people globally
in its core automotive business and subsidiaries.
Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive
sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing
operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are
sold in more than 190 countries. In 2002, GM sold
more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, nearly
15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's
global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center
in Detroit. More information on GM and its products
can be found on the company's consumer website
at www.gm.com. GM's corporate responsibility website,
www.gmability.com, contains additional information
about GM's environmental education initiatives.
Participating Teams and Sponsoring Sites (PDF)
Media Contact:
George Douglas, 303/275-4096
george_douglas@nrel.gov
Number: PR-03-130
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