Middle School Students Compete in Des Plaines Regional Chemistry Competition

The Des Plaines regional You Be the Chemist challenge, an academic question and answer competition created by the Chemical Educational Foundation®, will take place this Wednesday, March 5 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Prairie Lakes Theater in Des Plaines. The competition engages junior high students in chemistry through a dynamic event that partners members of the chemical industry with schools and organizations in the communities in which they operate.

Junior high and middle school students from Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect, Elk Grove, Prospect Heights, and Niles (grades 5-8) will compete for the regional title and the chance to compete in the State Challenge held at North Central College in Naperville. Honeywell's UOP Educational Outreach committee members will host the event.

Event registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with the competition to follow at 6:30 p.m. Students will answer a series of single-elimination chemistry challenge questions until one winner is announced. Winners from each regional competition will advance to the State Challenge for a chance to compete at the National level.

Honeywell's UOP Educational Outreach committee is involved with tutoring and preliminary qualification of the students at the school levels leading up to the regional competitions and also helps coordinate the regional and state competitions. By linking industry, educators, and students together, the program not only builds stronger community relationships but also highlights the importance of chemistry education in an informal and celebratory manner.