How the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge Works

­The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is part of a five-year partnership involving the Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association, along with other organizations. In 2008, its first year, the competition is open to middle-school students. In 2009, it will expand to involve elementary students, and in 2010, high-school students will be included as well. As students get older and move from grade to grade, the scope of the competition gets bigger while staying focused on environmental initiatives. These are the areas that the students will focus on as they progress through the different levels of the challenge:

Students from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., are eligible to enter, and they can attend public, private, parochial or home schools. But students don't enter alone -- to be part of the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, they must form teams of two or three members. They also must have the sponsorship of a teacher or other adult member. This adult will be the person who submits the final entry to the contest.

Once they've formed a team, the students embark on a project that challenges them to follow the adage, "think globally, act locally." Contestants must isolate a problem in their community that relates to the environment, sustainability, conservation or other "green" initiatives. It should be a problem that other communities in the Untied States encounter as well, and the solution should be something other communities can put into place effectively.

Just like a science fair project, the entry should rely on science and the scientific method. Contestants should:

­And since the purpose of the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge doesn't stop with reporting the results, contestants should also put together a plan for repeating the project. People in other locations will be able to use this plan to do the project themselves. In other words, contestants must first complete the project, then explain how others can do it, too.

­The teacher or other adult mentor working with each team submits the team's entry online at the We Can Change the World Challenge Web site. Then, it's time for judging. Read on to learn about the judging process and awards for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.

­Students create the projects for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, but the judging is up to teachers and other professionals. These judges have a big job to do. First, they must narrow the pool of entries down to 51 state finalists -- one for each state of the United States and Washington, D.C. From there, judges select the top three teams. This process is based on scores in four areas:

All 51 state finalists gain recognition from the competition and a prize pack. The top three teams receive grant money to help them put their green plan into action. On top of that, each member of the top three teams receive additional awards:

­The mentors who have worked with the winning teams get to go on the trips as well. Teachers who supervise the top three teams also win a Flip camera and free registration to the next national or area National Science Teachers Association conference. Mentors for the 51 state finalists receive a one-year subscription to Discovery Education Science and a one-year membership to the National Science Teachers Association.

­Of course, since the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is founded on the idea of sharing knowledge about sustainability, all projects that follow the entry criteria are posted online for others to share. You can learn more about the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge and other green initiatives on the next page.