DuPont India has launched the third 'DuPont India Challenge', a nationwide science paper contest for Indian schools. The last date for sending entries is August 31, 2004.
E I DuPont India Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of E I du Pont de Nemours and Company, the US-based $ 27 billion science and technology company, has announced the launch of the third DuPont India Challenge, a nationwide science paper contest for Indian schools. DuPont India Challenge invites students from class 7 to 9 (junior category) and class 10 to plus-2 (senior category) to submit science papers on relevant topics from five fields of emerging sciences - cloning,
biotechnology, bioengineering, genetics and nutraceuticals. The last date for sending in entries is August 31.
The evaluation of all the entries will be done by an independent panel of expert jury drawn from premier research institutions in the country, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The top three winners of the 'DuPont India Challenge - 2004 Science Paper Contest' will receive award certificates and prize money.
These awards will be presented in each of the categories - junior (classes 7 to 9) and senior (classes 10 to plus-2). The scholarship award prize money for the first, second and third place in each of these categories is Rs 12,000, Rs 9,000 and Rs 6,000 respectively.
In addition to the top three winners, the top 15 entries in each topic in each category will also be awarded certificates of recommendation. This new award category has been created this year. The DuPont India Challenge also recognises the important role that teachers play in inculcating love for
science in their students and will present a special Educator Award of Rs 5,000 each to the teacher of the winning entry in each category.
More than 700 schools are expected to participate in the third DuPont India Challenge. The DuPont India Challenge is an annual programme that was instituted in 2002 as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations, and is along the lines of a similar DuPont programme in the North Americas, which has attracted more than 100,000 participants from the United States and Canada till date.
In the last two years, the DuPont India Challenge reached out to more than 500 schools in India and received participation from more than 4,000 students. This year, the programme is expected to expand its reach significantly.
"Science touches our everyday lives in various ways. As a science company, DuPont is committed to encouraging talent and inventiveness among schoolchildren. DuPont works with educators, academic fraternity, the business community and local DuPont sites across the world to ensure that today's students are prepared for tomorrow's world. The aim of DuPont India Challenge is to encourage scientific thought and exploration in young minds," said Henrique Hubrig, president, DuPont India.
The DuPont India Challenge seeks to encourage creative thinking among students and promote their interest in science and inculcating the habit to discuss, analyse and research the social, cultural and ethical impact of biotechnology, genetics, cloning and related disciplines. In these efforts, DuPont India aims to work in close association with the academic fraternity, particularly the science teachers, in the country.
The DuPont Office of Education globally works with educators, university faculty, the business community and local DuPont sites to ensure that today's children are well prepared for tomorrow's world. Through that work, the Office of Education weaves together an extensive network of alliances, partners across educational levels, and acts as a catalyst for educational reform and improvement.
DuPont India is committed to encouraging scientific discovery of the miracles of science
among young people. In addition to the annual 'DuPont India Challenge', the company has been involved in other education initiatives in the country. With an unmatched record of safety, DuPont India worked with the ICSE to develop, design and sponsor a School Safety Manual that was distributed among all ICSE schools in 2002. Earlier, in celebration of the company's 200th anniversary, DuPont India presented 'DuPont Young Scientist Scholarships' at the Intel Science Talent Discovery Fairs 2003.
DuPont is a 201-year-old science company offering innovative
products, technologies and services that improve the lives of people everywhere. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, in the US, DuPont delivers science-based solutions to markets, including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation, apparel, home and textiles. DuPont India is a subsidiary of the American parent. DuPont association with India is more than 200 years old, since the first shipment of raw materials for black powder for explosives was imported from India into the US in 1802. Today, DuPont India markets a wide range of products in varied market segments including food and nutrition; healthcare; safety and protection; home and construction; electronics; and transportation.
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Science talent contest
