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The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is the premiere national science competition for students in 5th-8th grade, and challenges middle schoolers to communicate science effectively. 3M and Discovery Education have partnered to nurture the next generation of American scientists with a fun science competition that celebrates great young science communicators. Past finalists have gone on to speak in front of Congress, to participate in programs on Discovery Channel and Science Channel and to work with the nation's top scientists.



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To participate, students are challenged to create a one-to-two minute video using their scientific knowledge and communication skills to address one of four topics . Videos must be submitted online at www.youngscientistchallenge.com before May 20th. Over the summer, judges will pick 51 semifinalists (one from each state and DC), from which, they will pick the 10 top finalists. In October, these 10 finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to participate in the final competition, consisting of a series of scientific challenges. At the end of the competition, the winner will be crowned America's Top Young Scientist and will receive $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds!

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Image Credit: Hello
Brappy, Creative
Commons.

Announcing the debut of 400 Years of the Telescope PBS documentary

A sweeping film celebrating four centuries of astronomy discoveries will make its debut on PBS when 400 Years of the Telescope airs in April (scheduled air date: Friday, April 10, check local listings). In 400 Year of the Telescope, Neil deGrasse Tyson takes viewers on a visually stunning journey from Galileo's first look at the cosmos in 1609, to today¹s thrilling quests to discover new worlds and glimpse the formation of the first stars after the Big Bang. With warmth and humor, the planet¹s top astrophysicists discuss momentous discoveries and how telescopes have changed our understanding of the universe. Looking into the future, viewers will learn of emergent telescopes that may detect life outside our solar system and allow humans to view the initial moments of the Big Bang.

Tune into your local PBS station and view this beautiful new film. For more information, visit: http://www.400years.org

You can view the "400 Years of the Telescope" trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-qwI2w6r8