Media Room
9.25.09- CHALLENGING KIDS TO SAVE THE PLANET
http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2009/09/challenging_kid.html
9.20.09- EIGHTH-GRADERS LEAD THE WAY ON ECO-FRIENDLY TIRE WEIGHTS
http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/IA-LeadTire-092009
9.20.09- THREE ADDISON 8TH-GRADERS CHANGE THEIR TOWN'S ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=322719&src=2
9.20.09- KIDS' PROJECT TURNS 'GREEN'
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7023482
9.18.09- IOWA MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM NAMED THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER IN NATIONAL COMMUNITY FOCUSES SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE
9.16.09 - DEADWEIGHT FOCUSES ON IOWA LEGISLATURE
http://www.westbranchtimes.com/article.php?viewID=4842
9.2.09- EPA FLIPS OVER DEAD WEIGHT
http://www.westbranchtimes.com/article.php?viewID=4790
8.15.09- SIEMENS WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD CHALLENGE KICKS OFF AT UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY
8.14.09- THREE STUDENTS WIN PRIZE FOR PROJECT TO REPLACE LEAD WHEEL WEIGHTS (UNITED NATIONS RADIO)
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/79944.html
SIEMENS FOUNDATION PROMOTES SCIENCE EDUCATION
http://podcast.wbz.com/wbz/1830443.mp3
6.1.09- SACAJAWEA STUDENTS HATCH PRIZEWINNING GREEN IDEA
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=10458361&nav=menu227_3
5.5.09- A CONTEST TO CHEER: LOCAL STUDENTS TEAM UP TO SAVE STREAMS
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22 TEAMS OF U.S. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDETNS NAMED STATE FINALISTS IN NATIONAL GREEN COMMUNITY-BASED COMPETITION
--Teams Designed and Implemented Environmental Sustainability Solutions for their Communities in the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge--
--National Prizes Include Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery Adventure Trips with a TV personality, an Appearance on Discovery’s Planet Green TV Network and Savings Bonds--
(NEW YORK) – 22 teams of U.S. middle school students have been named state finalists in the inaugural Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. The web-based national competition encouraged middle school students to team up and “go green” by creating and implementing environmental change in their local communities. From the 22 state finalist teams, two national winning teams and one grand prize-winning team will be chosen and announced on May 18, 2009 at www.wecanchange.com, where a complete list of the state finalists can also be found.
“Congratulations to all of the state finalist teams. It’s truly inspiring to see students all over the country taking such an active role in promoting sustainability, starting right at home,” said James Whaley, President, Siemens Foundation. “We are tremendously proud of all the teams who participated. Their innovative ideas and projects bring new awareness and ways for us all to be more eco-friendly in our daily lives.”
Over 2,000 students participated in the inaugural year of the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge and state finalist projects covered topics such as e-waste recycling, ecosystem restoration and water conservation.
To enter the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, teams of two to three students in sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, were asked to identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education. A panel of environmental experts and science educators then reviewed and selected the top projects.
As a state finalist team, each student member will receive an eco-friendly prize pack, which includes a recycled messenger bag, a solar charger, a recycled USB drive, a recycled journal, a reusable water bottle and other sustainable supplies. In addition to the prize pack, the team’s adult advisor will receive a free one-year membership to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and a one-year subscription to Discovery Education Science, the digital resource library designed to deepen understanding of science.
The two national winning teams will earn savings bonds, teacher education resources and unique “Discovery Experience” trips. The grand prize-winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package, which includes an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery’s 24-hour eco-lifestyle network and a once-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure Trip, accompanied by a Discovery TV personality.
The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education and NSTA have partnered on the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge to educate, empower and engage students, teachers and communities to become “Agents of Change” in improving their communities nationwide. The initiative expands to elementary schools in 2009 and to high schools in 2010.
For more information on the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, go to www.wecanchange.com.
NATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL GREEN COMPETITION URGES KIDS TO CHANGE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN 2009
-- March 15 Deadline for Entries Quickly Approaching--
-- January Webinars to Help Adult Advisers Engage Students in Sustainability --
-- Prizes Include Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery Adventure Trips with a TV personality, an Appearance on Discovery's Planet Green TV Network and Savings Bonds --
(NEW YORK) - Now in the final months for entries, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is encouraging middle school students across the United States to kick off 2009 by "going green" and implementing environmental change in their local communities. The website for this entirely web-based challenge, http://www.wecanchange.com, is host to lots of kid-friendly activities such as virtual interactive labs, an eco-footprint game, an environmental IQ quiz, online journals, video clips-plus many more resources for both students and adult advisers.
Teams of two to three students in sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, will identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education.
Teachers and adult supervisors are invited to participate in any of Discovery Education's January online webinars, which will provide additional information about the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Webinars will be offered Tuesday, January 13, at 4:30 PM (ET); Wednesday, January 14, at 5:30 and 6:45 PM (ET); and Thursday, January 15, at 5:30 PM (ET). To register, go to https://discoveryed.webex.com and click on "Events Center" at the top, then click on "List of Events" at the left and scroll down to "Other Events." Lastly, click on a "Register" link for your preferred webinar.
Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge submissions from middle school students will be accepted through March 15, 2009. A total of 51 teams representing each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as state finalists and an additional 50 teams will be eligible for honorable mention awards. Three of the state finalist teams will be selected as national finalists, and one of those will be named the inaugural grand prize-winner. State finalist and national finalist teams will be announced in Spring 2009.
All student teams entering the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will receive prizes for their participation. Top-performing teams, as judged by a panel of environmental experts and science educators, will earn cash, teacher education materials and unique "Discovery Experience" trips. The grand prize-winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package, which includes an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery's 24-hour eco-lifestyle network and a once-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure Trip, accompanied by a Discovery TV personality.
The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have partnered on the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge to educate, empower and engage students, teachers and communities to become "Agents of Change" in improving their communities nationwide. The initiative expands to elementary schools in 2009 and to high schools in 2010.
NATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE LAUNCHES TODAY
--Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge Empowers Students to Create
“Green Solutions” --
--Middle School Launch Marks the First Phase of Nationwide K-12 Sustainability Initiative--
-- Prizes include Regional and National Recognition, Cash and an Appearance on Discovery’s Planet Green Television Network--
(NEW YORK) September 15, 2008 – Starting today, middle school students across the United States are being encouraged to “go green” and team up for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, the first and only national K-12 sustainability education initiative aligned to education standards and uniquely tailored to match students’ growing comprehension abilities throughout their school-aged years.
The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have partnered on this unprecedented initiative to educate, empower and engage students, teachers and communities to become “Agents of Change” in improving their community. Student teams from sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, can register for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge at www.wecanchange.com.
Teams of two to three students will identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education. The mentors of the first 100 teams to register and ultimately complete a project for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will receive an award-winning Planet Earth series DVD set. Submissions from middle school students will be accepted through March 15, 2009. The initiative expands to elementary schools in 2009 and to high schools in 2010.
“The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will inspire students across the nation to clearly see the impact science can make in their very own schools and communities,” said James Whaley, President, Siemens Foundation. “It will support the next generation of scientists and engineers and encourage students to use their natural curiosity to produce results that have a real impact in the world. We are proud to partner with Discovery Communications and NSTA on this unprecedented initiative.”
A total of 51 teams representing each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as state finalists and an additional 50 teams will be eligible for honorable mention awards. Three of the state finalist teams will be selected as national finalists, and one of those will be named the grand prize-winner. State finalist and national finalist teams will be announced in Spring 2009.
All student teams entering the Middle School Challenge will receive prizes for their participation; top-performing teams, as judged by a panel of environmental experts and science educators, will earn cash, teacher education materials and unique “Discovery Experience” trips. The grand prize winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package, which includes an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery’s 24-hour eco-lifestyle network and a once-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure Trip, accompanied by a Discovery TV personality.
Hosted on a solar-powered server, the web-based Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will serve as an essential resource for both students and team advisors. Teams can take part in virtual interactive labs, share ideas through an online journal, watch Discovery Education video clips, take an environmental IQ quiz, and much more! Rich environmental lesson plans are also available for teachers to use in their classrooms. More information, including entry details, registration and Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at www.wecanchange.com.
Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, which provides scientifically proven, standards-based digital media resources and professional development to classrooms nationwide, and the NSTA, the largest science teacher organization in the world dedicated to improving science education and increasing student learning by engaging all teachers of science, will provide standards-based lesson plans and multimedia teacher resources to accompany each stage of the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge to foster learning, team work and problem solving around sustainability.
About the Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. Its signature programs, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology and Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, reward exceptional achievement in science, math and technology. The newest program, The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow’s scientists and engineers. The Foundation’s mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens’ U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is the world’s number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About the National Science Teachers Association
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest organization in the world dedicated to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA works to improve science education and increase student learning by providing resources and training that support and enhance quality teaching. The Association advocates for the importance of science and science learning and works to enhance science education through research-based policy and practice. NSTA’s current membership includes more than 57,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education. For more information, please visit www.nsta.org.
Contacts:
Valerie Francois, for Siemens Foundation
732-590-5292, valerie.francois@siemens.com
Juliet Farrell, for Discovery Communications
240-662-1707, juliet_farrell@discovery.com
Kate Meyer, for NSTA
703-312-9211, kmeyer@nsta.org
Below is a sampling of media coverage for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge:
Treehugger.com
HowStuffWorks.com
eSchool News.com
T.H.E. Journal
Washington Business Journal
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/79944.html
