UAH, BASF co-sponsor Alabama "You Be The Chemist Challenge®"

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and BASF Corporation will co-sponsor the Alabama "You Be The Chemist Challenge" competition on Saturday, April 16.

"You Be The Chemist Challenge" is a national interactive academic contest that encourages students in grades five through eight to explore chemistry concepts and their real-world applications. Event coordinators are Dr. Bernhard Vogler, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of the UAH Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, and Ginger Sanchez, Quality Lab Area Manager at BASF Corporation. The competition starts at 9 a.m., in the Materials Science Building on campus. Lunch will be provided for students, and the day will end with certificates and prizes. The student contest winner (and school) will be announced during the awards ceremony.

"I am so excited about the BASF and UAH partnership in hosting the 'Alabama You Be The Chemist' event. This program is an amazing challenge for young ladies and gentlemen from middle schools in our surrounding communities," said Ginger Sanchez.

Challenges take place in the form of quiz bowls. The challenge provides a unique opportunity for a variety of individuals and organizations - including schools, members of the chemical industry, educators, and other community partners to come together and support STEM education. One winner from each state advances to the National Challenge Competition in June. Each state challenge winner, a chaperone, and a nominated educator receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC., to represent the state of Alabama in the national contest.

North Alabama area schools participating in the Alabama You Be The Chemist Challenge are:

• St. Paul Lutheran School, Cullman
• Columbia Elementary School, Madison
• Meridianville Middle School, Madison
• Athens Bible School, Limestone
• Chapman Middle, Madison
• St. John Catholic School, Madison
• Buckhorn Middle, Madison
• Whitesburg Christian Academy, Madison
• Hampton Cove Middle School, Madison

Special guests for this competition include Prashanth Rao (Site Manager); Robbie Day (Quality Manager); Hema Menon-Grant (Human Resources Manager) all from BASF Corporation Additional sponsors for Alabama You Be The Chemist Challenge competition include Research Solutions Group Inc., Industrial Chemicals Inc., UAH Department of Chemistry, Addictions Salon, Moe's South West Grill (Madison), YMCA (Huntsville), and Sign-A-Rama.

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