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If you were in charge of Iowa’s response to climate change, What Would You Do?
Iowa’s 2007 General Assembly passed a regulation requiring the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to inventory greenhouse gases in Iowa and instructed that an Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council be formed and make recommendations for reducing Iowa’s contribution to global warming. The Air Quality Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources invites middle school and high school science students to participate in these solution-driven efforts. Young people aren’t tied to how things are supposed to work, or what’s always been done. We're asking students to share their best ideas for how we can curb greenhouse gas emissions. Ideas may address Iowa specifically, an industry such as automobiles or utilities, a product, a process, the nation, or the world. Eligibility. Any Iowa science class, science club, or science team in one of each of the following three age groups may enter the contest: 6th & 7th grades; 8th and 9th grades; 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Home schooled student teams are invited to submit entries as well. This is a great way to challenge students in their curriculum, with an extra credit project, or as a project for the school’s science club. The entry form is available from the top of this page. Prizes. Winners from each of the three age groups will receive an expense-paid two-day trip to Springbrook Conservation Education Center, a residential environmental education facility operated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources near Guthrie Center. We hope to award approximately 90 students with this special opportunity: an inspiring outdoor hands-on environmental science experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Runners-up are eligible for a drawing to receive a $50 gift card to the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) – an amount that covers the cost of a Discovery Lab or private program when the group books a visit. Additionally, the first ten entries received will win five general admission tickets to SCI. Entry Submission. Send us a PowerPoint presentation, a video, a drawing, a poster, a model, a website or a narrative: however students can best explain their idea(s) with the resources they have. If you have questions or are unable to access the contest web pages on the DNR website, contact the contest coordinator Mindy Kralicek by email at Mindy.Kralicek@dnr.iowa.gov or call her at (515) 281-7832. All serious entries will be featured on the DNR website. The contest and its winning entries will be publicized to the media, to air quality permit holders, environmental organizations, and air quality agencies across the United States. This really is a chance to have students’ good ideas showcased to people who have the capacity to change what is emitted into the air. Read more about entry procedures... Judging. Contest judges are environmental staff with the DNR air quality and energy bureaus. Entries will be awarded up to 100 points from these categories: application of scientific principles, environmental stewardship, creativity/originality, social awareness/sustainability, and clarity in the presentation of their concept. Read more about the judging criteria... Entries are due February 11, 4:30 p.m. at the DNR Air Quality Bureau. Don’t delay. The first ten entries received will each be given five general admission tickets to the Science Center of Iowa. Winners will be contacted February 29, and will be announced to the media and posted on DNR website on March 4. Winners' teachers contact Springbrook to schedule the two-day conservation education experience. Contact Information Have questions? Contest coordinator is: Mindy Kralicek For information about the Springbrook experience, contact: Springbrook Conservation Education Center To learn more about the SCI experience, contact:,/p> Science Center of Iowa |
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