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Winners honor the heroes of the Challenger Space Shuttle while empowering students to explore a world of possibilities through science.
Contact:

Dan Turner 302-774-0081 daniel.a.turner@usa.dupont.com

Roger Goodman 905-821-5625 roger.h.goodman@can.dupont.com

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 29, 2011 – Second place in the senior division of this year’s DuPont Challenge Science Essay competition went to Yukai Hong, a junior at Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia.  This is the highest level attained by a Canadian student in this prestigious science competition since it began 25 years ago. Yukai Hong’s essay, titled “Preventing Down Syndrome to Alzheimer’s Disease,” focused on why individuals with Down Syndrome are susceptible to developing Alzheimer’s disease, and the alternatives available to slow this process. The winners of this year’s DuPont Challenge Science Essay competition were announced today to coincide with and honor the final launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour. The DuPont Challenge honors the astronaut heroes of the 1986 Challenger space shuttle, including Ellison S. Onizuka, Greg Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ron McNair and Sharon Christa McAuliffe, America’s first teacher in space.   The goal is to engage and inspire students through science and to get them thinking about their future possibilities.

“To advance scientific discovery and technological innovation for the future we have to inspire all children to have a better grasp of scientific concepts and encourage pursuit of careers in science, engineering, and related fields” said Mike Oxley, DuPont Canada’s President and Chief Financial Officer.  “The DuPont Challenge can help students to discover how they can contribute to a better society through scientific discovery, invention, and innovation.” 

The first-place winners include:   
• Senior Division:  Jayme Warner, a sophomore at Intech Collegiate High School, North Logan, Utah, writing about “Salt: Enhancing Lives One Breath at a Time.” The focus is on using salt water to help the breathing of young Cystic Fibrosis patients. 
• Junior Division:  Michelle Woods, a freshman at Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, Ill., writing on “Conserving Earths Endangered Helium.”  Woods challenged judges to imagine a world without pink balloons rising from a five-year-olds birthday party because of a worldwide shortage of helium.

Third place in the senior division went to Booker George, a junior at Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, N.J., writing on “Adaptation of Florae to Harmful Radiation.”

Second place in the junior division went to, Meera Ramakrishnan, a freshman at the Winsor School, Boston, Mass., with a focus on “Got Bugs? The Promise of Human Microbiome.”   Third place went to Jessica Steinort, an eight grader from Scarborough Middle School in Scarborough, Maine who wrote about “Oxytocin: A Dog’s Best Friend.”

The DuPont Challenge also acknowledges the significant contributions made by teachers or sponsors of the winners.

The 2011 DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition is sponsored by DuPont, in cooperation with NASA, Kennedy Space Center, The Walt Disney World® Resort, NBC Learn, A+ Media, and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).  With more than $75,000 in prizes, this competition attracted nearly 10,000 entries in 2011 and since its inception more than 200,000 entries have been received. For more information about The DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition, students and teachers should visit www.thechallenge.dupont.com.

The DuPont Challenge gives students in the United States and Canada the opportunity to write a 700-1,000 word essay discussing a scientific discovery, theory, event or technological application that has captured their interest.  The range of possible essay topics is as broad as science itself.  Essays are judged based on several criteria, including ideas and content; mechanics and conventions; organization; style and creativity; and originality.  Each division is judged by NSTA-selected science teachers from across the United States, and scientists from NASA and DuPont.
DuPont (www.dupont.com) is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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04/29/11

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Please use on the link below to download a high resolution photo of Yukai Hong and his teacher, Ted Fung.  http://www2.dupont.com/Media_Center/en_US/assets/images/releases/nr_dupont_Yukai_Hong_Ted_Fung.jpg