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SWE RMS Essay Contest Details

****SWE RMS 2021 Essay Contest now Closed***

​See our 2021 Essay Contest Results Here

Check back in January 2022 to find out how you can participate in the 35th Annual Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest. The 2022 essay contest is sponsored by Keysight Technologies.

​Sixth grade students at schools in Colorado and Wyoming are invited to participate in the "Great Women in Engineering and Science" essay contest. The goal of the contest is to foster an interest in science, engineering, and technology in middle school students and to introduce students to female role models who have achieved significant success in areas of science and engineering. Over 250 girls and boys participate annually and prizes and certificates are awarded.

To enter: Write an original essay of approximately 500 words on one of the women scientists listed below:

• Mae Jemison - American Engineer, Physician, and Astronaut
• Flossie Wong-Staal - Chinese-American Virologist and Molecular Biologist
• Tilly Edinger - German-American Paleontologist and Founder of Paleoneurology
• María de los Ángeles Alvariño González - Spanish Fishery Research Biologist and Oceanographer
• Valerie Thomas - American Scientist and Inventor

Winning essays should:

• Describe in detail the woman's life, achievements and any awards she received in recognition of her work.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of her work.
• Show originality.
• Include three or more research sources from varying media (bibliography).
• Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Present the information in an organized, neat fashion with good sentence structure.

 
Submission details:

• To enter, complete the entry form below and follow the instructions to either upload or email your essay. Be prepared to provide:
  • Your school's name and address
  • Your teacher's name and email address
  • The number of 6th graders in your class
• The essay file name must include your first and last name
• PDF, Word, and Google Doc file formats accepted
• All entries must be received by March 1st, 2021 (2021 Essay Contest now Closed)

For additional details, please see the Essay Contest Flyer and Frequently Asked Questions and Essay Scoring Guidelines.

For further information or to sign up for the essay contest email list, contact the contest co-chairs at EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com
 
For teachers submitting multiple entries, you may email a list of participating students along with the school name and address, your name and email address, and the number of 6th graders in your class to EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com rather than completing multiple submission forms.

Attention SWE RMS members: Please contact Meghan Collins or Kristen Bonifield at EssayContestSWERMS@gmail.com if you are interested in being a volunteer judge for next year's Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest.

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