PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 1,800 students from 11 schools across the U.S. were invited to participate in a national Solar Impulse Across America Challenge to win a live, virtual interview with the Swiss pioneers of the Solar Impulse project.
Sponsored by Bayer MaterialScience LLC and Making Science Make Sense® (MSMS), Bayer’s national science education program, the challenge motivated elementary-school students across the U.S. to think about what they would like to ask the world-famous Swiss pioneers, innovators and pilots of the Solar Impulse plane. This ultra-lightweight, solar-powered plane is capable of flying day and night without the need for fossil fuels.
Nick Turziano, an 11-year-old fifth grader at St. Michael Parish School in Wheeling, W. Va., was selected as the national winner of the competition. The questions were judged based on their creativity, uniqueness, imagination and relation to the science behind flight and solar energy.
Students from eight schools located in Bayer MaterialScience communities, including Pittsburgh, Pa., Baytown, Texas, and New Martinsville and South Charleston, W. Va., were tasked with submitting one question. Ten finalists were selected from the entries, and then Nick Turziano was selected as the top winner for his question, “Do the solar panels on the plane collect more energy when the plane is at a higher altitude?” He received the opportunity to participate in a live, satellite interview with the pilots, and his classmates in the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classes were also present. The interview took place today in the cafeteria at St. Michael and was followed by hands-on science experiments, facilitated by Bayer MSMS employee volunteers.
“This is such an exciting project and to be able to involve children and give them the opportunity to learn about energy, solar power, and airplane travel demonstrates our companywide commitment to science education and science literacy,” said Jerry MacCleary, president, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.
Bayer MaterialScience is a partner of the Solar Impulse Across America flight mission, which showcases several Bayer materials and technologies.
"When we learned about the Solar Impulse project and what its success would mean for the future of solar power energy, we knew it was important for our students to get involved by participating in the 'Across America Mission Flights' Challenge,” said Lee Gruber, principal, St. Michael Parish School. "We teach our students to be good stewards in school and in life, and that, if equipped with a strong vision, faith, and work ethic, anything is possible. The Solar Impulse project is a true testament to that fact, and we are very proud to have a St. Michael's student receive this national recognition from Bayer MaterialScience."
About Bayer MaterialScience LLC and Making Science Make Sense®
Bayer
MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance
plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer
MaterialScience business with approximately 14,500 employees at 30
production sites around the world and 2012 sales of 11.5 billion euros.
The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops
innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The
main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics,
construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability
is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around
the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility
and respect for the environment.
Making Science Make Sense® (MSMS) is Bayer’s company-wide initiative that advances science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science education, employee volunteerism and a public education campaign. Currently, 12 Bayer sites around the U.S. operate local MSMS programs, which together represent a national volunteer corps of more than 1,000 employees.
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience visit www.bmsnafta.com.
For
more information about Making Science Make Sense visit www.bayerus.com/msms.
For
more information about Solar Impulse visit www.solarimpulse.com.
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