FRIB, Michigan State University (MSU), and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) are kicking off the third annual Distinguished Trailblazers in the Sciences competition. For the competition, pre-college students are invited to create video presentations about scientists and engineers from minority and marginalized ethnic/racial groups who have excelled or contributed to the fields of nuclear science, accelerator science, and accelerator engineering.
There are two categories based on grade level:
- Category one: Grades 5-8
- Category two: Grades 9-12
Competition participants will create an original artistic design expression, personalized poem, musical performance (song/rap), video, or poster to highlight their selected “Distinguished Trailblazer in the Sciences.” They will then create an original video in which they present their submission. The submission deadline is 22 November 2024.
The competition was developed under the Student Training and Engagement Program for Undergraduates in Physics (STEP-UP). STEP-UP is a national organization of physics teachers, researchers, and professional societies that designs high-school physics lessons to inspire young people to pursue physics in college. It is a joint initiative between FRIB and Jefferson Lab.
To learn more, visit the Distinguished Trailblazers in the Sciences competition page.
2023 winners
Category one: Grades 5-8
- First place: Esther Cohen-Lin (Kinawa Middle School; Okemos, Michigan)
- Second place: Mahi Patel (Liberty Middle School; Tampa, Florida)
- Third place: Nathan Ponnudurai (Larson Middle School; Troy, Michigan)
Category two: Grades 9-12
- First place: Disha Abburi (Hillsborough High School; Tampa, Florida)
- Second place: Elizabeth Guyard (Jupiter High School; Jupiter, Florida)
- Third place: Josh Dupuis (East Lansing High School; East Lansing, Michigan)