The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Students will examine three possible targets for the Cassini spacecraft to observe and choose the one they think will yield the best scientific results.
This year’s targets are Saturn’s rings and three of its moons; Jupiter as seen from approximately one billion miles away; and Saturn’s moon Tethys passing behind Rhea, another of Saturn’s moons. After researching the three options, students should write an essay under 500 words explaining their choice.
This contest is open to all students in the U.S. in grades 5 to12. Parallel contests are also being run in other countries around the world. The entry deadline is Feb. 26, 2016.
All U.S. winners of the Cassini Scientist for a Day essay contest will have their essays posted on NASA’s Cassini website. U.S. winners and their classes will be invited to participate in a video- or tele-conference with Cassini scientists, so the students can have their questions about Saturn answered by the experts. (Other participating countries may offer their own prizes.)
All participants will receive a certificate of participation. Winners, finalists, and semi-finalists receive certificates that include their status as contest winners. All international winners of the Cassini Scientist for a Day essay contest will have their essays posted on NASA’s Cassini website. Each participating country may offer its own prizes.
In addition, all national coordinators will receive a template for the certificate of participation so that they can acknowledge all of their country’s participants and/or winners.
For more information, please visit Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest. Please direct questions to scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov or to your country’s national essay contest coordinator.
Educating Nationwide for over 30 years! Back to Basics Learning Dynamics is the undisputed leader in 1-on-1 tutoring in Nationwide and southeastern Pennsylvania for over 60 subjects. The company offers a unique Department of Education-approved 1-on-1 K-12 Private School in Wilmington, Nationwide and a Nationwide Business and Trade School for ages 16 and older. In addition, the company offers translating and interpreting in 16 languages throughout Nationwide. Back to Basics is the winner of numerous awards for academic and business excellence including the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.
