Local You Be The Chemist Challenges

Local You Be The Chemist Challenges (Local Challenges) are where the excitement begins! Local Challenges represent the first level of competition and are organized in communities across the nation. Local Challenges encourage the collaboration of industry, educators, and all members of a community, as together, they provide students with a fun and enriched learning experience.

If you would like to bring the excitement of CEF's You Be The Chemist Challenge to your area, please browse the information below and contact us at challenge@chemed.org with any questions.

Getting Started...

Launching a Local Challenge site begins with local volunteers. Each site must designate a primary and secondary Local Challenge Organizer. These individuals are the key to growth and success of the Challenge! (If you are interested in being a Local Challenge Organizer, browse the Local Challenge Organizer page or contact CEF for more details.)

Once the Organizers are identified, the next steps involve securing student (school) participation and industry sponsorships. Whether you are an industry member, educator, or simply an advocate of science education, YOU can get the Challenge started in your community. Review the instructional guide, at right, to learn how you can champion a Challenge in your area.    

General Information

• Challenge Overview
• Important Dates

Organizers will send periodic correspondence to participating educators, who will give the appropriate information to student participants. All inquiries and comments about a Local Challenge should be directed to the student’s school and/or the site’s Local Challenge Organizer.

For general information about the Challenge, including student eligibility, please review the appropriate Guidelines below. Please remember that information about your specific site will be provided by your Local Challenge Organizer.

• 2011-2012 Challenge Guidelines (Educators)
• 2011-2012 Challenge Guidelines (Students)

For assistance or more details, please contact your Local Challenge Organizer or contact CEF at challenge@chemed.org. 

Study Materials

CEF offers study materials to help students succeed at every level of the Challenge. To prepare for a Challenge competition, students should begin by reviewing the Challenge study materials, including thePassport to Science Exploration and the Periodic Table and the Periodic Table of Atomic Weights handouts. (Students can access these materials at a local library or through their school’s media center if they do not have internet access at home.) Students should not only review the information on the periodic tables, but also be familiar with how to use the periodic tables to obtain additional information about an element or set of elements.

Challenge competition questions are based on an overall understanding of chemistry concepts and the relationships among various chemistry concepts. Please note: Questions are largely derived from information contained in CEF’s study materials but are not limited solely to this information. Students are encouraged to seek additional resources for examples and explanations of chemistry concepts as Challenge competition questions often require students to connect concepts and apply their knowledge of chemistry to both familiar and unfamiliar situations. 

See the Study Materials page to begin exploring the chemistry around you!

*IMPORTANT: Challenge competition questions (including the Qualifying Exam) are for competition purposes ONLY. Students should NOT receive, nor use questions (from the current year or any previous years) at any point to study.

 Where are the Local Challenge Sites in your area? 

Click on the map to find a 2011-2012 Local Challenge site near you!

 Challenge Organizers

For the 2011-2012 Challenge cycle, we made adjustments to the materials and registration process, so please review any information posted to our website or sent to you by a CEF staff person carefully. Thank you for your support and involvement in the Challenge!