CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.,
Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A
student team from the University of
Minnesota rocketed their way to victory and a $25,000 prize in the annual Bayer Alka-Rocket
Challenge held here today at Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex.
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A panel of judges, along with a GUINNESS WORLD
RECORDS™ Adjudicator, affirmed the University of Minnesota team launched an
Alka-Seltzer powered rocket they designed to an altitude of 535
feet – a height that, along with a safe recovery, earned them the
top score in the competition and the cash prize. The Golden
Gophers, however, did not break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
title earned at last year's Challenge with an 883-foot launch by a
rocket team from Brigham Young
University (BYU).
Created by Bayer, the competition challenges college teams to
design and launch an Alka-Rocket in order to achieve the greatest
height possible before initiating a controlled and safe descent.
Alka-Rockets are model rockets often built using a 35mm film
canister propelled by the chemical reaction that occurs when
effervescent tablets are mixed with water.
The University of Minnesota team
competed against four other finalist teams from BYU, California
Polytechnic University, Schoolcraft
College (Michigan) and the
University of Georgia.
"As in years past, this annual competition has been a blast –
for these students, myself and my fellow judges, and everyone else
involved," said Dr. Mae Jemison,
former NASA astronaut and the first woman of color in space. "The
creativity, engineering prowess, execution and commitment
of each team to develop their Alka-Rockets is an inspiring
demonstration of how STEM education is alive and well across the
country."
"We're certain that each of these students will make their mark
in science, engineering or innovation – the areas that are
extremely critical for our country's success," she added.
In addition to Dr. Jemison, judges of the Challenge were
Karin Ann Payne, Vice President of
Quality for Bayer, as well as NASA representatives Omaid Sharifi
and Max Ludden.
Bayer created the Challenge to generate awareness about the
country's need for more scientists, engineers and innovators. For
more than 20 years, Bayer has had a longstanding commitment to
science literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) education.
"This competition is a fun way to spotlight the very serious
STEM challenges that our country and our world face today," said
Raymond F. Kerins Jr., Senior Vice
President of Corporate Affairs for Bayer. "Bayer is proud to
sponsor this annual event that helps to shine a light on our
country's next generation of STEM leaders – who today used
Alka-Seltzer effervescent tablets and water, but tomorrow will be
pushing the envelope of science, technology, engineering and
mathematics."
"We congratulate all the finalists who participated and the
University of Minnesota for their
victory," he added.
Alka-Rockets are often used in American science classes to
demonstrate principles of chemistry and physics. For more than a
quarter century, Alka-Rockets have been a staple experiment in
Bayer's award-winning science literacy initiative in the United States.
Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life
science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and
services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to
overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging
global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its
earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer
is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the
Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout
the world. In fiscal 2018, the Group employed around 117,000 people
and had sales of 39.6 billion euros.
Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion
euros, R&D expenses to 5.2
billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.
Contact:
Daniel Childs
Bayer U.S.
Email: daniel.childs@bayer.com
Tel: 973-437-0809
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Bayer® and the Bayer Cross® are registered
trademarks of Bayer.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain
forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and
forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to
material differences between the actual future results, financial
situation, development or performance of the company and the
estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in
Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at
www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to
update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to
future events or developments.
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SOURCE Bayer US