The New Jersey Science Teachers Association

and

Merck Institute for Science Education

announce the

62nd Annual Merck State Science Day

 Tuesday,  May 22, 2012

   6 2 nd   
A N N U A L
M  E  R  C  K
S   T   A   T   E
S C I E N C E
D   A   Y
MAY 22,  2012

Program

The Merck State Science Day program provides for competition between individuals and among teams of secondary school students in the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics and Environmental Science.

Location

The Merck State Science Day program will be held simultaneously at each school that registers. Schools are encouraged to get together at a mutual location.

Time

The examinations must be completed in a 2 hour time block on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Answer sheets must be returned in the envelope provided on the day of the competition by US mail or UPS. All answer sheets must be received on or before Friday, May 25, 2012. Answer sheets that arrive after that date will not be scored.

Eligibility

Students from grades 9 through 12 are eligible to compete. The Integrated Science exam is for students who have taken only one year of each science, but have NOT taken an AP level or second year course in ANY science. ALL AP students MUST take the Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Advanced Integrated Science within the Environment Exams.

Tests

An Integrated Science exam incorporating first year level Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics will be given again this year. There will also be exams for second year/AP Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The Advanced Integrated Science within the Environment Exam integrates all the sciences at a high level and is for students who are taking, or have completed, advanced and AP level science courses. Questions will be scenario based and require students to integrate knowledge from all sciences to solve the problems and questions.

Number of Entrants

Each secondary school in New Jersey is invited to enter one or more students as follows:

• If the total enrollment is 500 or fewer, the school may enter 3 students per exam, for a maximum number of 15 students.
• If the total enrollment is 501-1000, the school may enter 4 students per exam, for a maximum number of 20 students.
• If the total enrollment is over 1000, the school may enter 5 students per exam, for a maximum number of 25 students.
• All schools will receive a complete team packet of tests for the appropriate school size.

Individual Scores

Individual scores in each subject and the integrated tests will be computed on the basis of the number of correct answers.

Team Scores

Team scores will be computed in each subject only when there is a complete team (maximum number of participants allowed for that test). All scores will count towards the team score. Team scores on each test will be computed by summing the individual scores of the complete team and dividing the sum by the number of team members.

Combined Team Scores

A combined team score will be computed only when there is a complete team score in all exams. The combined team score will be computed by summing the five complete team scores and dividing by five.

Local MSSD Exam Coordinator

The Local MSSD Exam Coordinator is a high school faculty member or administrator who will register the team, receive the exam packet, supervise the administration of the exams, and return the answer sheets via US mail or UPS the day of the competition.

Calculators

Calculators may be used. However, calculators with programmatic capability may not be used.

Announcement of Results

Each participating school will receive electronically a complete list of winners as soon as the results have been computed.

Engraved Plaques

Engraved plaques will be awarded to the schools placing first through fifth in the state combining the three second year subjects and two Integrated Science tests (total of 5 plaques), and to the schools placing first through fifth in the state in each individual second year discipline and Integrated Science tests (total of 25 plaques).

State Awards

The top 4 students in the state in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Integrated Science, and Advanced Integrated Sciences will receive a commemorative gift and an honor cord. These students, known as Merck Scholars, will be honored with their coach and parents at a special ceremony to be held on Thursday, June 7, 2012, at Merck and Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ. Students ranking 5th through 19th in the state will receive an Honorable Mention award.

County Awards

A plaque will be awarded to the school with the highest combined team scores in each county provided at least 2 schools in the county participate. The student with the top score in the county on each test will receive a certificate of recognition under the same provision.

Certificate of Participation

Each student competing in the Merck State Science Day program will be awarded a certificate of participation.

Registration

All registration, student, and scholar information will take place online this year.
Registration will be active from February 1 to April 13, 2012.

Please complete the registration forms HERE.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 13, 2012

Confirmation of registration will be sent electronically. All registrants must have a working email address.

Inquiries

Please email inquires to:

Email: MerckSSD@gmail.com
Voice: 201-787-0108
Fax: 973-822-2575

Merck State Science Day Committee

The Merck State Science Day program is made possible by a grant from the Merck Institute for Science Education