RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS CHALLENGE STUDENTS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE COMPETITIONS Newark, NJ. On January 12 and January 14, dozens of scientists from several of New Jersey’s major research companies and universities will part with their labs for the day so that they can volunteer at the Central and Northern New Jersey Science Olympiads. Members of the Research & Development Council will lend their scientific and technological expertise to engage middle and high school students from 105 schools in the fascinating world of science. Hosted this year by Union County College (Cranford Campus) and NJIT, the Olympiad’s purpose is to stimulate students in the study of science, technology, engineering and math via hands-on, cooperative activities designed by the scientists’ themselves. It has become an annual tradition for R&D Council members to enlist volunteers to design, oversee and judge the NJSO academic challenges. R&D Council members who have contributed volunteers for this year’s tournaments include: Celgene, ExxonMobil, Hoffman La Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Montclair State University, NJIT, PSEG, Princeton University, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, Reckitt Benckiser, Rutgers University and UMDNJ. In addition to recruiting volunteers, the R&D Council also provided monetary support for the two tournaments. "The Science Olympiad is an exceptional program for students to fully appreciate how important and exciting science and technology can be, especially in an age where technology is an inextricable part of our daily life," said Tom Degnan, Chairman of the Research and Development Council and ExxonMobil Manager in Annandale, NJ. "It is exciting to participate in this tournament because this is where today’s scientists meet future scientists and, when seeing the young students’ ideas and innovation, we all benefit in knowing that the future is in good hands." NJSO Regional Tournament winners will advance to the State Tournament, which will be held on March 16, 2010 at Middlesex County College in Edison, NJ. About the Research and Development Council of NJ For nearly half a century, the Research and Development Council of New Jersey has been dedicated to cultivating an environment supportive of the advancement of research and development in New Jersey. Established in 1962, the Council was created to serve as a unified voice for the diverse R&D sectors to advocate for a favorable R&D environment for industry, academia and government. The Council's past accomplishments include: raising the funds for the design and construction of the Liberty Science Center, supporting the New Jersey Science Olympiad student tournament, hosting science and technology forums and annually awarding scholarships to college students pursuing an education in R&D related fields. For more information on the Council, please go to www.rdnj.org or call the Council office at (973) 274-8336. New Jersey Science Olympiad Since 1993, NJSO has supported education by engaging students in hands on activities focused on problem solving and critical thinking in the areas of science and technology. Each year, NJSO organizes one state and multiple regional science tournaments for each student age group-elementary, middle and high school. Winners of the State Tournament are sent to participate in the National Science Olympiad, which will be held at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana on May 10-11, 2010. NJSO sponsors include: Research & Development Council of NJ, ExxonMobil, Merck Institute for Science Education, NJIT, PSEG Foundation, Bayer Healthcare, Camden County College, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Middlesex County College, National Science Olympiad, and Union County College.