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MYSTIC, Conn. and WASHINGTON, D.C. — JASON Learning and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) are inviting young filmmakers, artists, automobile enthusiasts, and recycling advocates to participate in a contest that asks young people to build awareness around the different commodities that can be recycled from cars at the end of their lifespan.

The automobile plays an important role in our everyday lives. Many different commodities are needed to make all the parts that go into a car, and almost all of them are recyclable. In the Automobile Recycling Awareness Contest, students in grades 5–12 are challenged to research one or more of the commodities that go into making a car and find out what happens to each commodity through the automobile recycling process and beyond.

Students currently residing in the United States may enter the contest as individuals or in small teams of up to four students. Entrants must create an original video or poster in the style of an infomercial or awareness campaign to illustrate the process and challenges that go along with recycling their chosen commodity or commodities into a reusable form. Top video and posters will be used to help educate the public on the many different commodities that make up automobiles, how those commodities can be recycled to develop other products, and the importance of designing automobiles for end-of-life recycling.

“Last year, more than 11.5 million cars in the U.S. were recycled into commodity grade materials including metals, glass, plastic, rubber, and textiles,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “By exploring automobile recycling in a fun and educational way, this contest gives young people the opportunity to learn about the life cycle and value of every commodity. At the same time, it will encourage many students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math in fields such as the recycling industry.”

“At JASON we pride ourselves on connecting students with the real professionals working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to explore new frontiers and find new solutions to the problems threatening our environment,” said JASON Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Eleanor Smalley. “The Automobile Recycling Awareness Contest will teach students about the automobile recycling process from some of the industry’s biggest players, and give them the opportunity to think critically about the design and recycling of future automobiles.”

Entries must be submitted by February 2, 2015, and the winners will be selected by March 15, 2015. Prizes for the finalists include being featured on the JASON and ReMA websites, a year of JASON online access, a contest t-shirt, and, for two grand prize winners, a trip for the entrants and a parent or guardian to ISRI’s Annual Convention and Exposition in Vancouver, British Columbia, April 21–25, 2015.

For more information about the contest, including how to enter and submit your work, and JASON and ReMA in general, please visit: jason.org/contests.

JASON Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization managed by Sea Research Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the National Geographic Society. Named for the mythological Greek explorer, JASON is a nationally acclaimed, exploration-based program that links students — inside the classroom and out — to real science and scientists through technology intensive, inquiry-based curricular experiences. Learn more at jason.org.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ReMA represents more than 1,600 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, ReMA provides safety, education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. Learn more at isri.org.