ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill spotlighted the need to develop economically and environmentally responsible forms of energy in the face of growing global demand.  This year, American high school students will work to solve the "supply and demand" problem as the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) launches its annual TEAMS competition.

With the 2011 theme, "Smarter Energy, Cleaner Planet," some 10,000 ninth- to 12th-grade TEAMS participants will gather for one-day events over a four-week period from February 14 through March 15 at 130 competition sites in 43 states and the District of Columbia, including 64 colleges and universities (listing at www.JETS.org).  

In solving specific "real-world" energy-related issues, TEAMS students will be challenged to:

• consider diversifying our energy supply to include nuclear, wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal.
• identify technologies that make our homes, vehicles, buildings and industries more energy efficient and our environment cleaner.
• safeguard a country's energy infrastructure from both an importing and exporting resources standpoint.

"By focusing on the struggle to meet the world's growing energy needs, TEAMS not only introduces today's students to one of the most pressing issues of our time, but also introduces them to engineers' key role in addressing and solving society's problems," said Linda Snow-Solum, JETS president.  "It's all part of JETS' 60 year mission to inspire the next generation of engineers."  

In March, JETS will announce "Best in State" awards for student teams at both the 11/12 and 9/10 grade levels.  In April, the two highest ranking teams will take top honors as the "Best Overall," receiving a $2,500 cash prize, team trophy, student medals and certificates.

About JETS

JETS is a national non-profit education organization dedicated to promoting engineering and helping students discover their potential for the profession.  

A solid framework of high school educators, corporations, professional organizations and universities incorporate JETS pre-college engineering programs in local communities throughout the United States.  JETS programs touch more than 40,000 students and 10,000 educators from 6,000 high schools across the country.  JETS participants are a diverse group – more than 50 percent are from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in engineering and technology fields, including one-third who are female.  

For more information, please visit, www.JETS.org.

SOURCE Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS)

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