High school students in Washington have the opportunity to participate in the fifth annual Washington Tracking Network (WTN) Youth Science Contest, as announced by the state’s Department of Health. This contest encourages students to explore health and environmental data from their local communities, fostering both scientific inquiry and communication skills.
Registration for the contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, with final project submissions due by 11:59 p.m. on April 15. This year, the Department of Health has enhanced the WTN’s Environmental Health Disparities Map to version 3.0, which operates on the ArcGIS platform. The updates include new data and metrics, reflecting insights gained through tribal consultation and community engagement. These improvements aim to assist students in identifying preventable health disparities linked to environmental factors.
“Students who take our health information and turn it into creative solutions can have a real impact on helping their communities be healthy,” said Jennifer Sabel, Environmental Epidemiology Supervisor. “We are delighted with the way this contest has grown since we started it.”
Participants can submit projects in one of three categories: Health Science, which involves analyzing WTN data to identify patterns or disparities; Science Communication, focused on raising public awareness; or Program and Policy Design, which requires participants to develop policy proposals or collaborate with local organizations.
All projects must integrate WTN data, provide an equity-focused analysis, include clear visuals, and reflect on the process undertaken. A panel of public health experts from the Department of Health will evaluate the submissions, with winners announced in late May.
Prizes for the contest include a plaque, recognition on the Department of Health’s social media platforms and the WTN webpage, and first-place winners will receive a mentoring session with a public health expert.
For more information about the contest and to access resources, interested students can visit the official WTN contest page. This initiative not only promotes scientific learning but also empowers young people to contribute positively to their communities through informed advocacy and innovative problem-solving.
