NOBCChE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARD
National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers

PURPOSE
NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers) and the Rohm and Haas Company created this award to encourage African-American students of chemistry and chemical engineering to participate in undergraduate research programs.  Each year "NOBCChE Undergraduate Research Awards" are presented to undergraduate students of chemistry and chemical engineering judged to have presented the best original papers at the NOBCChE Annual Conference.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Submissions are requested with a national call for paper though a mail campaign to chemistry and chemical engineering department throughout the United States. Judges evaluate the submitted papers and choose the best papers in each discipline. Six finalists are invited to attend the NOBCChE Annual Conference to give an oral presentation of their research. In the event that any of the finalists are unable to attend and compete at the NOBCChE Annual Conference, alternates may be selected. The criteria to participate are as follows:

1. All entrants shall be full-time students enrolled at a college or university and pursuing an undergraduate degree in either CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS, POLYMER SCIENCE or CHEMICAL ENGINEERING with intentions to pursue graduate degrees in said fields.
   
2. The award is given for technical papers arising from original research. Presentations based solely on literature searches will not be considered. Entrants should have performed the majority of the research presented.
   
3. Papers should be no more than 20 pages in length including abstract, references, tables, and figures.

AWARD DESCRIPTION
The awards will be presented April, 5th 2007 at the Awards Banquet during the NOBCChE Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award consists of:

1. A first place award of $1000 and second place award of $750.
   
   
2. An offer of a paid summer internship at Rohm and Haas Company to each of the eligible finalists. Finalists must meet our corporate employment requirements including physical or medical requirements, negative result on drug testing, evidence of date of birth, and proof of identity and eligibility to work in the US for employers other than your current one.

COMPETITION TIMETABLE

SELECTION PROCESS
Submitted papers will be judged by a committee composed of industrial and academic scientists and engineers. Papers will be scored using an objective rating system based on the following:

1. Review of the written paper for content, presentation, and relevance.
   
2. Effectiveness of the oral presentation for the research paper at the NOBCChE Annual Conference.

TRAVEL EXPENSES
Rohm and Haas will pay for the transportation and lodging as well as will provide a food allowance for the finalists to attend the NOBCChE Annual Conference. The students are expected to participate fully in the conference activities while attending the meeting.

For additional information, contact:
Dr. Vere O. Archibald
Rohm and Haas Company
727 Norristown Road
Spring House, PA 19477
nobcche@rohmhaas.com
Phone (215) 619-5004
Fax to (215) 619-5001