The Contest

NEW! 2008-09 BUBBLE WRAP® COMPETITION FOR YOUNG INVENTORS LAUNCHED!

Are you America’s next great inventor? Sealed Air Corporation, the creator of Bubble Wrap® cushioning, is sponsoring the Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors to encourage students in grades 5–8to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by creating an invention that incorporates the use of Bubble Wrap® cushioning.  Three finalists will win a three-day trip to New York City, where the Grand Prize Winner will be announced on Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day, January 26, 2009.  The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $10,000 savings bond, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $5,000 and $3,000 respectively in savings bonds.*  The teacher/mentor of each finalist will receive a $500 gift card.

Bubble Wrap® cushioning was invented in 1960 by Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, and was originally intended to be used as textured wallpaper; however, the two inventors quickly realized it was actually a superior cushioning material and went on to found Sealed Air Corporation, now a global, Fortune 500 company that offers a wide range of packaging solutions and has annual sales in excess of $4 billion.  Sealed Air is widely recognized for its strong commitment to innovation and continues to be an industry leader in research and development.



How to become a National Semi-finalist:

• Young Inventors must be students in grades 5–8 for the school year 2008–2009.
• Original inventions must incorporate the use of Bubble Wrap® cushioning.
• To enter the competition, the following must be received at The National Museum of Education no later than 6:00 p.m. EST on Monday, November 3, 2008. This should include:
  

• A written description in English that includes the name of the invention, its purpose, how it works, how the idea was created and how it will be used, or make everyday life easier or more enjoyable.  The description must be no more than 1000 words.
• A clear design or drawing (drawn in thick dark blue or black ink or flair tip pen).
• One or more clear photograph(s) of your invention that shows it in full and you using it.
• Any of the following visuals (optional): a VHS, CD or DVD depicting the invention and its use.
• The young inventor’s name, his or her age, grade and school, sponsor (teacher/parent/guardian), along with an address, phone number, and cell phone, FAX and email (if available), clearly marked on all mailed items.
• If you are selected as one of the national semi-finalists, you will be contacted by Monday, November 10, 2008 by phone, email or FAX (if available), and mail.  The national semi- finalists that are not selected as finalists will each receive a $500 savings bond.*
• Young inventors and one parent/guardian must be prepared to fly to New York City the weekend of January 23-26, 2009 and to attend Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day on January 26, 2009.  Sealed Air Corporation, along with The National Museum of Education will be responsible for all travel arrangements within the domestic U.S. along with accommodations for the three finalists and their respective parent/guardian.
• Young inventors must be willing to participate in publicity events and media interviews surrounding Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day.
• The National Museum of Education and Sealed Air Corporation cannot return the contestant submissions except the models chosen for semi-finalist and finalist judging.

*savings bond values are at maturity for United States Series EE paper savings bonds.

The Deadline for entries is November 3, 2008.

< Click Here to Learn How to Enter >

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2008 BUBBLE WRAP® COMPETITION FOR YOUNG INVENTORS -- WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Click Here to see the details!

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The 2007 Winners

<PROMOTIONAL VIDEO / MEDIA RELEASE>

Winners Left to Right: Grayson Rosenberger (Grand Prize Winner), Megan Guerrero (Second Place), Alex Chalcraft (Third Place) with Sealed Air Senior Vice President Bob Pesci
<Click Here> for more about the 2007 Winners.

VIRTUAL TOUR of the Bubble Wrap weekend at Sealed Air Corporation in New York City. < CLICK HERE >