Clemson University's Department of Biological Sciences will conduct the 30th Annual Clemson University Biology Merit Exam on April 24, 2009.  This exam is designed for middle school and high school students for the purpose of recognizing and rewarding outstanding student achievement and promoting further interest in the life sciences.  The Merit Exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions, of varying degrees of difficulty, that are distributed among the major content areas of biology.  Each year the exam has a different "theme"; for example 2003's theme was the red imported fire ant and 2004's theme was the biology of sea turtles.  Also offered is the Biology Bowl, patterned after the TV show "Jeopardy", where students compete against others in their own division to answer questions on the following topics: general biological principles, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, cell biology, taxonomy, plant structure and function, and animal structure and function.  The top 3 individuals in each division receive awards.  While attending the Exam at Clemson, students also have an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the education and research facilities available on campus and are able to interact with scientists in the various biological and agricultural disciplines.

Through the award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, we attempt to increase the opportunity for  200+ students from distant and economically deprived middle and high schools to participate in the Biology Merit Exam by identifying biology teachers who wish to have their students participate and subsidizing their registration, mileage and lodging expenses for their classes.  Dr. Jerry Waldvogel directs this area of the award.  

The SC LIFE Project sponsored over 200 students and teachers from the following middle and high schools as they traveled to and participated in the 2008 Biology Merit Exam, April 17-18:

The  award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Biological Sciences Education Program allows the SC LIFE Project to fund the following items and events associated with the Biology Merit Exam for each of our sponsored schools:

• Bus transportation to and from Clemson University

• Overnight hotel accommodations for teachers, students and chaperones

• Academic activities on Thursday, April 17

• Welcoming reception and Science Expo on Thursday evening, April 17

• Biology Merit Exam registration fees

• Campus dining hall lunch passes for teachers, students and chaperones for the afternoon of the 18th