Mars Area Middle School will offer an Information Meeting at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, for any seventh- and eighth-graders interested in participating in the 2017-2018 “You Be the Chemist” Challenge.

The school will administer the qualifying exam for the competition during Activity Period (Rotation #1) on Thursday, Feb. 8. Out of those who score highest on the exam, eight students and two alternates will be selected to compete in the local challenge on Saturday, March 17.

The question-and-answer competition engages students in fifth through eighth grades in learning important chemistry concepts, historical discoveries and safety awareness. The students that place in the Top 3 at the local event will advance to the state competition.

The Chemical Education Foundation and BASF Corporation sponsor the challenge. For more information, call (724) 625-3145.