Elsevier Launches Reaxys ChemSearch Challenge and Engineering Academic Challenge for the Next Generation of Chemists and Engineers

NEW YORK, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Active learning challenges task engineers and chemists with solving real-world problems using digital tools 

Elsevier, the information analytics company specializing in science and health, has announced the launch of two game-based learning challenges, the Reaxys ChemSearch Challenge (CSC) and the Engineering Academic Challenge (EAC). The challenges are designed to help students tackle contemporary, real-world problems by embracing a transdisciplinary approach to finding solutions. As part of each challenge, participants will need to take into account external factors such as geography or alternative disciplines to find effective solutions. Both challenges are global events that use active learning to help teachers and librarians promote information literacy among undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers in industry and education.

Registration for the Reaxys ChemSearch Challenge opened on March 27 and the challenge officially launched on April 2 during the ACS Annual Meeting. The game runs for eight weeks until May 26. As part of the challenge, students - either as individuals or working in teams - will be presented with a chemistry-related conundrum each week. Each weekly challenge consists of 4-5 questions and is based on exciting innovations in chemistry such as extreme miniaturization and pressing society challenges such as antibiotic resistance. Participants have access to Reaxys while they are solving the challenges and compete based on both the accuracy and speed of getting to the answers.

The Engineering Academic Challenge began on March 27 and will run for five weeks until April 28. It is based on the same principles as the ChemSearch Challenge and features five weekly problem sets for participants to solve based on some of the most pressing issues facing engineers in the 21st century, such as preventing nuclear attacks and sequestering carbon emissions based closely on the US National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges. Students will be required to use both the Knovel and Engineering Village databases in order to complete the problems.

"The 21st century presents huge challenges and opportunities for chemists and engineers to tackle. Solving issues such as climate change, sourcing clean water, cyber-security and energy production require many brilliant, inquisitive minds to be equipped with the requisite skills and tools to do their jobs." said Sumita Singh, Elsevier's Chief Marketing Officer for R&D Solutions. "At Elsevier, we are developing digital tools for engineers, researchers and students that help them develop the skills they need to be productive and effective in their scientific and engineering pursuits. The CSC and EAC are designed to enable students to learn how to utilize some of these sophisticated research and scientific information tools to find answers quickly so they can invest their time in solving real-world problems and spend less time searching for information."

Register here for the 2017 Reaxys ChemSearch Challenge. Watch the webinar on or before April 28 to be entered for a chance to win a ChemSearch Challenge event.

Register here for the 2017 Engineering Academic Challenge.

About Elsevier 

Elsevier is a global information analytics company that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 35,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics to professionals and business customers, in a wide range of industries. www.elsevier.com

Media contact
Christopher Capot
Director, Corporate Relations, Elsevier
+1-917-704-5174
c.capot@elsevier.com