The You Be The Solution™ New Jersey Regional Challenge 2025 will take place Feb. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rahway Recreation Center.
The event, formerly known as the You Be The Chemist Competition, is organized by the Urban League of Union County and BASF. This year’s regional competition is presented in partnership with KOBO with ReWORLD Waste.
Designed for middle school students, the challenge centers on chemistry through a team-based STEM format. It is the flagship program of the Chemical Educational Foundation, known as CEF. Organizers say the program strengthens critical thinking, communication, entrepreneurship and problem-solving skills that support academic progress and future careers.
Teams of three to four students in grades 5 through 8 compete in two components. During the Regional Challenge, teams answer timed, science-based questions that test their knowledge of chemistry and related fields. In the Video Challenge, teams develop a start-up company concept focused on sustainability and community-based solutions, then present their ideas for evaluation.
The event brings together students, educators, and volunteers. Student teams collaborate on both the live Regional Challenge and the Video Challenge. Educators, including teachers, parents, and mentors, serve as team coordinators who guide students and manage logistics. Volunteers support the event as Challenge Organizers, overseeing operations, and as Video Evaluators who review and score submissions.
Organizers say the regional challenge connects classroom science to real-world applications and encourages students to see how chemistry can drive solutions in their communities.
Crystal Orr, CEO and president of the Urban League of Union County, said the event continues to grow.
“This is our third year hosting the Science Competition, and each year it gets better,” Orr said. “We’re excited to welcome new schools and to continue expanding the event with hands-on experiments that expose students to different areas of science. We believe in making science fun and uplifting STEM so young people can see themselves in these fields.”
Students and guests must register at www.uloucnj.org.
