Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. Sept. 20, 2006--Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE), the creator of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, is sponsoring the first ever Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors. The competition encourages students in grades 5 through 8 throughout the United States to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by creating an invention that incorporates the use of Bubble Wrap® cushioning.
Source: Sealed Air Corporation

· Sealed Air Sponsors Bubble Wrap® Competition. View Multimedia Gallery

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 29, 2007. In addition, 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 deadline for entries is December 8, 2006.

"Sealed Air is proud to be sponsoring this competition and we see this as an exciting way to inspire America's youth to apply their creativity and ingenuity in innovative ways," stated William V. Hickey, Sealed Air President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors pays tribute to one of Sealed Air's most well-known and beloved brands and illustrates the Company's ongoing commitment to innovation."

Bubble Wrap® cushioning was invented by Sealed Air's founders in 1960 and was originally intended to be used as a type of textured wallpaper. The inventors quickly realized it was actually a superior cushioning material, and Sealed Air is 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.

Young inventors who are interested in entering the competition must be in grades 5 through 8 for the school year 2006-2007. Original inventions must incorporate the use of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, and entries must include a visual and written description that explains the name of the invention, the purpose it serves, how it works and how the idea was formulated.

The Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors is sponsored by Sealed Air and administered by the National Museum of Education. For additional information on the competition, educators, parents and students may visit http://nmoe.org/bubblewrap or email info@nmoe.org.

Business

Sealed Air is a leading global manufacturer of a wide range of food and protective packaging materials and systems including such widely recognized brands as Bubble Wrap® cushioning, Jiffy® protective mailers and Cryovac® food packaging products. For more information about Sealed Air, please visit the Company's web site at www.sealedair.com.


CONTEST RULES:
Are you America’s next great inventor? Sealed Air Corporation, the creator of Bubble Wrap® cushioning, is sponsoring the first-ever Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors to encourage students in grades 5-8 to 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 29, 2007. 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 to 8 for the school year 2006-2007.

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 Friday, December 8, 2006.
This should include:
A written description that includes the name of the invention, the purpose it serves, how it works, and how the idea was formulated. The description must be no more than 1,000 words.
Any of the following visuals that would best explain your invention must accompany your entry: clear photograph(s), a VHS, a CD or a 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 ten national semi-finalists, you will be contacted by December 16, 2006 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 27, 28, and 29, and to attend Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day on January 29, 2007. Sealed Air Corporation, along with The National Museum of Education (who will book the flights), 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, aside from 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 December 8, 2006.


How To Enter
Inventions must be original. Each entry should be submitted by one student working alone, with the mentorship of parent(s) and/or a teacher/mentor.

Invention categories: (suggestions but not limited to)

Apparel
Household
Automotive
Lawn/Garden
Construction
Media/Software
Cosmetics
Medical
Crafts
Music
Creative Packaging
Quality of Life Improvement
Education
Safety
Entertainment
Sports
Furniture
Textiles
Games
Toys
Transportation
Home Improvement


Official Entry Form. Submit a neatly completed Official Entry Form with your entry. It must be signed by the inventor, his/her parent or guardian, and his/her teacher/mentor. The signature on this form attests to the originality of the entry and verifies that the invention submitted meets the rules of the competition. Entry forms lacking the required signatures will be disqualified.

Sketch of Invention. Draw your invention with a diagram of how it works.

Essay. Prepare a description of the invention that does not exceed 1000 words. The description should be neatly written in black or blue ink or typed. The description should give the name of the invention and include the following paragraphs:

Paragraph 1 – Explain the use of the invention. What does it do?
Paragraph 2 – Explain the invention’s mechanics. How does it work?
Paragraph 3 – Tell how you came up with the idea.
Paragraph 4 – Explain why you think there is a need for this invention and how people will benefit from it in society.
Photographs, Videos, CDs, DVDs. You must send one or more clear photograph(s) of your invention that shows it in full and you using it. You may also send a video (VHS format), a CD, or a DVD of no more than 10 minutes showing your device and how it works.

Send Your Entry Materials. Send all entry materials including Official Entry Form, Essay, Sketch, Photo(s) and optional VHS Video, CD or DVD to:
The National Museum of Education
80 W. Bowery St., Suite 305
Akron, Ohio 44308-1148

DO NOT SEND YOUR INVENTION MODEL UNLESS YOU ARE NOTIFIED BY DECEMBER 16, 2006 THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE TEN SEMI-FINALISTS. If you are notified that you have been selected as a semi-finalist, you must immediately submit a working model of your invention via Federal Express to the address provided to you upon notification to arrive no later than December 20, 2006. (A Federal Express shipping charge number will be provided to you. Pack your model well; models received in broken or non-working condition will be disqualified.) Also, you and one parent/guardian must be prepared to travel to New York City during the weekend of January 27, 28, and 29 for possible national media appearances and for Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day on January 29, 2007 as a finalist and/or Grand Prize Winner.

Entry Deadline. All entries must be received by The National Museum of Education by 6:00 p.m. EST on December 8, 2006. Entries received after the above date will be disqualified. Faxed and emailed entries are acceptable, but keep in mind that photographs do not fax well.

The National Museum of Education is not responsible for: lost, late, mutilated or illegible entries nor for mail or shipment errors or delays resulting in omission, defect, delay, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by The National Museum of Education or Sealed Air Corporation on account of technical problems, or shipment problems or errors.

Please Note:

Do not put your name or other identification on any page other than the Official Entry Form.

Do not use report covers, binders or folders. All sheets should be 8-1/2” by 11”.
Staple all written materials, sketch, and photo(s) including the Official Entry Form with one staple in the left-hand corner.

Essays, sketches or diagrams, photos, videos, CDs, and DVDs will not be returned to contestants.

Students may enter only one invention.
Contestants who are selected as finalists and one parent/guardian must be prepared to travel to New York City during the weekend of January 27, 28, and Monday, January 29, 2007 for possible media appearances and Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day on January 29, 2007.


Permission to Duplicate. Students, teachers, and parents are welcome to duplicate any part of this competition information (including the Official Entry Form). All entries must be accompanied by a copy of the Official Entry Form.


ABOUT THE COMPETITION

This competition is open to full-time students who are in grades 5-8 for the 2006-2007 school years. These students must attend an accredited public or private school, charter school, or be home schooled, and must reside within the United States or U.S. Territories. Employees of Sealed Air Corporation, The National Museum of Education, and each of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible.

All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

All trip expenses will be awarded to the finalists and their respective parent/guardian. There will be no substitution of trip prizes.

Prize consists of only those items specifically listed herein as part of the prize. Hotel accommodations do not include incidentals, tips, telephone calls, or any other personal expenses incurred during the trip. Finalists and their respective parent/guardian must travel together. All taxes, fees and surcharges on prize or gratuities associated with any part of the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.

ABOUT THE JUDGING

Ten Semi-finalists will be selected and informed by phone by December 16, 2006. Three finalists will be selected and notified on or about January 5, 2007.
All entries received in accordance with the rules will be judged on the following basis:
35% Creativity
35% Practicality or Usefulness
15% Benefit to Society (How will it help people?)
10% Cost Effectiveness (Would the invention have a market?)
5% Clarity of essay, including spelling and grammar.
Each contestant is limited to one entry.

Winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, business executives, and educators. The decision of the judges is final.

After the judging of essays, drawings, photos, videos, CDs or DVDs, semi-finalists will be selected and notified through The National Museum of Education by December 16, 2006. Each semi-finalist must then ship his/her invention to the address provided at the time of notification.

Three finalists will be selected and notified on or about January 5, 2007. The three finalists will then be flown, along with one parent/guardian, to New York City for Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day (January 29, 2007), and the weekend before, January 27 and 28, 2007. All travel arrangements, accommodations and a $50 per person, per diem for meals will be provided by Sealed Air Corporation. All travelers must execute a Liability/Publicity Release prior to travel and must possess applicable travel documents (e.g. valid photo I.D.) prior to departure.
Entry materials, consisting of an essay, sketch, photo(s), video, CD or DVD will not be returned to the contestants. Semi-finalist inventions will be returned by The National Museum of Education or by Sealed Air Corporation, subject to the following: The three finalists’ inventions may be retained by Sealed Air Corporation and/or The National Museum of Education for up to 18 months, for promotional purposes.
Sealed Air Corporation and The National Museum of Education are granted permission, upon entry into the competition, to use (in their sole discretion) the contestant’s name, photograph, likeness, and entry materials including the invention, for publicity purposes. Acceptance of the prizes constitutes permission to Sealed Air Corporation and its agencies to use the winner’s name and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and promotion and trade without further compensation unless prohibited by law. By accepting the prize awards, winners agree to hold harmless Sealed Air Corporation and The National Museum of Education, their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, attorneys, shareholders, partners, controlling persons, predecessors, subsidiaries, affiliates, parent corporations, insurers, successors, and assign against any and all claims and liability arising out of their participation in this promotion or the use of the prize. Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by the participation in this promotion or use or redemption of any prize. By participating in this promotion, contestants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the judges.

The Deadline for entries is December 8, 2006.