C0deEX — Education for Excellence

You Be The Solution Chemistry Team

Formerly the You Be The Chemist Challenge. C0deEX trains Massachusetts' most successful middle school chemistry team.

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  • 2nd in the nation2025 National Challenge, First Runner-Up
  • $12,000Educational scholarship, 2025
  • 3× state championsMassachusetts, in the last five years

About the challenge

The CEF You Be The Solution Challenge, run by the Chemical Educational Foundation, is a team-based STEM competition that builds critical thinking, communication and problem-solving through chemistry.

Our team trains in Acton and has represented Massachusetts at the national level, finishing as First Runner-Up at the 2025 National Challenge — one of only five state champion teams to reach Nationals.

  • Grades: 6–8; advanced 5th graders may also join
  • Workshop: Mondays, 6:30–8:00 PM, November 9, 2026 – February 15, 2027
  • Tuition: shown when you register
  • Coach: Trina Overgaard Toups, M.S., Physical Chemistry
C0deEX team members in a hands-on lab session at the National Challenge
Lab sessions with industry chemists during National Challenge week, 2025.

What students learn

  • Chemistry content well beyond the middle school curriculum
  • Timed practice in the competition's question formats
  • Team strategy, communication and problem-solving under time pressure
  • Access to workshop materials anytime through the C0deEX learning platform

The season

  1. EnrollEnroll in the C0deEX workshop program.
  2. Train weeklyAttend in-person, instructor-led workshops; materials are available anytime through the C0deEX learning platform.
  3. QualifyWorkshop tests and quizzes determine team composition.
  4. Regional ChallengeCompete at the regional challenge at MIT, early to mid-March.
  5. Team videoSubmit completed team videos by the end of March.
  6. ResultsState winners and national finalists are announced in early May.
  7. FeedbackTeams receive answers, percentile ranking and video feedback in May.
  8. NationalsFinalists compete for scholarships at the National Challenge in early June.

Workshop schedule, 2026–27

Workshops meet at 136 Great Rd, Acton.

DateTimeLocation
Monday, November 9, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, November 16, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, November 23, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, November 30, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, December 7, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, December 14, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, December 21, 20266:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, December 28, 2026No class
Monday, January 4, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, January 11, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, January 18, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, January 25, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, February 1, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, February 8, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
Monday, February 15, 20276:30 – 8:00 PMActon
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Our results

National and state results by year are on our Achievements page, with photos from the National Challenge in the gallery.

Why students should take part (video)

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Find the right program for your student

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