In 1999, the Think Quest competition was expanded with a new contest: "ThinkQuest for Tomorrow's Teachers." Teams were composed of classroom teachers, university students preparing for a career in teaching, and university faculty. Entries could be designed for one of three categories: Materials by Age Groups, Materials by Subject Areas, Materials for Use in Teacher Education. The team of: Kevin Erlinger and Pamela Van Walleghen, teachers at Urbana Middle School; Brian Dvorkin, student at the University of Illinois; and, Evangeline Pianfetti, University of Illinois faculty, entered in the Materials for Age Groups cateogry. Their entry "ScienceNet: Project Based Physical Science" presents nine projects and a java applet "Media Motion Grapher."

On October 18, Science Net was one of eight projects chosen as finalists in this year's ThinkQuest for Tomorrow's Teachers. On November 19, these finalists will travel to Los Angeles to attend the Fourth Annual ThinkQuest Weekend. Judging for the competition is conducted by the Internet Society. The judging weekend culminates on November 22, with a gala ceremony where leaders in the fields of education, science, technology, and government will announce contest winners. Bill Nye the Science Guy will be one featured celebrity awarding almost $500,000 in cash and awards. Visit the Awards Event.