An Auburn-based federal government agency is seeking nominations for four national 2008 Life Sciences Awards.

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation has recently partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to offer four monetary awards recognizing scientists, researchers, secondary school teachers, and secondary school students who exemplify excellence in life sciences.

Awards offered are: $25,000 Chairmen's Distinguished Life Science Award, presented to a scientist or researcher who has recently made a significant and positive contribution toward development of an innovation in life sciences; $10,000 Life Sciences Educator Award, presented to a current secondary school teacher with at least five years of teaching experience who is making or recently made a significant and positive contribution promoting the study of life sciences; Biology Student Award, presented to a current secondary student who is making or has recently made a significant and positive contribution related to the study of biology; and the Chemistry Student Award, presented to a current secondary school student who is making or recently has made a significant and positive contribution to promoting the study of chemistry.

All nominations are accepted online at www.ccolumbusfoundationawards.org.

Information on rules and regulations can also be found at the Web site.

The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, March 11. For additional information, contact Judi Shellenberger at judithmscolumbus@cs.com or 258-0090.