How do I start my essay?

Any ideas for this essay topic and how I should start off the essay itself?

• In my school district we are having a contest between all ninth graders, and the prize is a laptop. We have to write an essay that can increase awareness of the importance of diverse perspective as it relates to problem solving and creativity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Here's part of the instructions: "Diversity Driving Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Discuss how diverse points of view are important for problem solving or creativity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). You can focus on any of the following areas: Developing a Diverse Team: Choose a STEM dilemma in current affairs. Discuss the team you would create to solve this dilemma, the strength of each team member, and why you think this would be the best team. Innovation with a Diverse Team: Discuss how diverse points of view could be used in creating something new in STEM and how each team member contributed to the success of this project (create your own product and develop your own team). Problem Solving with a Diverse Team: Discuss how a problem in STEM was solved by using diverse points of view, and why this was important." As I said above, I could win a laptop, and I would really, really like to win, but I can't come up with any ideas. Can anyone help me? P.S.: This may require me and you discussing it every now and then, so if you could leave your email, that would be great.

• Answer:

  I would write an essay on the race to decode the human genome. The government scientists said it would take 10 years, Craig Ventner did it in 2 years. Competition works! Use the articles on wikipedia to learn about this contest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project ++++++