Deadline: 1 April 2012
Open to: High school students between the ages of 13 and 18
Prizes: A scientific trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions, unique scholarships and real-life work opportunities in iconic science centers of excellence like CERN in Switzerland
Description
Have you asked a question today? What did you do with it?
Did it take you somewhere new? Did it bring you here?
The Google Science Fair is an online science competition seeking curious minds from the four corners of the globe. Anybody and everybody between 13 and 18 can enter. All you need is an idea.
Geniuses are not always A-grade students. All mavericks, square-pegs and everybody who likes to ask questions are welcomed to enter. Simply upload your project here to win some life changing prizes.
Everyone has a question. What’s yours?
It could be a new take on particle physics, or game theory. It could be a cost-effective way to provide clean water to a remote community, or maybe a project like reducing the carcinogenic properties of grilled chicken (that was one of last year’s winning entries). It should definitely be inspired.
You might already have the beginnings of an idea. Or just be hungry to get involved. Either way, you have until 1 April 2012 to work on identifying your question and building your project.
Categories:
You can submit Projects in any one of the following categories:
- Computer Science & Math
- Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Behavioral & Social Sciences
- Flora & Fauna
- Energy & Space
- Inventions & Innovation
- Physics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Food Science
- Electricity & Electronics
Prizes
Well, a world-class science fair calls for world-class prizes. They include once-in-a-lifetime experiences like a scientific trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions, unique scholarships and real-life work opportunities in iconic science centers of excellence like CERN in Switzerland.
This year there will also be a special Science in Action prize sponsored by Scientific American which will be awarded to a project that addresses a social, environmental, ethical, health or welfare issue to make a practical difference to the lives of a group or community.
So why not get started?
There will be 90 regional finalists who will each receive a Google Chromebook*. 15 finalists, selected from these regional finalists, will be flown to Mountain View California for a chance to compete to become a finalist winner in their age category: 13-14 age, 15-16 age and 17-18 age.
One of the 3 finalists winners will be selected as the Grand Prize winner.
The grand prize winner along with one parent or guardian will have the chance to visit the Galápagos Archipelago, Darwin’s living laboratory, and the home to an abundance of wildlife. Isolated from the mainland for millions of years, this rare wilderness provides opportunities to walk among colonies of animals and snorkel amid shimmering fish. The winner, along with one parent or guardian will travel aboard the National Geographic Endeavour and will have the opportunity to experience up close encounters with unique species such as flightless cormorants, blue footed boobies, and domed giant tortoises. This ten day excursion is filled with pristine National Geographic experiences that range from kayaking among secluded coves where sea lions frolic in the shallows, to skimming the water in a nimble Zodiac to spot the unusual mola mola fish.
Google will cover the cost of flights for the winner plus one parent or guardian to the Galapagos. This prize is valid for one year from winning the prize.
The Grand Prize winner will also receive:
- A scholarship from Google
The Google scholarship is worth $50,000 and is intended to be used towards the Grand Prize winner’s further education costs. If the Grand Prize is won by a team, the value of the scholarship will be split equally between team members.
- A once-in-a-lifetime experience
The Grand Prize winner will have first choice of a hands-on experience at one of the following partner organizations: LEGO | CERN | GOOGLE
- A personalised LEGO prize
A personal LEGO colour mosaic (one for each team member, to build her/himself) and 1 set of LEGO MINDSTORMS signed by the design team of LEGO MINDSTORMS, the CEO and the owner of LEGO.
- Digital Access to Scientific American archives for the School
The winner’s school will enjoy digital access for one year, commencing in July 2012.
To find our about the other fantastic prizes that Google is offering for the finalists, please visit this link.
Eligibility
Competition is open to individuals who are full-time students between the ages 13 – 18 and enrolled in a private or public school. Home schooled students between the ages of 13 – 18 are also eligible. An eligible minor must have his/her parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to enter this Competition. Sponsor reserves the right to verify an individual’s eligibility to participate in the Competition.
Finalists from Google Science Fair 2011 may not compete if they are in the same age group as the previous year.
Ineligibility: The Competition is not open to residents of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Myanmar/Burma, Syria, Zimbabwe, and any other U.S. sanctioned country and is void in Brazil and where prohibited by law. Employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives and their immediate family members (which means parents, spouses, children, siblings, in-laws, grandparents and grandchildren and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) or residents in the same household (whether legally related or not) of the Competition Entities and their respective parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotion agencies, legal and financial advisors, any and all other companies associated with this Competition (including other institutions listed on the Competition Site who are involved in judging), are not eligible to enter or otherwise participate in this Competition.
Application
You can submit one (1) Entry either as an individual or as part of a group comprised of up to three (3) persons (a “Team” and also the “Team Members”). If you enter the Competition individually or as part of a Team (each, an “Entrant” or “You”), you must first register for the Competition (including designating a Team Leader and providing information for all Team Members, if applicable) and then submit your Science Project (the “Project”) which follows the technical, creative, and legal entry requirements set out in the Official Rules and the Competition Site (which are incorporated herein by reference) (an “Entry”). An Entry may be submitted anytime at the Google Science Fair 2012 site during the Open Call for Entries. Entry Submission must be created either solely by the Entrant or the Team.
- Registration:
You will be instructed to complete the registration process at the Official Website. You must have or create a free Google account to complete the Application Form. To register for a Google account, go here and follow the instructions provided. You will submit your Project in one of three different age groups (13-14, 15-16, 17-18) based on your age OR, if older, the age of the oldest Team Member. After you submit your application form, Google will email a Parental Consent Form to the parent/guardian you listed in your registration and (if applicable) to the parent/guardian of all Team Members. Parental consent is a requirement if you are (and Team Members, if applicable) deemed a minor in your jurisdiction of residence. You must return your properly executed consent forms by a designated date/time to Google before you or your Team is eligible to submit an entry. Parental consent is also required for you to use Google products and services in connection with and as part of participation with the Competition. As part of the registration process for participation in the Competition, you must click the box stating that you have read, accept, and agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the terms.
- Project Submission:
You are required to use Google Sites to create your Project. See here for instructions; Google Sites are free to use for registered users. You will be required to include a Project synopsis (the “Project Synopsis”), either as a two (2) minute video or Google Presentation slideshow with twenty (20) slides, on the homepage of their Google Site. If the video presentation is longer than two (2) minutes, only the first two (2) minutes will be judged. If the slide presentation is longer than twenty (20) slides, only the first twenty (20) slides will be judged. Using Google Sites, you must upload the Project Synopsis and all other required information listed on the Competition Site.
Each Entry must contain the following elements:
- Summary: A brief overview of your project and an embedded video or summary presentation.
- About Me: Tell the judges a bit about yourself.
- The Question: Find a question that interests you about something that you have observed, noticed, or wondered about.
- Hypothesis: Address something that you believe is challenging which you are able to answer in a single experiment.
- Research: Summarize the research that you completed to support and answer your question.
- Experiment: Design, execute, and summarize an experiment that tests your hypothesis.
- Data: Report on all of the data, numbers, outputs, or outcomes from your experiment.
- Observations: Show an understanding of what you saw happening during your experiment.
- Conclusions: Explain how your experiment supported or contradicted your original hypothesis.
- References: Provide references for sources of information that you have consulted.
- Acknowledgements: Detail any help and support that you received to complete your project.
Your video or presentation must be embedded on the Summary page of your project submission template.
Entries and supporting documentation may be submitted in English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Hebrew, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Dutch, Korean, or Chinese.
For more information please read the Official Rules and Terms and visit the Official Website.
