Application Deadline: June 25 at 11:59 PM (PDT).
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual global competition for students to inspire creative thinking about science. Students ages 13 to 18 from countries across the globe are invited to create and submit original videos (3:00 minutes in length maximum) that bring to life a concept or theory in the life sciences, physics, mathematics or the science of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, there is an additional COVID-19 category. The submissions are judged on the student’s ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in engaging, illuminating, and imaginative ways. The Challenge is organized by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.
The Breakthrough Prize was created to honor important advancements in the categories of Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences and Mathematics. The Breakthrough Prizes are sponsored by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Pony Ma, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Anne Wojcicki. The Breakthrough Prize aims to celebrate the best scientific work and inspire the next generation of scientists.
The Challenge
To take part in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge (the “Challenge”), create a short video (3:00 minutes max) to explain a big idea in one of these fields:
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Life Sciences
- COVID-19
Eligibility
- Students ages 13 to 18 from countries across the globe may participate.
- You must be 13 years of age by April 1 at 12:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time (”PDT”) to participate in the Competition, and You cannot be older than 18 years of age (not yet 19) on October 1, 2020 at 11:59 PM PDT.
- If You are a minor, You must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to enter and Your parent or legal guardian must agree, on Your behalf and on his or her own behalf, to follow and be bound by these RULES and warrant that You are eligible to participate in the Competition.
- They welcome submissions in English from anyone of those ages, including homeschooled students, students with disabilities, and students from all over the world.
Criteria
Your video will be judged according to the following criteria:
- Engagement: Did the video capture the viewer’s interest? Did the viewer want to keep watching the video to the end?
- Illumination: Did the video explain the subject matter clearly, allowing the viewer to develop a genuine understanding of the video’s content? Did the video demonstrate a rigorous dive into the subject matter?
- Creativity: Did the entrant make an effort to approach the subject matter in an innovative or creative way?
- Difficulty: Is the subject matter challenging? Is the subject typically taught at high school level or beyond?
Prizes
If your video is chosen as the Winner, you will receive:
- $250,000 Post-secondary scholarship
- $50,000 Prize for your teacher
- $100,000 Breakthrough Science Lab
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge 2020 Global Competition