Deadline: 3-Mar-23
Entries are now open for OurEcho Challenge, a STEM competition that empowers students to take a closer look at biodiversity in their communities.
Students will first identify threats to local ecosystems and then propose solutions to help preserve, protect, or repair those natural resources.
The Prizes
- First Prize: $5,000 (US) / £5,000 (UK)
- Second Prize : $2,500 (US) / £2,500 (UK)
- Third Prize: $1,000 (US) / £1,000 (UK)
Eligibility Criteria
- US students, grades 5 – 9 (or equivalent age) and UK students, years 6 – 10 (or equivalent age), are welcome to enter the OurEcho Challenge. Students may enter in teams of 1-3 and must have an adult mentor, such as a teacher, submit the team entry online.
- Given the age of students, an adult (21+) MUST submit each entry online on behalf of the teams they are mentoring. Mentors can be traditional educators, parents, and/or adult facilitators of more informal learning environments.
- Any former member of an OurEcho Challenge Finalist Team must not re-use their prior OurEcho Challenge finalist entry materials to enter the OurEcho Challenge.
OurEcho Challenge Rules
- The Contest is offered within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. Students (Grade 5 through Grade 9 (US) and Year 6 through 10 (UK) during the Entry Period, or equivalent age) are encouraged to enter in teams of 1-3. Given the age of students, they ask that an adult (21+) submit each entry online on behalf of the teams they are mentoring.
- Mentors can be traditional educators, parents, and/or adult facilitators of more informal learning environments. Note: any former member of an OurEcho Challenge Finalist Team must not re-use their prior OurEcho Challenge finalist entry materials to enter the OurEcho Challenge.
Judging Criteria
- The panel of judges may be comprised of EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council members, Aramco Services Company scientists, EarthEcho International employees. Board members, or partners, and middle school science educators. The panel of judges will carefully review all entries using the scoring rubric guided by the following criteria.
- Inspiration (33%) Conveys authenticity and a connection to local community issues and resources.
- Scientific Rigor (33%) Identifies an evidence-based issue with a proposed solution that alludes to the scientific method or the engineering design process.
- Feasibility (34%) Demonstrates a realistic solution that answers the question, “Is this DO-able?” with supporting information.
For more information, visit Ourecho Challenge.