World Colleges Information

The Google Science Fair:

Google is looking for the brightest young scientists from around the world to submit interesting, creative projects that are relevant to the world today.

Participation in this 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.

 Entrants can submit one (1) Entry either as individuals or as part of a Group Entry comprised up to three (3) persons (a “Team” and also the “Team Members”). Individuals who wish to enter the Competition whether individually or as part of a Team (each, an “Entrant”) must first register for the Competition (including designating a Team Leader and providing information for all Team Members, if applicable) and then submit their Project which follows the technical, creative, and legal entry requirements set out in these Official Rules and the Competition Site (which are incorporated herein by reference) (an “Entry”). An Entry may be submitted anytime at the Google Global Science Fair 2011 site located at http://www.google.com/sciencefair (the “Competition Site”) during the Open Call for Entries (see Rule 1). Entry Submission must be created either solely by the Entrant and by Entrant and up to two (2) additional persons, which will constitute a “Team.”

1. Registration: Entrants will be instructed to submit their “Application Form” (registration) online at http://www.google.com/sciencefair. Entrants (or if entering as a Team, the Team Leader) must have or create a free Google Gmail account. To register for a Gmail account, go to http://mail.google.com and follow the instructions provided. Entrants will submit their Projects in one of 3 different age groups (13-14, 15-16, 17-18) based on Entrants’ age on date of submission). In the case of a team Entry, the age category is determined by the age of the oldest team participant, who must be designated as the Team Leader

Upon receipt of the Application Form Google will email a Parental Consent Form to the parent/guardian of the Entrant and (if applicable) to the parent/guardian of all Team Members. Parental consent is a requirement for Entrants (and Team Members, if applicable) deemed minors in the area where they reside. Properly executed consent forms must be returned by a designated date/time to Google before an Entrant or Team is eligible to submit an entry. Parental consent is also required to use Google products and services in connection with and as part of participation with the Competition.

2. Project Submission:Entrants are required to use Google Sites, a free and simple way to create a website, and will be required to submit it either as a maximum two (2) minute video or maximum twenty (20) slide Google Presentation on the homepage of their Google Site. See http://www.google.com/sites for instructions. Using the Google Sites application, Entrants or Teams will be required to upload a synopsis video or slide presentation (but not both) and all other required information, as listed on the Competition Site. Entrants are encouraged to create their Project Entry by using Google Docs, YouTube, Maps, Google Earth, Google Search and any other Google tools which can be used in education.

Entrants can submit Projects in any one of the following categories:

1. Computer Science & Math
2. Earth & Environmental Sciences
3. Behavioral & Social Sciences
4. Flora & Fauna
5. Energy & Space
6. Inventions & Innovation
7. Physics
8. Biology
9. Chemistry
10. Food Science
11. Electricity & Electronics

Each Entry must contain the following elements:

12. About me/the Team: Initial introduction to the Entrant/Team and explanation of what winning would mean to them.
13. Project question: The scientific question about their hypothesis.
14. Hypothesis: Leading on from the question.
15. Research and Works cited: The research conducted to help them shape their question and hypothesis and to put their work into a relevant, real-world context.
16. Experiment: Demonstration, using good experimental techniques, including a detailed description of the experiment.
17. Data: Collected during the experiment to support a conclusion, recorded accurately and precisely, and presented clearly.
18. Observations: Description of the patterns or trends supported by the data.
19. Conclusion: An explanation of how the experiment answers the question or why it fails to do so and whether or not it supports the hypothesis.
20. Bibliography, References and Acknowledgements: References for sources of information that they have consulted and/or referenced and acknowledge any assistance received

The Google Global Science Fair 2011 competition described in these Official Rules (the “Competition”) begins January 11, 2011 at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time U.S. (“ET”), and ends on or about July 11, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM ET (“Competition Period”). The Google computer runs the official clock for the Competition and will solely determine the time by which an entry is received. During the Competition Period there is a single open call for the submission of Entries (as defined in Rule 4 below) (the “Open Call for Entries”) and two judging rounds which start and end on or about the dates and times noted below:

Note: All dates/times are Eastern Time Zone - United States

There will be 3 finalist winners, one in each age category 13-14, 15-16, 17-18. One of of the 3 finalist winners will be selected as the Grand Prize winner.

The Grand Prize winner(s) plus one parent or guardian per winner will win an amazing 10 day trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions. Traveling aboard the National Geographic Endeavour the winner(s) will visit Darwin's living laboratory and experience up-close encounters with unique species such as flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, and domed giant tortoises.

Google will cover the cost of Economy Class flights to the Galapagos from the winner’s home. The prize is valid for one year from 11 July 2011 and must be booked directly via National Geographic expeditions. The prize does not included items of a personal nature such as internet usage, laundry or spa services. Bookings are subject to availability.

The Grand Prize winner will have first choice of an experience at one of the following partner organizations:
CERN, Google, the LEGO Group, or Scientific American.

A $50,000 scholarship, split equally between team members should a team win this prize. This scholarship is intended to be used towards the finalists’ further education.

For more details: http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/index.html