The Big Science Challenge calls for teams of up to 5 students to identify, research, and then design, a low cost, innovative and creative solution to a real water shortage problem in their local area, nationally or in one of the participating countries.
Teams may consist of up to 5 female and/or male students anywhere between the ages of 11 and 16.
Schools can submit one entry per school. Schools may wish to run an internal competition first to encourage wider participation and then put forward their best entry to The Big Science Challenge.
Teams should submit their identified solution in the form of a labelled diagram/poster or a prototype of their model or system. We want students to have fun with The Big Science Challenge so this can be as creative and colourful as you can make it!
Entries must also include all student drawings, notes, visuals and science explanations to demonstrate the thought and design process as well as the rationale behind the chosen solution in the additional notes.
Entries should document the following four stages of development:
Identify - students decide on the challenge. They will need to clearly articulate this in their supporting notes.
Investigate - students have to carry out some of the science experiments related to the problem and solution. They should write up the practical activities they have carried out and the results they have found.
Solution - using all of this information, students have to design a low cost, innovative and creative solution to the water shortage problem. Whichever challenge they choose, they should show their invention/solution either in the form of a labeled diagram, poster or a working model or prototype. A supporting conclusion and summary of findings should be included with the notes.
We have put together a teacher resource pack and student resource pack to help guide you further. Click on the relevant link below to download now:
Download the student resource pack in English or Arabic
Download the teacher resource pack in English or Arabic
What makes The Big Science Challenge so exciting is that it is open to young people across 9 different countries. We are encouraging schools in the UK and Middle East to share ideas and exchange information with each other as much as possible. Practising scientists work with international networks and we want students to do the same!
To help with students’ research, there is additional data on each of the eligible countries on our interactive map and a resource bank with links to resources in English and Arabic.
We have also set up an international forum, so you can exchange ideas and information with teachers in these countries and post questions on behalf of your students. In order to access the forum, you will need to register with Schools Online. If you are already registered, you can access the forum here.
As this is an international competition, entries must fulfil at least one of the international criteria to enter. For more information on eligibility and assessment criteria on this page.
The competition closing date is 3rd February 2012 and entries will be judged by a panel of experts from the British Council, Rolls-Royce and Institute of Physics in the UK and the British Council and local partners in the Middle East.
