Assessment and Evaluation Criteria

Submitted projects will first be evaluated on a national level. This will be done online after the closing of submissions, in April 2017. If projects are selected to move on to the regional level, the contestants will be invited to take part in the semi-finals with all the other national winners in their region. In the semi-finals the national winners will present their project to a panel of judges. The regional semi-finals will take place between 30 April and 30 June 2017. The winners of the regional finals will then meet in Brussels or Toulouse for the international final in order to present their projects to a panel of international judges. This final will take place in July 2017.

Projects will be awarded points on the basis of the following criteria:

• Academic excellence (weight factor 20%)

An entry to the contest demonstrates academic excellence when it provides well-documented arguments, using scientific methods that are credible and verifiable, includes citations, makes critical use of scientific and learning resources and showcases that the participants have acquired knowledge of the relevant contexts of the subject and have a depth of understanding of basic concepts and issues relevant to their project.

• Relevance to the stated theme (weight factor 10%)

With this criterion it will be assessed the extent to which the proposed project is relevant to the thematic category selected and to the topic’s scope. Relevant theory and literature to the stated theme should be used adequately.

• Problem-solving abilities (weight factor 15%)

This criterion will assess the contestants’ thinking processes to approach the topic of their entry, in terms of describing the problem, determining the data and information need to be found, planning and carrying out the solution or using alternative solutions and evaluating the selected solutions.

• Originality (weight factor 20%)

Key criterion for assessing entry’s originality is that the project is the product of team’s work and ideas and that it is unique, or novel, or unconventional. Even if the entry will be based on someone else’s work would still count as original if the team conceives a new idea, makes an original presentation of the problem, adopts a new approach or method or is implemented in an innovative way.

• Social relevance (weight factor 10%)

It will be assessed how and the degree to which the entry proposes solutions and ideas that have long-term direct or indirect social benefits and / or the degree to which it relates to a current challenge of our societies (e.g. climate change, tightening supplies of energy, water and food)

• Presentation (weight factor 10%)

With this criterion will be assessed the structure and format of the overall project and if its objectives, methodology and outcomes are clearly presented. It will also assess the logical organisation and linking of ideas, the clarity of expression and the use of appropriate supporting materials and technology (photos, drawings, slides, audio, video etc.)

• Technical merit and practical skills (weight factor 10%)

An entry demonstrates technical merit when it delineates a clear conceptual framework or theory that anchors the background literature and informs the design and key variables of the project. The evaluators will also assess practical skills, including observation, precision, communication, ability to record and tabulate results, use of technological tools or pure practical skills such as building, soldering, woodwork.

• Sustainability and environmental awareness (weight factor 5%)

This criterion will assess how environmental issues were integrated into the entry, through, for example, the exploration and discussion of project’s sustainability or through the use of eco-friendly materials or methods for the implementation or the presentation of the project.

Furthermore, a number of special citations to non-winning projects will be given out by the judges at each stage, which among others could be: most eye-catching graphic, most original problem, most professional presentation, most artistic submission, best use of music in a science project or most environmentally aware project.

Each team of contestants will be provided with a summary of the judges’ evaluation of their project at the time of judging.