Instructions
2016 GLOBE International Virtual Science Fair
Overview:
The 2016 GLOBE International Virtual Science Fair takes place online, and students from any GLOBE country may participate. GLOBE students should use the GLOBE data they entered into the database and should collaborate with scientists, including scientists who are part of the GLOBE International Scientists' Network (GISN). This is a great opportunity for students to practice the skills they've learned through their involvement in The GLOBE Program and apply them to address real-world problems. It can be hard work, but the excitement that comes with discovery and new insights makes it worthwhile.
Every project that is submitted will be hosted on the Student Research Reports section and qualified entries will be entered for a chance to receive a stipend to attend the 2016 GLOBE Annual Meeting. There is no limit to the number of entries per student or per school and there is no limit to the number of students per project.
Details on how to enter are described below and in page links listed on the left. If you have any questions, please email help@globe.gov.
Note: If you are interested in translating the instructions, please let us know! Send an email to help@globe.gov.
Webinar announcement:
"Preparing for the 2016 GLOBE International Virtual Science Fair: An Overview of Resources and the Rubrics"
Dr. Julie Malmberg, Education, Outreach, and Technology Specialist at the GLOBE Implementation Office, and Matt Silberglitt, Senior Research Associate in the STEM Program at WestEd, hosted an informational webinar on 16 December 2015. The webinar provided an overview of available resources for teachers and students and covered the details of the scoring rubrics.
How and What to Submit | Scoring | Awards | Timeline
How and What to Submit:
Each student project should include the following components and should be submitted via the Virtual Science Fair Report Tool (coming soon!). Make sure to have all the items prepared when accessing the tool.
- Abstract or Summary: A 200 word or less description of the research project.
- Research Report: The complete research report as .PDF or .DOCX/.DOC. If including more than one language, make sure the report is just one file. Elements of the Research Report are described in the rubrics.
- Presentation: Either the link to an uploaded video hosted on an online video sharing site (YouTube, Vimeo, TeacherTube, etc) or the presentation poster. Whether presented as a video, a narrated PowerPoint, or as a poster, the presentation should describe the student research. Videos should be 10 minutes or less.
- Thumbnail Image: An image to be displayed with the student report.
- Photo Release Forms: All individuals who appear in photos or video must send in a photo release. Save all the photo releases into one file.
Scoring:
Information about scoring is provided on the Rubrics page. All projects will be scored by a team of judges from the GLOBE International Scientists' Network. Judges will ask the students questions and the students' responses will be included as part of the rubric scoring.
Every student project will receive a virtual Student Research Badge. Scored projects will receive between one and four stars on the Student Research Badge, with a 4-star research badge representing superior projects. Additionally, students have the option to complete up to five additional badges including collaboration, community impact, connection to a local or network scientist, interscholastic connection, and engineering solution. Each of these additional badges will include between one and four stars.
Please note that if students choose to submit a report in a language that is not English, it will be shared with the community via the Virtual Science Fair webpages, but it will not be scored. Only reports in English will be scored by the team of judges.
Awards:
All students who submit a project will receive a virtual Student Research Badge and up to five additional badges. These badges can be displayed on GLOBE School Profile Pages, shared via Social Media, or printed out and shared with the students.
Students who earn a 4-star Student Research Badge AND at least two additional 4-star badges (from the optional five badges) will be eligible for a chance in the drawing. The student projects selected in the drawing, which will be announced on 22 April 2016, will be eligible for funds to help offset the costs of attending the 2016 GLOBE Annual Meeting.
Funding for the awards comes from Goldman Sachs Foundation (GSF), a global philanthropic organization, whose mission is to promote excellence and innovation in education; to help promote international literacy; and to raise students' awareness of the world's diversity. In 2004, The GLOBE Program achieved the GSF Excellence in International Education Award. GLOBE will use a portion of the funds that accompanied the award to facilitate travel to the 2016 GLOBE Annual Meeting for students around the world, in order to provide them with the opportunity to learn about each other's countries, environment, and culture.
Awards will be will be presented, by drawing, from among all eligible projects entered in the 2016 GLOBE International Virtual Science Fair. The monetary value of the awards is as follows:
- $2,000 for international projects ($2,000 per project awarded to 2 projects)
- $1,000 for US projects ($1,000 per project awarded to 2 projects)
Note: The higher award amount for international projects is to accommodate for the higher cost to travel to the 20th GLOBE Annual Meeting in Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
Timeline:
- Virtual Science Fair Report Tool available 19 January 2016
- Reports due by 11 March 2016
- Respond to comments from jurors 3 - 9 April 2016
- Open comment time 10 - 21 April 2016
- Projects selected in the drawing, scores, and badges announced 22 April 2016