FAQs

Q: What are the requirements to submit an IVSS report?

A: There is a list of requirements for submission on the "Instructions" page on the left hand side bar. Please refer to this page for a detailed description of what is required to submit an IVSS project. If you need any assistance, please email: globeivss@ucar.edu.

Q. My students have never participated in a science fair or symposia before. Can they still enter?
A. Yes! Students with a wide variety of expertise participate in the IVSS. Whether this is your first research project or your 100th, we encourage you to participate. And, if you have any questions along the way, let us know!

Q. Can I submit my project in a language other than English?
A. Yes. We are now allowing reports to be submitted in languages other than English. However, report scoring depends on which judges are available to score them and judge availability varies per year. If we do not have judges that can communicate in that language, those reports may not get scored. To ensure scoring, please submit projects in English and your native language. Please also include an English title with your submission when possible, as that makes it easier for us to search for it in our database.

Q: How do I know if my report has been uploaded?

A. You will receive an email confirming your report has been uploaded.

Q: How do I add a StoryMap to my report submission?

A. Include your StoryMap link in the video submission section of the report upload screen.

Q. I submitted a project, but isn't showing up yet. When do projects appear in "Student Reports"? 
A. For the IVSS, we wait until the due date to publish projects. If you don't receive confirmation that your report was uploaded, please send an email to gloveivss@ucar.edu to check and make sure we received it. 

Q. Can I edit my report once it is uploaded? 

A. Yes, you can edit your report once it is uploaded, up until someone on the IVSS team publishes it to the IVSS website. Our staff will start publishing reports to the website on and after the due date. After the due date, our team typically publishes submitted reports within 2-3 days after submission. Please make all edits needed within that window! To avoid error or your student's project not getting scored - please edit reports before submission and do not submit any duplicates.

Q. Can I use Google Translate or another translating program to translate my project?
A. Yes, the judges will then be able to score your project. However, keep in mind that Google Translate often makes mistakes. If possible, have someone familiar with English read over and edit the translation.

Q. I'm a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) professional. How can I be involved?
A. If you are part of the GLOBE International STEM professionals Network (GISN), we would love for you to help score the projects! If not, think about applying to be part of the network! If you are interested in scoring or mentoring projects, fill out the Volunteering form.  If you are interested in being part of the GISN, send an email to globeivss@ucar.edu.

Q. What if the scientist or other STEM professional I want to work with is not part of the GLOBE International STEM professionals Network (GISN)?
A. That's fine! But encourage the scientist or STEM professional to join the GISN. 

Q. I teach 1st grade. Can my students also submit a project?
A. Yes! We have customized scoring rubrics by grade level which include primary grades. Younger students will be scored differently than older students. We also have a webinar about K-4 projects and lots of K-4 resources. 

Q. How do the badges and scoring work?
A. Badges are virtual representations of a student's hard work, that end up published on our website once all projects have been submitted, judged and scored. All students who submit a project will receive a virtual Student Research Badge. Scored projects will receive between 1 and 4 stars. Additionally, students can elect to be scored for three more optional badges. These badges are described in further detail on the "Rubrics and Badges" page. Our judges will decide if students meet the requirements to receive the optional badges they requested in their research projects.

Q. Can I still get a badge if my project is not in English?
A. Yes!  All submitted student projects will receive a Student Research Badge. However, only scored projects (those in English or those in languages we have judges who can score) will receive stars and any potential optional badges.

Q. Do I have to use GLOBE data in my project?
A. Yes! Students must use GLOBE data and enter data into the GLOBE database. Not using GLOBE data in your research project will result in your project not getting scored. Students are also allowed to use others data sets in their report, but they must include some GLOBE data to be scored.

Q. How do I come up with ideas for my research project? 
A. To get some ideas, we encourage you to look at previously submitted Student Research Reports, active Field Campaigns, and Collaborating Satellite Missions. Additionally, many of the protocols have a "looking at data" section with even more ideas. 

Q. How many times can my project be entered into the drawing?
A. Each qualified project will get one entry into the drawing. However, there is no limit to the number of projects per school that can be entered into the drawing (as long as they qualify). Please do not submit projects for other teachers or schools before contacting us to make any needed special arrangements!

Q: Can I submit the same project for two different schools?

A: No. Please do not submit the same project for two different schools/groups. If different groups from different schools worked on the same project, you can include all of their info within one submission. Include one of the schools info in the "Additional Contributors" section of the submission tool and include all student names on the report as one submission only. If/when we receive duplicates, they often do not get scored. This could lead to your students' work not getting scored.

Q. How do I know if a project is eligible for the drawing?
A. In order to be eligible for the drawing, the student project must earn a total of three badges - a four star Student Research Badge, and two of their requested optional badges.  

Q. If I don't choose any of the optional badges, am I still eligible for the drawing?
A. No, please make sure to choose the optional badges and explain how you earned each of the badges in your student report. This is required in order to earn these badges and thus become eligible for the drawing.

Q. What should the thumbnail picture be?
A. Generally, the thumbnail image should somehow represent the research. For example, if the research is about leaf color, then the thumbnail image could be of a leaf. This image will display with the student report on our website.

Q. Does all the data I use need to be GLOBE data?
A. No! As long as you use some GLOBE data you meet the requirement. We know some students are interested in exploring scientific areas that are not GLOBE protocols. We encourage students to use GLOBE data and other data sets in their reports.

Q. Who do I contact if I am having technical issues or issues with my globe.gov account?

A. Please contact globehelp@ucar.edu for any technical issues or issues with your GLOBE account. Other IVSS questions can be sent to globeivss@ucar.edu.

If you have any additional questions that are not answered here, please contact us at globeivss@ucar.edu *Please note that ivss@globe.gov is no longer in use*