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Sleek Geeks Science Prize - Secondary School
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Sponsor
The University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize is sponsored by University of Sydney.
Description
The University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize encourages students with a passion for science and for communicating ideas to tell a scientific story via a short film.
Entries must tell a real scientific story, which may be a scientific concept, discovery, invention, or the producer's own scientific hypothesis! Anything goes, but keep the science in the story, and keep the science real.
Entries are to take the form of a 1-3 minute film.
This competition is about scientific content and communication of the content, not production values ie. judging criteria are not related to how much money is spent on production and editing. While good quality production is encouraged, this will not be a major consideration in judging entries. After all, the Sleek Geeks use simple slides and stand-up comedy (with excellent research and writing) to effectively communicate science to thousands of people each year.
Please read the Judges Hints & Tips before creating your entry.
prize
1st - $4,000 plus a $500 book voucher from Abbey's Bookshop, Sydney
2nd - $3,000
3rd - $2,000
Purpose
Communicating scientific ideas and discoveries to the world is a tricky task. Each year, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney) and Adam Spencer enlighten thousands of Australians with their National Sleek Geek Week Tour.
The idea is to communicate a scientific concept(s) in a way that is accessible and entertaining to the public as a whole, while painlessly increasing their science knowledge or, as the Sleek Geeks like to say, "Learn something without even noticing".
Winning students will share cash and prizes. Prize money is divided equally between the winning students and their school. Book vouchers are shared equally by members of the winning team.
Each student in a winning team will also receive a copy of Microsoft Windows 7.
PLUS: A representative of the winning teams will win a trip to Sydney for the 2010 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Award Dinner on 17 August.
Judging Criteria
In assessing entries, judges will take into account:
1. Originality in the choice of the scientific concept(s)
For example, if everyone chooses to explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity, an entry that chooses Darwin's Theory of Evolution may score higher in this category in that no one else chose this topic.
2. Reality
No fake or loony science concepts please. We welcome innovative entries that may be explaining a new hypothesis or theory - but based on real science!
3. Quality of the science content
The purpose of the exercise is to explain a scientific concept(s) in an entertaining way - so there needs to be some real science content!
4. Originality of the communication method
For example, entries may incorporate music, acting, or multi-media applications in their entry to assist in telling the story.
5. Effectiveness of communication method
Were the communication methods effective? Could a person with no science knowledge understand the concept after watching the entry?
6. Audiovisual quality
Not everyone's audiovisual quality will be perfect. But the quality of the sound and picture needs to be good enough for judges to be able to see and hear the entry clearly enough to make a fair assessment!
In past years, the quality of sound recording - especially of voices - has sometimes made judging difficult. And if using music, remember not to drown out voices. Always check the audiovisual quality before sending in your entry.
The following websites have some great tips on basic video production: www.current.tv/make/training and http://channel4.com/fourdocs/guides/index.html
7. Adherence to time limit
8. Flair
That special "X Factor"!
Judges will also take into consideration the number of participant(s) involved in each entry to ensure that small teams and individuals are not disadvantaged.
The year and age of the entrants in each category will also be considered.
Judges may also select a number of highly commended entries that will be formally acknowledged with a certificate of commendation and available for viewing on the ABC Science website http://www.abc.net.au/science/sleekgeeks/eureka/2009/
Entrants are required to indicate on their Entry Form the nature and extent of any assistance they receive (eg from teachers, parents, from outside the school) in making their entry.
Teacher notes and lesson plan available here.
Conditions of entry
The prize is open to Australian secondary school students.
An individual can only enter once in any year, whether individually or in a group.
Entries may be submitted by an individual student or a team of no more than six (6) students.
An entry should be no less than 1 minute (minimum) and no longer than 3 minutes (maximum) in length, including titles and credits.
Online entry forms close midnight AEST Friday 7 May 2010. Hard copy entries will not be considered until and unless an online entry form has been completed.
Completed entries must be received by the Australian Museum no later than 5pm AEST on Friday 14 May 2010. Entries delivered to the Australian Museum after this time will not be considered.
Entries must be submitted in one of the 2 following formats (listed in our preferred order, based on quality considerations):
DVD (PAL 720x576 25fps)
DVD-ROM / CD-ROM (High resolution QuickTime is preferred, but other popular formats will be accepted eg. .mpeg, .wmv, .avi).
Note: Programs must be delivered in PAL format (not NTSC), and preferably in PC format. It will also help us if you record a minimum of 15 seconds of black before the start and after the end of your program.
Entrants must keep their original edited material (ie. your Windows Media (.wmv, .avi ) or Mac Quicktime (.mov) format) and may be asked to provide this to the Museum if they become a finalist.
Copyright considerations are the entrants' responsibility. All sources of information, including illustrations and music, should be clearly referenced, acknowledged and/or credited.
It is the entrants' responsibility to ensure that the terms and conditions of any sponsorship or funding agreements entered into with a secondary party to produce the entry are met, and that full disclosure of such agreements is included as part of the supporting documentation for that entry.
Submitted material will not be returned.
The work entered/nominated for this prize may not be entered/nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
Information provided by the entrant(s) in relation to the University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize (including photos and videos), may be used by the Australian Museum and the University of Sydney for promotional/publicity purposes. This may include, and is not restricted to, the information being used on websites, social media, printed material, advertisements, press releases etc.
Personal information provided in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will be used only by the Australian Museum and only in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
How to enter
1. Complete an online entry form
Submit the online entry form before midnight AEST on Friday 7 May 2010. Make sure you print out a copy.
2. Prepare your hard copy entry
Prepare your hard copy entry by:
1) printing a copy of your online entry form as submitted
2) attaching it to a copy of your film submitted in one of the approved formats.
3. Submit your entry
The printed copy of your online entry form as submitted together with one copy of your film in the approved format should be sent to:
Sleek Geeks Eureka Prize - SecondaryAustralian Museum6 College Street
SYDNEY NSW 2010
4. Deadline for submission of entries
Your entry must be sent by post or courier to arrive at the Australian Museum by 5.00pm AEST on Friday 14 May 2010.
Entries received after that time will not be accepted.
If you require further information or help, please contact the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Unit on +61 2 9320 6483 or email eureka@austmus.gov.au
