The second annual online Google Science Fair competition is getting even more global this year, allowing teenagers between 13 and 18 to submit entries in 13 languages for projects that could make a practical difference in the lives of a group or community.
Touted as the world’s largest online science fair, the competition launched in 2011 and raked in more than 7,500 entries from more than 90 countries. This year, Google will accept submissions in 13 languages – submissions were previously required to be in English. In addition, there will be 90 regional finalists: 30 each from the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and Asia Pacific. There is also a new “Science in Action” award for a project that addresses a social, environmental or health issue.
“It could be a new take on particle physics or game theory," Google said on its event site. "It could be a cost-effective way to provide clean water to a remote community or maybe a project like reducing the carcinogenic properties of grilled chicken (that was one of last year’s winning entries). It should definitely be inspired."
The Google Science Fair judging panel is made up of an international team of scientific experts from a wide range of fields, from biology, physics and chemistry to computer science.
Prizes include scholarships, a scientific trip to the Galapagos Islands and real-life work opportunities, such as with CERN – a European organization for nuclear search – in Switzerland.