Competitions

Last updated: March 18 2024

EarthEcho International’s OurEcho Challenge

The OurEcho Challenge is a STEM contest that empowers young changemakers to take a closer look at biodiversity in their communities. Young leaders will first identify threats to local ecosystems and then propose solutions to help preserve, protect, or restore those natural resources directly taking action toward United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 14 and/or 15.

This year, EarthEcho is excited to open the OurEcho Challenge STEM contest to youth leaders in the UK, ages 13-16.‍ Up to ten finalist teams will advance for a chance to win top prizes of £1,000, £2,500, and £5,000! 

Submission entries close 26 April. 

Details here.  


 The Welsh Sparc Award.

The award will provide financial support to students learning in Wales who are starting an undergraduate degree in #Electronics or a related course in the academic year 2024/25 at a Welsh university or one of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) partner universities.

Each of the 24 award winners will receive the following:A first-year bursary of £1,000 (paid in Oct 2024)

A learning and development bursary of £1,500 (paid in Feb 2025) Other benefits such as a mentor, peer support and opportunity to apply for the UKESF Scholarship SchemeThe award is part of the Spark their Imagination; power their future initiative - from the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) and Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult with the support of Innovate UK - which aims to encourage more young people in Wales to study and pursue careers in semiconductors https://bit.ly/48n20sg

To submit a nomination or to find out more click here


Science in Medicine School Teams Prize

The National Heart and Lung Institute and the British Heart Foundation’s Centre of Research Excellence at Imperial College London are offering the 4th Annual "Science in Medicine School Teams Prize" to engage sixth form school students with science in medicine.

This year we have 5 contests to enter:

  • The British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Prize
  • The Lung Prize
  • The Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK Prize
  • The Vasculitis UK Prize
  • The Global Health Prize

Any further information on the prize can be found here: Science in Medicine School Teams Prize 2024

IOP Teachers of Physics Awards

Nominations are now open!

The Teachers of Physics Awards celebrate the success of secondary-level physics teachers who have raised the profile of physics and science in schools and colleges. We know that teachers contribute an immense amount to society, and we wish to accord them the recognition they deserve.

With these awards, we honour teachers alongside distinguished research scientists, technicians and industrialists.

In this way we recognise that without dedicated teachers there would be no physics research community or technological base in society.

The winners receive a prize of £1,000, an engraved glass paperweight and a certificate.

There is now a single application system for all teachers in England, Ireland and Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Closing date is Saturday 30 March.

Details here.

If you were an Engineer what would you do?

A UK wide engineering competition for school pupils aged 3 to 19.

Are you looking for a way of bringing engineering into the classroom, but don’t know where to start? This competitions is one of our flagship STEM programmes that invites pupils of all ages in both primary and secondary schools to imagine if they were an engineer, what problem would they most like to solve? They do this by interviewing professionals from the engineering field to help inspire them to create their own design of a solution to a real-world problem through an annotated illustration detailing their invention. As well as annotation, they will put their formal English writing skills into practice by creating their own letters of purpose, detailing and explaining their ideas, using persuasive techniques to appeal to our engineer judges – a thoroughly engaging and immersive experience for pupils, teachers and engineers alike. 

Closing date March 22.

Details here.


The STEM Ambassadors Activity Competition 

You could win a 2-night stay for 2 in York and have your resource or activity featured in STEM Learning's Online Resource Library!

We're inviting you, our STEM Ambassadors, to enter our competition with an exciting STEM activity idea or a resource that you have designed.

It really is that simple! If you have a fun STEM activity you use when volunteering or an activity idea, comment below and tell us about it. Maybe you have designed a STEM resource or worksheet that learners love to use, share it below!

Your entry could be for Primary or Secondary and suitable for a class, small group or STEM Club, it's up to you!

 Submission Process:

Participants should submit their entries by replying to this thread: https://community.stem.org.uk/stemambassadors/discussion/win-a-2-night-stay-for-2-in-york-enter-the-stem-ambassador-activity-competition

 Prizes:

• Winner: A 2-night stay for 2 in York*, this can be a weekend or weekday, term time or holiday, double room or 2 singles/twin (date subject to availability) 

• Winner: The winning resource or activity will be featured in the STEM Learning Online Resource Library (Primary or Secondary)

• Honourable Mentions: Additional prizes may be awarded by the judging panel.

FIRST LEGO League 2023-2024

There are still spaces at these events and grants available to help towards costs!

The 2023-24 FIRST LEGO League MASTERPIECE season has officially begun! This season is all about putting the Art in to ‘STEAM’, with teams imagining and innovating new ways to create and communicate art across the globe. We are really excited to see all of the amazing and creative ideas that we know will be produced this season.

We will be  holding  4 regional events across Wales -

  • Pembrokeshire
  • Merthyr Tudful
  • Ebbw Vale
  • Cardiff/hybrid (Welsh Medium)

For more information, contact cerian.angharad@see-science.co.uk.

Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge 

The Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge involves 3 different pathways tailored to inspire 7-14 year olds to think as engineers in the context of British farming.

Each includes sequences of five curriculum-linked sessions.  Learners apply their knowledge and skills from maths, science, design technology and computing within the rich-context of British farming and agricultural engineering. The pathways are written by teachers-for teachers and lead learners through the engineering design process with embedding links to environmental sustainability.  When thinking and working as engineers, learners solve problems that are true to the challenges farms face, with ample opportunity for creativity, imagination and collaboration. 

The challenge is in its second year, and will culminate in March 2024.

Details here.

The Big Bang Competition

Know the next space explorer or climate change hero? Got an idea that will transform people’s lives? Inspire inquisitive minds to think big, challenge facts, ask questions and invent solutions with the UK’s top annual science and engineering competition.

Young people are amazing – help them shine and change the world. 

Join the fun! (…and develop skills along the way) 

  • Build confidence and teamwork skills 
  • Solve problems 
  • Get expert feedback 
  • Celebrate and share your work

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition is free, and is open to young people in the UK aged 11 to 18 in state-funded secondary education, who are home educated or who enter as part of a community group. 

Closing date fro entries 27 March 2024.

Details here.

Starpack Schools Competition 2024

Register now for the new  Schools Starpack Competition for pupils aged 9 to 17.  The competition has been designed to link to and support the school curriculum, especially Design &  Technology, and encourage young people to consider  the important role played by packaging in protecting  the products we take for granted.

There are three briefs for secondary schools with separate  categories for years 7 & 8, 9 & 10 and year 12: 

  • Product design brief 
  • Product analysis brief 
  • Packaging research brief

In addition, we have launched a brief for KS2 focussing on  recycling packaging and identifying packaging materials. 

The briefs have all been designed in such a way that they  may be incorporated into your scheme of work for delivery  in lessons, or they can be run as an extracurricular activity  such as a STEM club or STEM Day. 

Registration opens in early June and a package of guidance  and support is available for each brief. The competition is  free to enter, and great prizes are available for the winning  pupils. Closing date for submissions 26 July 2024.

Details and registration here.

Teen Tech Awards

Register now for the 2024 competition and join the Top Tips for Teachers session on October 17.

Are you an innovator? Do you have an idea which could make life easier, simpler or better? Do you have a skill that you would like to showcase? Or do you have an interest in an area that you would like to research?

The TeenTech Awards are for students aged 11 to 16 (Years 7 to 11) and 17 to 19 (Years 12 to 13) and you can work individually, or in a team of up to three. They present a wonderful and powerful opportunity to develop your potential and showcase qualities which are appreciated by both employers and further education.

The best projects go forward to the TeenTech Awards Final for judging and the winning school in each category will receive a cash prize.

Details here.

Science without Borders® Challenge Student Art Contest

The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources, contributing to the overarching goals of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.

The theme for the 2024 Science without Borders® Challenge is “Hidden Wonders of the Deep.” To apply for this year’s contest, students should submit artwork depicting mysterious and unique deep-sea creatures or ecosystems, highlighting the beauty and diversity that often goes unseen. 

To help teachers encourage their students to participate in the Science Without Borders® Challenge, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation has compiled a number of resources to help them do so.

The Challenge is open to students 11-19 years old, with scholarships of up to $500 awarded to the winning entries.

Closing date for entries, March 4, 2024

Details here.

UKROC Competition

UKROC is a competition for young people aged 11-18 from any secondary schools, colleges, educational facilities or youth groups to design, build and launch a model rocket, ensuring its fragile cargo (a raw egg!) is safely delivered back to the ground without breaking.

UKROC is a great way to spark young people’s interest in STEM subjects and inspire them to consider a career in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors. .

The deadline for teams to enter is 29 February 2024 with regional events planned across the UK in April 2024.

Details here.

The Special Species Game

Create your own Special Species and send them in!

Every species has its own unique scientific name that is chosen by the individual or team that discovers it. The name usually reflects something about the species itself.

Carl Linnaeus came up with the 'binomial' naming system, which means two names. Every species is known by two names - we are Homo sapiens (meaning human thinking, or wise).

You can come up with your own Special Species by combining together different latin or greek words and imagining what the species would look like and why the species might have developed those features through evolution.

There are three main ways to create your own Special Species:

  1. Use our online Random Special Species Generators 
  2. Download and print our special species card game
  3. Use the power of your imagination (maybe with some guidance from our word lists)

We will be highlighting great works as we receive them.
Winners are awarded every year in April, July, September and December.

Details here.