Judging Criteria

In addition to the rubrics details and category descriptions, the judges will use general criteria to help evaluate entries. These are similar to criteria that are in use at other competitions. 

1. Organization and Completeness - The project should have a well-defined goal or objective. The materials, methods, and design should be sufficient to answer all the appropriate questions. A second component of organization is thoroughness, which includes not only the issue of how well the original questions have been addressed, but also the issue of how fully questions arising during the project have been addressed.

2. Clarity - Written and oral communication skills are very important in all STEM fields. Ideas should be clearly presented and easy to understand. Projects should have well-defined goals or purposes which indicate clear understanding. A well-written presentation, easy to follow visual aids, and clear and concise answers all add to the quality of a project.

3. Comprehension - Comprehension is the understanding and appropriate use of concepts, terms, techniques, and methodologies. Students should have a depth of knowledge about the principles and practices involved, which can be shown by the ability to extrapolate what was learned from the project to the subject in general. Depth includes understanding basic STEM concepts behind the project topic, comprehension at a finer level of detail, and awareness of the influence that the project has on related material in the subject topic.

4. Originality / Innovation - Original ideas and the creative use of resources are usually impressive. This originality may be in the general concept, a new approach to solve an old problem, or a new interpretation of data. However, an original project must be well executed. Original projects are those that go beyond the books and explore new ground and innovative techniques.

5. Effort and Motivation - The amount of time a student has spent doing the actual project and the amount of time the student has spent reading and learning the subject should both be considered. While motivation and effort are not the same, the amount of effort that goes into a project is usually an indication of a student's motivation. 

6. Elegance and Artistry – Elegant and artistic project displays provide the same information as those without these aspects, but do so with a certain stylistic element that sets the work apart from others. An elegant project presents the data with an aesthetic that is pleasing to the viewer. Artistry draws the viewers in and keeps them interested in the display.

Judging will include an interview period and potential additional views of the project display. Judges will use an understanding of the category, the category rubric, and the general rules in their evaluations. 

WHAT WILL BE JUDGED

•  General rules and judging criteria.

•  The scientific method (including completeness of thought processes and presentation of cause and effect).

•  Preparation and display of information about the project (or subcomponents of the original object if applicable).

•  Comprehension, Completeness, Effort and Motivation of and by the student.

•  Originality and/or innovative approaches or concepts.

•  Overall device clearly described including what it is, how it would be used, and its benefits (if applicable).

•  The accuracy of explanation of components and overall operation (if applicable).

•  The understanding of the device, how it works, and how it was built (if applicable).  

ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT MAY AFFECT THE REVIEW AND JUDGING CONCLUSIONS

• Presentation of the inquiry findings for peer or scientific review.

•  Understanding of how the inquiry relates to broader scientific principles and real world applications.

• Research on similar products or processes (if applicable).

• If an invention, how well it addresses a real-world need, and its practicality in size, cost, materials, etc. 

• Any unique or innovative methodologies or concepts that were used or understood.

• Physical design and operational functionality (if applicable).

•  Software source code evaluation (if applicable). 

•  Display and documentation provided (if applicable).

•  Original or innovative design and implementation of the robot or software and/or the associated purpose (if applicable).

•  Illustrations, images, or other media that is presented as supporting information.