The Business Blog

Most people have come to view Google as synonymous with innovation, but it’s now taking on an older idea, but giving it a new and exciting twist. Google is hosting the Global Science Fair 2011 for students between the ages of 13 and 18.

Students, as individuals or in teams of 2 or 3, will develop projects and post them on one of Google’s Google Sites pages along with either a two minute video or a presentation of up to 20 slides. The web page will include a summary of the project and a biographical section. The page will follow along the stages of the scientific method with a conclusion and a list of works cited. Google does require permission from their parents and that the documents are in English. The deadline for submissions is April 4, 2011.

Initial entrants will be pared down to 60 semi-finalists by a panel of teachers, but there will be a People’s Choice Award selected by voting open to the public. Of the 60, 15 will be flown to Google’s California headquarters to give a presentation before a panel of Nobel Prize winning scientists and top technology thinkers. They will select winners from three age group categories and the Grand Prize Winner.

The winner of the People’s Choice award will receive a $10.000 scholarship. The entire group of 15 finalists will receive an assortment of items from LEGO, an Android phone and a Google Chrome Notebook. Finalists receive a $25,000 scholarship and a Once in a Lifetime Experience at CERN, Google, LEGO or Scientific American. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a 10 day trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions, a $50,000 scholarship and a Once in a Lifetime Experience. Team members will equally split any scholarships.

In a world overrun by public popularity contests, Google’s contest is a valuable promotion of worthy endeavor.

This is a sponsored post but the views and content are fully my own!

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