FAQ

Yes past winners can certainly compete again! However, if they placed in the top three, they are unable to compete for those top prizes again. They may be invited to compete as a finalist, but they can only win as high as 4th place. 

The team’s entry must be an original work created by the team members, and the team must have all necessary rights to submit the entry.  The entry may be an improvement on existing design; however, it must contain substantial new, original elements and only these original elements will be considered when being judged. Any existing ideas/designs must be clearly denoted.  All team members are responsible for contributing work towards the creation and/or completion of the entry.

The official language of the competition is English. Papers must be submitted in English, and at least one member of the team must be able to give a finalist presentation in English.

All payments are distributed as checks in US dollars. All checks will be issued and mailed according to the information listed in the team’s registration.

IMPORTANT: After the registration deadline, no alterations may be made to your team’s check payable or mailing information. When completing registration, keep in mind that all prize money (semi-finalist checks, finalist checks) will be distributed after the Final. Please think ahead and plan accordingly.

Consider the following: Will the recipient/payee be able to access the check at the address it will be sent to in July/August 2020? Will the recipient/payee be available to the team in July/August 2020?

The Clean Tech Competition is a special project of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL). We are a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. Our approach to science education is multi-faceted, but student inquiry and project-based learning is the foundation for all program development. Visit our website at www.cstl.org for more information.

While we hope to hold an in-person Finals event once again, at this time we are unable to reasonably make such a decision. The determination will be made before the determination of the Finalists and when the Competition has a better idea of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, we will be live streaming the judging process once again for all to view!

• Registration Open – Monday, October 12

• Registration Ends – Friday, April 23

• Paper Submissions Due – Wednesday, April 28

• Semi-Finalist Announcement – Tuesday, June 1

• Finalist Announcement – Thursday, June 3

• Live-Streamed Finals Event – Thursday, August 5

You have until April 28th, 2021 4:00pm EST to alter your registration. After this date all entries all final. Prior to this deadline you can edit all areas of the registration (team member names, check payable information, etc.)

Each team must designate a Team Leader, who can be any adult (19 years or older) willing to supervise the participation of the students (ex: parent, teacher, club advisor, etc.). Team Members may not serve as a Team Leader. One person may serve as Team Leader to multiple student teams.

The basic responsibilities of a Team Leader are to supervise participation of the students, serve as the main contact for the team, and handle or oversee any monetary aspects. However, Team Leaders are encouraged to be more involved in supporting and guiding the team, as long as they are helping to facilitate the students’ own work.

Yes! Past participants are encouraged to take on this year’s new challenge, provided they are eligible (see “Who is eligible to participate?” above). However, past participants may not reuse their projects from previous years.

Teams of 1-3 students from anywhere in the world may participate! All participating students must be 15 – 18 years old by the end of July, 2020, the month of the final competition. Students enrolled in university, older than 18 years, or who graduated high school (or the local equivalent) are not eligible to participate. An individual may not participate as a member of more than one team.

Yes past winners can certainly compete again! However, if they placed in the top three, they are unable to compete for those top prizes again. They may be invited to compete as a finalist, but they can only win as high as 4th place. 

The team’s entry must be an original work created by the team members, and the team must have all necessary rights to submit the entry.  The entry may be an improvement on existing design; however, it must contain substantial new, original elements and only these original elements will be considered when being judged. Any existing ideas/designs must be clearly denoted.  All team members are responsible for contributing work towards the creation and/or completion of the entry.

The official language of the competition is English. Papers must be submitted in English, and at least one member of the team must be able to give a finalist presentation in English.

All payments are distributed as checks in US dollars. All checks will be issued and mailed according to the information listed in the team’s registration.

IMPORTANT: After the registration deadline, no alterations may be made to your team’s check payable or mailing information. When completing registration, keep in mind that all prize money (semi-finalist checks, finalist checks) will be distributed after the Final. Please think ahead and plan accordingly.

Consider the following: Will the recipient/payee be able to access the check at the address it will be sent to in July/August 2020? Will the recipient/payee be available to the team in July/August 2020?

The Clean Tech Competition is a special project of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL). We are a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. Our approach to science education is multi-faceted, but student inquiry and project-based learning is the foundation for all program development. Visit our website at www.cstl.org for more information.

While we hope to hold an in-person Finals event once again, at this time we are unable to reasonably make such a decision. The determination will be made before the determination of the Finalists and when the Competition has a better idea of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, we will be live streaming the judging process once again for all to view!

• Registration Open – Monday, October 12

• Registration Ends – Friday, April 23

• Paper Submissions Due – Wednesday, April 28

• Semi-Finalist Announcement – Tuesday, June 1

• Finalist Announcement – Thursday, June 3

• Live-Streamed Finals Event – Thursday, August 5

You have until April 28th, 2021 4:00pm EST to alter your registration. After this date all entries all final. Prior to this deadline you can edit all areas of the registration (team member names, check payable information, etc.)

Each team must designate a Team Leader, who can be any adult (19 years or older) willing to supervise the participation of the students (ex: parent, teacher, club advisor, etc.). Team Members may not serve as a Team Leader. One person may serve as Team Leader to multiple student teams.

The basic responsibilities of a Team Leader are to supervise participation of the students, serve as the main contact for the team, and handle or oversee any monetary aspects. However, Team Leaders are encouraged to be more involved in supporting and guiding the team, as long as they are helping to facilitate the students’ own work.

Yes! Past participants are encouraged to take on this year’s new challenge, provided they are eligible (see “Who is eligible to participate?” above). However, past participants may not reuse their projects from previous years.

Teams of 1-3 students from anywhere in the world may participate! All participating students must be 15 – 18 years old by the end of July, 2020, the month of the final competition. Students enrolled in university, older than 18 years, or who graduated high school (or the local equivalent) are not eligible to participate. An individual may not participate as a member of more than one team.

Yes past winners can certainly compete again! However, if they placed in the top three, they are unable to compete for those top prizes again. They may be invited to compete as a finalist, but they can only win as high as 4th place. 

The team’s entry must be an original work created by the team members, and the team must have all necessary rights to submit the entry.  The entry may be an improvement on existing design; however, it must contain substantial new, original elements and only these original elements will be considered when being judged. Any existing ideas/designs must be clearly denoted.  All team members are responsible for contributing work towards the creation and/or completion of the entry.

The official language of the competition is English. Papers must be submitted in English, and at least one member of the team must be able to give a finalist presentation in English.

All payments are distributed as checks in US dollars. All checks will be issued and mailed according to the information listed in the team’s registration.

IMPORTANT: After the registration deadline, no alterations may be made to your team’s check payable or mailing information. When completing registration, keep in mind that all prize money (semi-finalist checks, finalist checks) will be distributed after the Final. Please think ahead and plan accordingly.

Consider the following: Will the recipient/payee be able to access the check at the address it will be sent to in July/August 2020? Will the recipient/payee be available to the team in July/August 2020?

The Clean Tech Competition is a special project of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL). We are a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. Our approach to science education is multi-faceted, but student inquiry and project-based learning is the foundation for all program development. Visit our website at www.cstl.org for more information.

While we hope to hold an in-person Finals event once again, at this time we are unable to reasonably make such a decision. The determination will be made before the determination of the Finalists and when the Competition has a better idea of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, we will be live streaming the judging process once again for all to view!

• Registration Open – Monday, October 12

• Registration Ends – Friday, April 23

• Paper Submissions Due – Wednesday, April 28

• Semi-Finalist Announcement – Tuesday, June 1

• Finalist Announcement – Thursday, June 3

• Live-Streamed Finals Event – Thursday, August 5

You have until April 28th, 2021 4:00pm EST to alter your registration. After this date all entries all final. Prior to this deadline you can edit all areas of the registration (team member names, check payable information, etc.)

Each team must designate a Team Leader, who can be any adult (19 years or older) willing to supervise the participation of the students (ex: parent, teacher, club advisor, etc.). Team Members may not serve as a Team Leader. One person may serve as Team Leader to multiple student teams.

The basic responsibilities of a Team Leader are to supervise participation of the students, serve as the main contact for the team, and handle or oversee any monetary aspects. However, Team Leaders are encouraged to be more involved in supporting and guiding the team, as long as they are helping to facilitate the students’ own work.

Yes! Past participants are encouraged to take on this year’s new challenge, provided they are eligible (see “Who is eligible to participate?” above). However, past participants may not reuse their projects from previous years.

Teams of 1-3 students from anywhere in the world may participate! All participating students must be 15 – 18 years old by the end of July, 2020, the month of the final competition. Students enrolled in university, older than 18 years, or who graduated high school (or the local equivalent) are not eligible to participate. An individual may not participate as a member of more than one team.