Submission options include a 500–1,000-word essay, 1–5-minute video, recorded speech, or creative media. Judging weighs originality, impact, feasibility, communication, and evidence of real-world action equally.
Advertised awards include $200 for first place, $150 for second place, and a $100 Junior Award; the currency is unspecified. An Ingenuity Award recognizes innovation.
Junior-category definitions differ: the website uses age 13 and below, while the form uses grade 8 and below for individuals and all members of a team. These definitions differ for some applicants; neither is assumed to resolve the other.
Sources rechecked November 4, 2026: official competition website and FAQ and 2026–2027 registration form.
The published November 1, 2026 submission cutoff has passed, while the website still says Now Open and the official form remains accessible. No extension or later deadline is given, so no closed status or permission for late entry is inferred. The form still gives September 1, 2026 opening and January 15, 2027 winners announcement. Its present question structure includes seven student-member sections, so the prior 2–6 team limit is not asserted. Age choices are 9–18 for team members and 9–18 plus Other for individuals, alongside the site's broader 18-and-under wording; an exact minimum age and hard numeric team maximum remain unclear.