Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

The Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) is an annual science and engineering research and exhibit competition for students in grade 5 through 8 and was created in 1999. It is sponsored primarily by Discovery Communications, Society for Science and the Public, and Elmer's Glue. Competitors must qualify for DCYSC by entering in an International Science and Engineering (ISEF) affiliated science fair.

After being nominated for DCYSC, students must complete an application which includes writing several essays. The essays are then evaluated for communication abilities by DCYSC judges who select 400 semi-finalists in July. The judging panel also selects the 40 finalists who receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the October finals.

The finals are composed of two parts. The first is a research presentation, accounting for 20% of the total score, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, the National Academy of Sciences, or another building that varies from year to year. Projects are judged not on scientific merit but with more on the student's ability to communicate his/her project effectively. The second part is a series of six science-related challenges that take place at the National Institutes of Health, the University of Maryland, or another location in Maryland that varies every year. Each challenge is concluded with some type of presentation (e.g., a radio show, a TV show, or a news conference) and is worth 10% of the students' total score. Students also present a simple science experiment, known as a Whelmer, in front of cameras for 15% of their score. The remaining 5% comes from teamwork, as the finalists are split into eight colored teams of five each for the science challenges.

The grand prize is a $20,000 scholarship, followed by $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third. 4th-40th receive $500 each. There are also numerous "discretionary" awards, presented by the Discovery Channel and its subsidiaries (such as TLC and the Animal Planet).

The contest was Changed for the 2008 Season. Students must now submit a 1-2 minute video clip to be as the entry form. These video clips must show science communication skills, and demonstrate the selected subject matter in an accurate and creative manner. The students may choose from one of the following six topics:

(i). Demonstrate and explain the Doppler Effect.

(ii). Demonstrate the nature of a parabola, paraboloid, or parabolic mirror.

(iii). Demonstrate and explain why the Earth's sky appears blue.

(iv). Explain or demonstrate the nature of a space craft's orbital path.

(v). Demonstrate a novel approach for explaining how the field around a conductor carrying an electric current, and the field around a magnet, can exert a force on each other.

(vi). Explain and demonstrate either the Bernoulli Principle, or the Venturi Effect.

From these videos, 51 are chosen that score highest. There is one video selected from every state, and one from the District of Columbia. These are the Semi-Finalist, and they win a Certificate of recognition, $250, a T-shirt, a Plaque for student’s middle school, and a Plaque for student’s teacher. The videos are scored on the following rubric:

(i) Creativity (20%);

(ii) Content’s relation to stated criteria (30%);

(iii) Persuasiveness (10%);

(iv) Classroom suitability (10%); and

(v) Overall presentation (30%).

The ten Semi-Finalist videos with the highest overall score are selected as Finalists. They win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, for the finalist and ONE parent/guardian, Special Young Scientist Challenge apparel, the Opportunity to appear on television, and The Young Scientist Challenge medal. They will appear on TV and complete a set of group and individual challenges.

The First place winner receives a $50,000 dollar government bond, and places 2-10 receive $1000.