The Benefits of Participating in Research Competitions and Top 5 Opportunities to Ignite Your Journey as a Scientist
Let’s keep this clear: You don’t have to win a competition to gain something from it!
Although winning a competition is always fun and statistically every single competition only has one winner, just the act of competing at national and international research competitions has many advantages which we will delve into.
Why are research competitions important?
Research competitions are essential for promoting excellence, innovation, and teamwork across all scientific and academic communities. No matter what your interests are, you will always find an opportunity to learn more about it by further researching it. Through these events, scientists, researchers, and students can present their work, advancing the understanding of their field while addressing pressing issues.
Let’s dive into some of the points I just made:
Research competitions give participants a platform to present their findings and methodologies to a larger audience. This exchange of knowledge occurring during the event creates a collaborative atmosphere where ideas and discoveries can be discussed, evaluated, and expanded upon by experts in the field.
Peer and Expert Review
A common main component of research competitions is where participants get helpful criticism from peers and experts. If you have an idea and want to learn more about it while further developing it, this aspect of a research competition is ideal. It enhances debates, therefore improving research methods by pointing out different perspectives, and guarantees the validity of the study.
Addressing Pressing Issues
Participants usually focus their efforts on finding solutions to pressing real-world challenges. This goal-oriented approach to the competition guarantees that the research findings have the potential to significantly impact society on a long-term basis if applied.
Being a Catalytic For Innovation
Due to the competitive nature of research competitions, participants are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with various solutions. The shared passion for innovation and excellence among contestants serves as an incentive for them to come up with game-changing discoveries while remaining ethical.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
As the competitions usually bring together people with different backgrounds and specialties a cross-pollination of ideas and fields sparks interdisciplinary collaboration resulting in thorough solutions to those challenging issues we've been talking about. By having different perspectives, participants can create studies that might not have been achievable within one field of study or expertise.
If this seems interesting for your career as a future leader, keep on reading as I’ll give you a few research competitions you can participate in!
Research Competitions for High School Students:
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Regeneron, founded by Science Talent Search (STS) alumni with a strong commitment to STEM education, stands out as a leading supporter of young scientists addressing global challenges. The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), managed by the Society for Science, is the nation's premier pre-college science and mathematics competition, tracing its roots back to 1942. This prestigious competition aims to recognize and reward high school seniors who exhibit exceptional scientific leadership potential.
Annually, around 1,800 high school seniors participate in the Regeneron STS, with 300 scholars selected. These scholars and their schools receive $2,000 each, totaling approximately $1.2 million in awards. From this cohort, 40 finalists earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC. In the nation's capital, they engage in a rigorous judging process, competing for an additional $1.8 million in awards, including a top prize of $250,000.
To qualify, entrants must navigate a stringent application process, which includes submitting a comprehensive 20-page research report detailing their independent scientific research. The top 40 finalists advance to the competition held each March in Washington, DC.
Modeling the Future Challenge
High school students participating in the Modeling the Future Challenge interested in data science, analysis, and the business world can participate in a competition that highlights real-world settings by combining risk management, data analysis, and math modeling to find solutions to modern problems!
Participants conduct independent research projects using real-world data modeling to compete. They must analyze the risks involved in their study and offer suggestions to businesses, trade associations, governments, or other organizations. As well, by participating you will have the opportunity of being able to win the $60,000 prize money!
Eligibility: Students anywhere in the United States and its territories who are in their junior or senior year of high school. Students can be from formal, informal, or homeschool groups consisting of no more than five members.
MIT Think
MIT's THINK program, in contrast to traditional programs, THINK embraces students who already have a thorough understanding of the research topic they have chosen, so rather than requiring them to complete a research project beforehand. The program, which is run by a group of MIT undergraduates, is intended to give students extra direction on their projects.
The program is structured so that selected finalists get mentored by THINK team members once a week. During these sessions, participants can get feedback on the status of their research projects, technical advice, and access to additional resources. THINK provides up to $1,000 in funding to each finalist who is chosen so that they can turn their ideas into tangible projects. As well, finalists get a four-day, fully-funded visit to the MIT campus where they have access to lab tours, research presentations with MIT faculty and students, and networking with THINK team members.
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision
With a focus on STEM, the K–12 ExploraVision competition challenges the next generation of scientists to solve real-world problems. Through group brainstorming and study of current science and technology, ExploraVision encourages students to reimagine the world of STEM and collaborate to research new advancements in the field ten or more years in the future.
Teams composed of two to four students compete with the help of teachers/mentors. Instructors are essential in this competition as they encourage student participation, as well the competition offers educators additional tools to coach the participants.
The research competition is sponsored by Toshiba due to its dedication to technological innovation as well as the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Both of these companies sponsor ExploraVision because of its substantial contribution to STEM education.
Destination ImagiNation
Destination ImagiNation is based on the belief that kids can make a difference in the world if they are allowed to develop and work together without restrictions. The program has a foundation in STEAM subjects, where participants are presented with challenges and have to come up with creative solutions. The main goal is to enable every child to share their creations, tell their story, and receive recognition for their achievements.
Destination ImagiNation provides many research competitions such as:
The Early Learning Challenge: for preschool through second-grade students, providing a non-competitive and creative space known as the Challenge Experience. It is designed to teach kids the creative process through challenges that inspire students to develop new abilities and investigate the wide range of STEM fields.
The Challenge Experience: This is their premier program designed for pre-K, K-12, and university students, offering a platform for teams to develop and present solutions to STEAM challenges. The program operates globally and comprises several key components that enhance learning, creativity, and problem-solving skills. There are two formats available: Instant Challenges and Team Challenges.
The Digital Open: it is made for teams that require a flexible learning environment, such as online, hybrid, or in-person instruction. Students are required to come up with a solution for a challenge that is created and assigned by Destination ImagiNation in 7 weeks.
These are just a few of the programs offered by Destination ImagiNation, yet they serve as an opportunity for participants to use creativity, innovation, and inclusivity to thrive in an ever-evolving STEM world.
How to select which research competition to participate in
Even though there are many more research competitions than that of the list above, these are a few excellent ones that I advise you to look into. Take all of your scientific skills to conduct thorough research to find one that meets your needs if you are unable to find what you're looking for!
When reviewing research competitions, make sure to use your judgment and choose those that have a lot of reliable information readily accessible about them. Additionally, keep an eye out for contests that demand excessively high entry fees, as they might be a scam.
As a bonus, typically older and national competitions tend to be more well-known and make a bigger impression on college applications. But, keep in mind to select a competition in which you can learn more about your field of interest and connect to others with the same or similar interests. Who knows, by attending you might be taking the right steps towards your future career!
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
