Can I participate?

As long as you’re 13 or older at the time of registration and no older than 18 by October 7, 2015, you can participate. We welcome submissions in English from everyone who meets the age requirements, including students who are homeschooled, students with disabilities, and students from all over the world. For additional details, check out the rules.

How do I enter?

First, log in on this website. Then, choose a challenging and important mathematical, life sciences, or physics theory or concept that you can explain in a clear and compelling way, and make a short video (10 minutes or less) showcasing your explanation. Log in and follow the application instructions to upload it. We can’t wait to see your video!

What can I win?

You could win a $250,000 post-secondary scholarship and a trip for you and a parent or guardian to the live televised Awards Ceremony show going out in the US on National Geographic Channel at 7.00pm Pacific Time / 10.00pm Eastern Time on Sunday, November 8, 2015, followed by a worldwide broadcast on Fox Network and National Geographic Channels.

Your teacher could win a $50,000 education grant, and your school could win a cutting-edge $100,000 Breakthrough science lab designed in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

What are the rules?

The rules are posted on this website along with the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy. Be sure to review this information carefully.

Who are the judges?

There are three phases of judging, and each phase has its own set of judges. During the Peer-to-Peer Review, you and all the other participants will be asked to score and comment on at least five other submissions. During this review, we ask that you carefully review the submissions assigned to you and provide meaningful feedback to the participants. The Evaluation Panel will review the top 75 submissions as identified by the Peer-to-Peer Review to score and comment on the submissions assigned to them. Lastly, a Selection Committee will determine the final winners. 

Meet the Judges!

How is my submission scored?

Your submission will be scored on four criteria: engagement, illumination, difficulty, and creativity. During the Peer- to- Peer Review, your submission will receive five reviews from other participants. To ensure that you are treated fairly, regardless of who is responsible for assessing your submission, each score will be statistically normalized. Next, the Evaluation Panel will score and comment on the top 75 submissions as determined by the Peer- to- Peer Review. All scores and comments that your submission receives will be made available to you at the end of each review period by logging in to this website. Lastly, a Selection Committee will determine the final Winners.

How long is the Challenge?

The Challenge launched on Monday, September 14, and submissions are due no later than Friday, October 9, 2015, at 2:59 AM ET. To be eligible for the $250,000 scholarship, you must score and comment on at least five other submissions by Sunday, October 11, 2015, at 11:59 PM ET, during the Peer-to-Peer Review. You may be asked to score and comment on additional submissions between Monday, October 12, 2015, and Tuesday, October 13, 2015. 

The winner will be announced at the live televised Awards Ceremony show going out in the US on National Geographic Channel at 7.00pm Pacific Time / 10.00pm Eastern Time on Sunday, November 8, 2015, followed by a worldwide broadcast on Fox Network and National Geographic Channels.

What if I need help?

Your submission must be your own work. However, feel free to ask for advice from teachers, family members, or others. Once you’ve made your video, it’s a great idea to show it to a few people to get their comments and perhaps make some improvements to it. Once you’ve registered, you can log in to access the discussion forums, where you can ask questions and share helpful resources.

Can I work with a group? 

This is an individual challenge. You can work as a group to brainstorm ideas and review each other's applications, but you must be the sole creator of your submission.

Where can I find out more?

Still have some questions? Log in to access the discussion forums where you can ask questions and share helpful resources. 

How can I sign up?

We're sorry, but registration has closed. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual challenge, and we look forward to receiving your submission next year.

What is the Peer-to-Peer Review?

To be eligible for the $250,000 post-secondary scholarship, all registrants who submit a complete and valid application will be required to participate in the Peer-to-Peer Review process. Between October 9 and October 11, 2015, you must score and comment on at least five other submissions. You may be asked to score and comment on additional submissions between October 12, 2015, and October 13, 2015.