Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize

The 2023 University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize will be awarded for a short (2-minute) film that communicates a scientific concept in an accessible and engaging way.

Communicating scientific ideas and discoveries to the world is a tricky task. Each year, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney) and Adam Spencer (Mathematics and Science Ambassador for the University of Sydney) enlighten thousands of Australians with their knowledge and communication of science.

This film competition encourages school students to communicate a scientific concept in a way that is accessible and entertaining to the public while painlessly increasing their science knowledge or, as Dr Karl and Adam like to say, "Learn something without even noticing". It is intended to support budding young scientists across the nation, who will be our future leaders in research, discovery and communication.

Dates:

• Nomination opens 13-Feb-2023
• Nominations close 14-Apr-2023
• Finalists announced 19-Jul-2023
• Awards Ceremony 23-Aug-2023

Relevant Eligibility:

• Films must be based on the 2023 theme, ’Green’.
• Films must be 2-minutes in duration and no longer.
• Films must focus on a scientific concept, discovery, invention or your own scientific hypothesis – anything goes, but keep the science in the story, and keep the science real!
• Entry is free and open to all primary and secondary school students studying at schools in Australia or its territories.
• Entries may be submitted by an individual student or a team of no more than six students. Entries comprising more than six students are ineligible. If an entry was created by more than one person, it should be entered in the appropriate category for the oldest member of the group.
• An individual can enter once in any year, whether individually or in a group.

Assessment Criteria (refer to website for full details):

• Science Communication
• Did the film follow a clear and logical sequence, that was not rushed? (25%)
• Did the film use relevant examples, demonstrations and/or visuals? (25%)
• Did the film present accurate science and use appropriate language? (25%)
• Entertainment
• Did the film show that the entrant/s is passionate about their chosen topic? (15%)
• Did the film include creative approaches? (10%)

Application Requirements:

• Film submission
• Entrants must also provide a brief statement on:
• the nature and extent of any assistance they receive from teachers, parents/guardians etc. (200 words maximum)
• what their film is about and how it links to the 2023 theme of ‘Green’ (200 words maximum)
• where they found the scientific information included in the short film. This does not need to be a formal bibliography but should be a list of what sources the entrants used e.g., books, documentaries, conversations with science teacher/s, scientific publications, YouTube videos etc. (200 words maximum)