Got questions?
Find the answers to our most frequently asked questions below.
Who can enter The Big Bang Competition?
The Competition is free to enter and is open to those aged 11 to 18. They must be in full time, state-funded education, home educated or part of a community group. For example girl guides, code club or a youth club.
You can enter as a team or as an individual, and there's no limit on the team size.
You can enter project work done at school, at home, or as part of a work placement.
Unsure if you're eligible? View our entry terms and conditions.
How do I enter?
You submit your project online. If you are aged under 18, you should ask an adult to do the online submission for you. This could be a teacher or a parent or carer. They'll be the main point of contact about your entry and will be notified if you're a finalist or if you need to take part in further judging.
You can enter your project as a written and/or a video submission. Any videos should be no longer than 5 minutes. Read our guidance on submitting a video entry.
You may also upload up to 6 pieces of supporting material. This may be a project poster, diagrams, photos of your project or a model.
You can use the video and the supporting material to really show off your project to the judges!
What's the difference between science, engineering and technology?
A science project is based around the processes that you use. It focuses on investigation and discovery. You will often use knowledge from subjects like maths, physics, chemistry and biology.
An engineering project is more focused on the outcome. Our judges will be interested in the invention, design, programming and manufacture, and what the end product is. You will often use knowledge from subjects like maths, physics, design and technology or computing.
Technology projects are typically focused on robotics, electronics and coding. They cover core subject areas such as design and technology, computing and information systems.
During the judging process, judges may decide that your project is more strongly suited to a different stream. The Competition team will switch your project over to the new stream.
So don’t worry too much if you can’t quite decide which stream suits your project best.
Why type of projects can I enter?
There's no set topic or theme for The Big Bang Competition.
You can enter a STEM project that you've done at school, at home, or as part of a work placement.
You can explore any STEM topic that interests you. Let the judges know:
why you are interested in it
how you carried out your research
what you learnt from it
how it may benefit others
Your project doesn't need a practical element to it. It may have been a research project, or one where you've drawn a model or prototype.
If you haven’t had the time or resources to make something, let the judges know what you would have done if you had more time. Let them know what materials you might have used and why.
What are project ethics?
Ethics refer to careful consideration, or a set of principles that help us to decide what is right or wrong.
People working in science, engineering and technology act to improve the wellbeing of society. They must take steps to act in a way that is kind, fair, and does not harm people or the environment. Acting ethically means being honest and trustworthy. It also means respecting other people and the environment, acting with care, and maintaining high standards.
Judges will be looking to see your understanding of ethical considerations you have taken when researching, designing and implementing your project.
For example, have you considered the impact of your project and actions on:
other people such as those actively taking part in your project like completing a survey or end users
our community and who might be impacted when the project is completed
the environment and any long term impact
Do I have to attend The Big Bang Fair showcase?
You don't have to attend The Big Bang Fair in June to be able to enter The Big Bang Competition.
We know that some students have exams at this time, or won’t be able to travel to the event.
We'll invite select finalist projects to showcase their projects at The Big Bang Fair. The number of invites will depend on the space we have available.
We operate a waiting list system. So if you're invited and can't make it, we'll invite those who have expressed an interest in coming and are on the waiting list.
The invites to be at The Fair go out before all of the judging has finished. So you still have a chance of winning a prize even if you haven’t been invited to showcase, or aren’t able to attend The Big Bang Fair.
How do I enter a special award?
There are a number of special awards from our supporters, which are awards on a particular theme or topic.
When completing the online form to submit your project, select the different themes that your project covers.
For example, if your project covers AI and natural hazards, you should select both of these on the list. We'll use these themes to put your project forward for as many special awards as your project fits.
If your project is on a theme that is not on the list, select ’Other’ and type in the theme that best covers your project. We'll look at which special awards your project might be best suited for.
New special awards are updated on the website regularly, right up until the entry deadline. So the Big Bang team will put your project forward for all the relevant special awards we can.
What are the judges looking for?
Your project does not need to be finished or perfect. Just tell us what you'd do if you had more time or materials.
Sign up to our newsletter
Join our mailing list to get regular updates and stay in the know. You'll be the first to find out when we drop new resources, open funding applications or open registrations. We won't spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.
