The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual international contest to motivate students to come up with innovative ideas about science. Students from around the world, aged 13 to 18, are invited to participate in this contest. This challenge is a drive of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and was established by Yuri Milner and his wife, Julia Milner.
The idea of a Breakthrough Junior Challenge involves developing and presenting creative videos that introduce a concept or theory in the life sciences, physics, or mathematics. Moreover, the video length should be no longer than 1:30 minutes. Submissions are evaluated in terms of the student’s ability to deliver intricate scientific ideas in an engaging, insightful, and creative manner. To sustain science and the sharing of scientific insights, Yuri Milner and his wife chose to found the Breakthrough Junior Challenge in line with their Giving Pledge to commit at least half their wealth to scientific causes.
Founders
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, which is a part of the Breakthrough Prize, was established to recognize remarkable developments in fundamental physics, life sciences, and mathematics. Yuri Milner and Julia Milner, Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, Priscilla Chan, and Mark Zuckerberg funded foundations to support the Breakthrough Prizes. The foundation was conceived by Yuri Milner and his wife, inspired by how early openness to scientific ideas had electrified Yuri Milner’s enthusiasm for the subject.
This idea has led to the launching of this high school video competition to promote brief videos making sense of important theories and principles in science. The Breakthrough Prize strives to reward the greatest scientific achievements while also promoting the next generation of researchers.
Rules
The competition started on April 1, 2022, at 12:01 AM PDT and will end on June 25, 2022, at 11:59 PM PDT. This duration is referred to as the competition period. The official clock for the competition is the computer of the competition sponsor, which is the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. Since it is a competition based on ability, the outcome is not dependent on chance. Individuals between the ages of 13 and 18 may participate. If you are a minor, you must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to enter. The entries will only be eligible if they are in English, including all screenplays and audio.
Second, the video must not contain content that is illegal, obnoxious, or offensive. Third, you must not include anyone else other than the individual participant, unless earlier express permission has been granted. You must own the content you generate or submit. Not only that, you acknowledge and agree that your entry is an original work created entirely by you, and you own all intellectual property rights.
Prize
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge prize not only rewards the participating student but has other aspects as well. The winner will get a $250,000 post-secondary scholarship and a $50,000 prize for their teacher who has inspired and motivated them in the domain of science or mathematics. Their school will also have the prize of $100,000 in terms of the Breakthrough Science Lab grant for renovation or upgrading purposes.
Past Winners
Amber Kwok won the 2021 Breakthrough Junior Challenge, and Gornekk Suwattanapong was named the 2021 Space Exploration Champion.
How to Apply
To enter the competition, visit breakthroughjuniorchallenge.org , click “Enter” at the top of the page, and fill out the application form according to the on-screen instructions to get one (1) entry. You must also examine at least five (5) other entries from other entrants for your entry to be legitimate and complete. In addition, according to YouTube‘s clock, your video submission must be one minute and thirty seconds (1:30) or less.
If your video is designated as private, the competitor sponsor will be unable to access and judge your competition entry. Any video that is longer than 1:30 minutes or is tagged as private may be disqualified. During the competition period, each person is limited to one (1) entry. You may not enter under more than one true and uniform identity. Repeated entries from the same person are not permitted and may result in disqualification.
