2020 Think Science Undergraduate National Competition

General Terms and Conditions

  • The competition is open for all Undergraduates/Bachelor/College/Diploma students aged 17 to 35 from across the UAE, to submit their innovative ideas related to different applied sciences and technology disciplines.
  • Limited number of projects will be selected to compete in the Think Science Undergraduate National Competition.
  • The door is open for individual and team project where a maximum of four participants can make up a team.
  • All participants must be residing in the UAE
  • Students working on the project can be from different universities.
  • Each university student can participate with one project only.
  • Each team must have Emirati nationals as per the following:
    • At least three Emirati nationals in a team of four
    • At least two Emirati nationals in a team of three
    • At least one Emirati national in a team of two
    • In case of applying as one individual, the participant must be Emirati.
    • Private universities with no Emirati students may participate with no Emirati nationals subject to the approval of the organizing committee.
  • It is highly recommended that the university students have a supervisor for the project.
  • Only one university supervisor is allowed per project.
  • A team Leader (student) must initiate the registration process where he/she adds the team members and the full project details along with the supervisor’s details during registration
  • Each team member will receive an email with the “EF Participant’s Release and Waiver of Liability Form” where they must login to his/her account and agree to its terms and conditions for his/her account to be activated.
  • A detailed comprehensive abstract and project plan with clear objectives, methodology, and outcomes must be submitted online.
  • Redundant, weak or repeated projects will not be accepted, and as such the project proposal must be written carefully.
  • Parent/Guardian name and contact details are required for all university students to complete the registration.
  • All participants under the age of 21 are under their own responsibility and will need to submit the participation agreement signed by their guardian, giving them the permission to register and participate in the Think Science Program under their own responsibility all times including but not limited to during the workshops, exhibition, fair, competition and during any of the Think Science program’s activities. Emirates Foundation holds no responsibility on supervising those participants. The participants and their legal guardians agree that they have read the EF Participant’s Release and Waiver of Liability Form and agree to its terms and conditions.
  • Last day for application submission (full project and team members’ details) is October 15th, 2019.
  • Projects that qualify to phase 2 must be supported by submitting evidence for having a complete research with results, a working and fully tested prototype, and/or research end product before March 1, 2020.
  • Successfully qualifying projects and finalists will be invited to participate in the final stage at the Think Science Undergraduate National Competition during the Think Science World Fair, which will be held in Dubai in April 2020.
  • Outstanding teams from Think Science Undergraduate National Competition 2020 will be selected to participate in the Think Science World Competition in the following year in 2021

How to Qualify for the Think Science Undergraduates National Competition

  • Complete the registration of your project’s proposal and team members before October 15, 2019
  • Upon receiving the acceptance email in early December 2019, you will immediately need to finalize your project implementation as per the originally submitted proposal, and submit the below evidence for a working and fully tested prototype and/or end product of the research before March 1, 2020:
    • The project’s scientific report with results.
    • A minimum of 3 photos for the project from different angles, showing all details of the project.
    • One clear photo showing all team members
    • A video for the project showing the working prototype and/or end product.
  • Projects/teams that do not submit evidence for a working prototype and/or end product will be disqualified
  • Participants will be required to commit to attending the 5 days event that will be held in the UAE (exact dates, agenda, and timings will be announced later)

Required Documents

  • Each participant should provide / upload a digital copy of the following when filling in the proposal application form (in .jpg, .png, .pdf format)
    • Valid Passport copy
    • Valid Emirates ID copy (front and back)
    • Valid UAE Residency Visa for expatriates
    • Unified Number Page for Emiratis
    • Passport size formal photo
    • Maximum size of each document (750 KB)
  • Parent/Guardian name and contact details are required for all University students to complete the registration
  • All project information should be submitted online before October 15, 2019
  • The finalists (teams and individuals) must sign, and submit a hard copy of the Think Science participation agreement

Recommended Projects

  • Interactive scientific models, prototypes, systems and devices that serve a community benefit and use the scientific methodology with practical experiments in different applied science and technology disciplines.
  • Highly recommended field preferences include Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Aerodynamics, Water Sustainability, Environmental Engineering, Food Security, Health and Bioinformatics, Systems for the Determined Ones and ect.
  • Practical researches that are directly linked to a community benefit and solve a problem that have clear and tangible end products.
  • We welcome Research/Study that might not be directly linked to a community benefit through an end-product, or might not provide a direct solution for a problem, or might not have a tangible end product, however; it must provide breakthrough results/outcomes in the field of study.

Excluded Projects

  • Theoretical Research projects (e.g. What causes a car accident in the UAE etc.)
  • Research/Study that is not directly linked to a community benefit through an end-product, or does not provide a direct solution for a problem, or does not have a tangible end product, and does not provide breakthrough results/outcomes in the field of study (e.g. The effect of mercury residues on an embryos’ development, The effect of light intensity on plants’ growth and etc)
  • Theoretical Research/Study (e.g. A study about H1N1 Virus but does not provide end product like inhibitors or cure medicine and etc.)
  • Surveys
  • Static Models (e.g. Volcanoes, the Solar System, etc.)
  • Conventional Biofuel and Biogas production
  • Conventional Solar Energy Projects (Solar Fridge, Solar Car, Solar Oven, etc.)
  • Conventional Recycling Projects (Using Electronic Wastes to make jewelries and accessories)
  • Projects that can be tested in lab to proof efficiency, but was tested only by simulators.
  • Conventional Renewable Energy Projects (Wind Generators, Hydroelectric power, Kinetic energy projects…etc.)

Awards

  • All finalists will receive Participation Certificates
  • Awards will be announced on the last day of the fair
    • 1st place winners of the main categories
    • Best of the Best Project “Grand Award”
  • All members of winning projects will receive Winning Certificates
  • Winning projects will be awarded with cash prize

Judging Panel

  • An external committee will be convened to judge the best-presented projects at the Think Science Undergraduate National Competition.
  • Scientists, engineers and professionals from higher education (PhD holders specialized in science and engineering) are invited to apply as judge volunteering to evaluate the innovative science projects competing at the International Level in the Think Science Undergraduate National Competition in April 2020
  • Applicants should be:
    • Fluent English Speaker
    • Mastering a second language is preferable
    • Specialized in any field of science, engineering, and technology (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robots, Smart Systems, Safety Systems, Applied Physics, Applied Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Biology, and Biomedical and Health Sciences and etc)

Project Display

    The below are prohibited during the fair, judging, and project display:
  • Using water, gas, fire, smoke, all chemicals, dry ice or other sublimating solids.
  • All hazardous substances or devices (Example: poisons, drugs, firearms, weapons)
  • Microorganisms, animals, any living organisms, waste samples, preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals, and human or animal food.
  • Human/animal parts or body fluids (for example, blood, urine).
  • Items that may have contained or been in contact with hazardous chemicals.
  • Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives).
  • Flames or highly flammable materials (including magnified light sources).
  • Any apparatus/part deemed unsafe by the Scientific Review Committee.
  • In case the project requires the use of such materials/procedures, the finalists should video and photo record their working prototype and experimental research steps in a safe and secured lab conditions, and use the footage to display their project during the Think Science World Fair.