Organization : Jewish Life
Competition Name : Jerusalem Science Contest 2017-18
Applicable For : 11th and 12th grade students
Competition Deadline : October 30th, 2017
Prize : $1,000 cash prize
Website : http://www.jewishlife.co.za/new/2017/06/08/the-jerusalem-science-contest/
Jerusalem Science Contest :
What is the Jerusalem Science Contest?
** The Jerusalem Science Contest is an international competition for 11th and 12th grade Jewish high school students, interested in learning a cutting edge Science topic and its Judaic relevance.
Related : Home of Living Brands Russell Hobbs Art of Living Competition : www.southafricain.com/8578.html
** Participants study selected readings and video lectures, and compete through a series of 8 exams and a final project, with the opportunity to win prize money, a college scholarship, or even a trip to Israel! This year’s topic will be Nanotechnology, which is one of the most dynamic Science topics of our time, currently revolutionizing the fields of medicine, technology and more!
How do I participate?
** To participate, click the button to sign up and register.
** You will need a contest proctor (that we approve) that will be able to administer your exams (with academic integrity), and send the results back to us promptly. Many schools that have participated in the past already have a designated proctor.
** A proctor is typically a Science teacher, or other school employee, and we are happy to help you find one if necessary. Proctors are paid for their time. Any proctors for the 2017-18 contest must fill out a proctor contact information form which can be done below in the proctor section.
** The registration fee for the contest is $85. However, participants are welcome to take the first exam at no cost as a trial. The registration fee must be paid in full before taking the second exam and continuing in the contest.
** The text for the contest readings must be purchased right away in order to complete the required readings before each exam. Our advisory professors have selected for this year’s text Nanotechnology for Dummies 2nd Edition. Although the Dummies series has a certain stigma to it, it is clearly the best text for this topic and we are therefore not hesitant to use it. Click here to buy on Amazon.
** Once you have registered, found a proctor, and purchased the text, you are all set. The schedule of readings, video lectures, and the project is available below, along with all other necessary details.
Schedule :
09/11/17 – Video lectures will be made live
09/25/17 – Exam 1 Administered
10/02/17 – Sign Up Deadline
10/30/17 – Registration Fee Due
10/30/17 – Exam 2 Administered
11/06/17 – Exam 3 Administered
11/13/17 – Exam 4 Administered
11/27/17 – Exam 5 Administered
12/04/17 – Exam 6 Administered
12/11/17 – Exam 7 Administered
12/11/17 – Research Project Topic Due
1/29/18 – Research Project Due
02/05/18 – Comprehensive Exam
02/12/18 – Winners Announced
03/05/18 – Awards Banquet and Presentations in Chicago for the Winners
Contest Procedures :
** Participants must check their email frequently for relevant and timely contest communications from jsc AT walderlab.org (make sure this address doesn’t go to spam). Any updates in scheduling or contest procedures will be emailed out, and participants will be immediately responsible to adhere to them. If a participant lacks email access, they can let us know well in advance and we will be happy to make other arrangements.
** The registration fee must be paid by no later than Monday, October 30th, 2017. Anyone is welcome to try out this contest (including the first set of readings, the first video, and the first test) before this date free of charge.
** If the payment is not made by this date, the participant will be dropped from the contest. If a participant decides to not continue in the program after this point, the registration cannot be refunded.
** Before taking each test, participants will need to read the selected readings from the syllabus, watch two video lectures (Science and Judaic), and then be tested on them. The video lectures will be available on our website for participants to access, and can be mailed as a DVD to those who lack internet access (let us know well in advance if a DVD is preferred).
** Participants will be scored on a total of 7 tests, a comprehensive final exam, and a research project. A local proctor must administer each participant’s tests.
** Each test will count for 20 points, the comprehensive exam for 40 points, and the research project for 40 points. Each contestant will therefore earn up to 220 points, and the final point values will decide the standings of the winners.
** Participants must purchase the selected text well before the contest begins so that they can complete their readings.
** It is vital not to wait until the last minute to complete any contest components (readings, videos, tests, and research). We make the materials available in advance so that participants can pace themselves and not get overwhelmed.
** All students who complete the contest and all its requirements receive a certificate and a letter of completion, which can be highlighted on a resume or a college application. Certain institutions have given credit for it as a semester Science course.
Testing Procedures :
** Each test consists of 20 questions (15 Science and 5 Judaic).
** No notes, books, computers, internet, phones, calculators (except for a basic scientific calculator like the TI-30 that has no input memory for notes), or any other resource will be allowed while taking the test.
** Only the test itself, a writing utensil, and scrap paper will be allowed.
** Participants must return the test and answer sheet to the proctor after each exam.
** The participants must take the exam within the week (no later than Friday) of the assigned test date.
** For example, the first test will be given to proctors on Mon 9/25/17, and the completed answer sheets must be submitted to us by the proctors no later than Friday 9/29/17.
** If there are extenuating circumstances, like a school break, that prevent the test from being taken that week, participants must contact us at jsc AT walderlab.org to request an extension at least two weeks in advance (another test will have to be made).
** As soon as all copies of an individual test (for example, test #1) have been received and graded, the test versions along with their answers will be released and posted on our website or emailed out to participants to help review for the comprehensive exam.
** Test questions can only be contested by email within one week from when the exam was released.
** In the rare event that there was an error in one of the questions, then the question will be regraded on each participant’s exam, and anyone that had the actual correct answer will be given the points for that question, however, points will not be subtracted from those who “had it correct” the first time.
** If there is a major flaw in one of the questions such that it must be scrapped, then each participant will receive the points for that question.
** The comprehensive final exam will cover material from all the readings and video lectures.
** A participant can be disqualified/dropped from the contest or given a score of zero on a test if any of these rules/guidelines (above or below) are not adhered to properly, if there is a lack of honesty/academic integrity, or for any reason we deem appropriate.
Prizes :
** The 1st place finisher receives a $1,000 cash prize and a 4-Year JCT Lev Academic Center Tuition Scholarship.
** The 2nd place finisher receives a $700 cash prize. All other finishers may receive prize money based on their final score according to the list below.
** The 5 top finishers may win a trip to Israel.
** The 1st and 2nd place winners may receive BOTH the Israel trip AND their cash prize discussed above.
** Other participants who are offered to and chose to go on the Israel trip will not receive any prize money; the trip will be their only prize.
** Trip winners may opt to pass up the trip and receive instead their cash prize according to the table below.
** In the event of a tie for first or second place, the prize money for that place will be split evenly, and the next finisher will skip to the next place (in other words, for example, if two contestants tie for 1st place, the next finisher will be considered in 3rd place, NOT 2nd).
** For 213-220 total points, the gross prize will be $500.
** For 207-212 total points, the gross prize will be $450.
** For 202-206 total points, the gross prize will be $400.
** For 198-201 total points, the gross prize will be $375.
** For 189-197 total points, the gross prize will be $300.
** For 176-188 total points, the gross prize will be $250.
** For 167-175 total points, the gross prize will be $200.
** For 154-166 total points, the gross prize will be $150.
** For 145-153 total points, the gross prize will be $100.
** For 132-152 total points, the gross prize will be $75.
** To be eligible to win the Israel trip, a participant must be currently enrolled in and in good standing with their school, and no school official or family member should have any concerns about the participant going on the trip. If there are any such concerns, the participant may not go on the trip. The amount of trip winners is subject to change, and we reserve the right to deny any participant the trip or prize money.