Tell a story about a person learning to live on a new world while traveling through space.
Learning…A lifelong journey. These are stories from the spaceship Vestigo. Its 20-year journey will take a large group of people from Earth to a new home outside our solar system…
The passengers are from 2- to 50-years-old and will have little contact with Earth. They will have access to books and other resources onboard the ship. Many are experts in different fields.
Vestigo is equipped with artificial gravity and large areas for growing food. Living quarters are like compact apartments.
Everyone onboard will need education and training. They will need to maintain the ship and to prepare for life on a new planet. Most people will need to be skilled in more than one area.
To Enter the contest:
Each grade category has different submission requirements, but everyone must submit a story that shows a person onboard the Vestigo learning something new.
Below is a table summarizing what contestants in each age category should submit. Be sure to check the complete rules and regulations for full details.
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Age group
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Submission requirements
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Word limit
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Optional materials
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Elementary
(grades 3-5)
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Story about learning and/or demonstrating the engineering design process
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900 words
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Graphics or artwork
Annotated bibliography
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Middle school
(grades 6-8)
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Story about a person who grew up on a spaceship learning a skill needed to live on a new planet
AND
Engineer’s Note
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1200 words
PLUS
Engineer’s Note can be up to 250 words
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Graphics or artwork
Annotated bibliography
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High school
(grades 9-12)
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Story about a person learning something new or being recognized as an expert
AND
Engineer’s Note
AND
Annotated bibliography
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1600 words
PLUS
Engineer’s Note can be up to 500 words
There is no word limit on the bibliography
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Graphics or artwork
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It is okay to work with others during the engineering design process. However, submissions must be the original work of an individual. Any evidence of plagiarism will immediately disqualify an entry.
Be sure to read the full Rules & Requirements
Stories had to be submitted via the website by February 1, 2020 at 11:59pm EST.
Other Important information:
Judging
Submissions will be judged by a slate of volunteers that include professionals from various engineering fields. In addition to checking that submissions meet all of the basic rules, they will be looking for:
- How original, creative, and well-written the story is
- How creative, realistic, and appropriate the learning tools and technologies included in the story are
- How well the story and engineer's note reflect author's understanding and/or use of the engineering design process
Prizes
Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:
First-place winners will be awarded $500.
Second-place entries will be awarded $250.
Third-place entries will be awarded $100.
Winning entries, along with honorable mention stories, will be published on the EngineerGirl website.
Bibliography
Because these stories are works of fiction, a works cited list is not required with your submission.
HOWEVER. You are encouraged (and high school students are required) to submit an annotated bibliography. This is a list of resources that your readers could go to for more information about something you mention or use in your story (or engineer's note). The quality of the annotated bibilography may be used to break a tie.
The annotated bibliography does not count toward your word limit.
Use your engineering design skills to develop a creative way to learn something
and then write a story about how that solution might work.
Be sure to read the full Rules & Requirements