Prizes for Innovative Use of Technology in Learning

About

The University of Sheffield is delighted to coordinate the Harry and Margaret Kroto Prize for Innovative Use of Technology in Science Learning.

Professor Sir Harry Kroto died on 30th April 2016, but his legacy continues. This prize, in partnership with the Jacobs Foundation, being one inspirational example.

The prize is awarded annually to students aged 11-18, from any school in the world, for the best video about any Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject matter.

Sir Harry’s commitment to innovation in learning was a true inspiration and, to honour that commitment and the ongoing commitment of Lady Margaret Kroto, a complementary competition was also launched to recognise the Innovative Use of Technology in Humanities Learning.

This prize is awarded annually to students aged 11-18, from any school in the world, for the best video about any Language (including English), Music, Arts, Philosophy/Religion, History or Geography subject matter.

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Prizes

There will be a 1st prize of £300, 2nd prize of £200 and 3rd prize of £100 (these may be awarded in vouchers), plus an additional prize of £200 for the best presentation in English by students whose first language is not English.

The prize is shared 50/50 between the student and the school/college.

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Competition rules - for both categories

One entry to each category (Science and Humanities) is permitted per school.

The entry should be presented as a video of no more than 4 minutes in length, be made in English and be submitted by the student's school.

In order to qualify, videos must be hosted on an accessible platform, eg YouTube, and should be linked to from the school's website.

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Top tips for preparing a strong submission

Storyboard your idea

Consider what will happen in each section:

• What is the overall story you want to tell?
• What is being viewed?
• What is being said?

What style will you use?

People talking directly to the camera? Animation? Stop motion? Or will you use a combination?

Check these things before you get going

• Audio quality and consistency (you don’t want it too quiet or randomly getting loud).
• Does all your equipment work properly, including any props to be used in the film?
• Be sure to add credits, especially where you have used Copyrighted material.

When it is produced

• Check your editing for jumps/breaks.
• Watch the whole thing back and check for any sound or quality issues.
• Ask someone who hasn’t been involved in production to give you some feedback.

Judging criteria:

• Academic content
• Use of technology
• Communication and presentation
• Ambassadors for learning and science

The University of Sheffield have been absolutely delighted with the number of entries received over the years, all of which were of a very high standard.

The competition is judged by a specialist panel, including senior academics, and staff with expertise in public engagement, education, and communication.

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Winners

Winning entries from previous years are available to view below:

2022's winning entries

• 1st place: Rakesh Vaddepalli, The Blue Coat School, Why our Lithium-ion dream is running out of battery
• 2nd place: Manav Chitkara and Gonzalo Mugarra, The Repton School, How Sugar Twists Light into a Rainbow.

The prize for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences was not awarded in 2022 - Let's change that for 2023!

2021's winning entries (the competition was not held in 2020)

• 1st Place: Tamsin Anderson, Caterham School, “Seasteading"  
• 2nd Place: Tahmid Fahim Uddin, Ilford County High School, “What is Quantum Computing?”
• 3rd Place: Saina Sharma, South Hampstead High School, “Where is everyone?”

Judges' comment: The range of topics presented, and the methods the entrants used to communicate their areas of interest were fantastic! The students showed a real flair for exciting people about their subjects, and used technology brilliantly, to help them get their messages across in a fascinating and easy-to-understand way.

The prize for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences was not awarded in 2021

2019's winning entries

• 1st prize: Bosworth Independent College - Magic Magnetic Poles
• Joint 2nd prize: University College School - Neuroscience & AI
• Joint 2nd prize: Woodford County High School - Women in Science
• 3rd prize: Cheltenham Ladies' College - Microbubbles

2018's winning entries

• 1st prize: HELP International School - Life's Golden Number
• 2nd prize: St Alban's High School for Girls - DNA for Data Storage-petabytes on a pin head
• 3rd prize: Cheltenham Ladies' College - The Incredible Uses of Bacterial Cellulose
• Prize for students for whom English is not their first language: British School of Barcelona - Flight Wing

2017's winning entries

• 1st prize: Cheltenham Ladies' College - The Science of 3D printing: 3D Industrial Revolution
• 2nd prize: Beaumont School - Machine Learning - Explained
• 3rd prize: The James Allen’s Girls' School - Why is Global Warming Real?
• Prize for students for whom English is not their first language: The Leys School - Bonding and Anti Bonding

2016's winning entries

• 1st prize: St Mary's School Calne - Test Tube Babes
• 2nd prize: The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science - Wingtip Vortices
• 3rd prize: Herschel Grammar School - An Engineer's Guide to Space Travel
• Prize for students for whom English is not their first language: British School Barcelona - Hydraulic Claw Arm (link no longer available)

2015's winning entries

• 1st prize: Cheltenham Ladies' College - The Science of Chillies
• 2nd prize: Brighton College - The Science of Alcohol
• Joint 3rd prize: The King’s School, Canterbury - Solar Energy
• Joint 3rd prize: Ecole Scholaire, Saint-Luc Quebec - What Goes Up Must Come Down
• Prize for students for whom English is not their first language: Yokohama International School, Japan - Can the Wheat which grows in dry areas solve the food crisis?