Frequently Asked Questions
What is The DuPont Challenge?
Why should I have my students enter?
What are the key steps to entering?
What are the rules of the competition?
Is possible to submit my entry through the mail?
What is the deadline for entry submission?
May I submit more than one entry?
Will I get a confirmation that my entry has been received?
May non-U.S. students in other countries submit entries?
Can students who attend Department of Defense schools enter The DuPont Challenge?
What are the most common reasons why students' entries are disqualified?
What if I don't teach the Challenge theme options provided?
What do you mean by a storyboard?
What is The DuPont Challenge?
The DuPont Challenge is a science writing competition for students in grades K-12. It was created as a way to spark students' interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Geared towards middle and high school students for the first 28 years, The DuPont Challenge is now offering an Elementary Division for students in grades K-5.
The Elementary Division asks students to create a poster, storyboard, or PowerPoint presentation (depending on grade level) about a particular STEM topic, either as a classroom project or in a small group. Please see the specific grade pages for more information on what is required for each grade level.
Why should I have my students enter?
There are several great reasons why students would benefit from participating in The DuPont Challenge!
- The DuPont Challenge makes science come to life with a very student-friendly, real-world project.
- The DuPont Challenge helps teachers meet their science curriculum objectives through Challenges that were developed for each specific grade level.
- The DuPont Challenge offers over $50,000 in awards--including awards for the students, teachers, and entire school. The grand prize winner for each grade level receives a V.I.P. Science Is Fun Day assembly at their school!
What are the key steps to entering?
The process is very simple:
- 1. Review the grade-specific Challenge options and choose the one that you consider most appropriate for your classroom.
- 2. Follow the Challenge-specific instructions, which include:
- Research
- Analysis
- Presentation of solution to the Challenge in a poster, storyboard, or PowerPoint presentation format (depending on the grade level)
- 3. Submit your entry using the Official Entry Form. (For handwritten/hand-drawn entries, teachers will need to scan or digitally photograph their classroom entries in order to submit them online. Mailed-in entries will not be accepted.)
What are the rules of the competition?
Please see our Official Rules for details. We also offer guidelines on the specific grade pages that will be helpful for you to review.
Is possible to submit my entry through the mail?
No. Due to the high volume of entries submitted, all entries must be submitted electronically using the Official Entry Form. Any handwritten/hand-drawn entries must be scanned or digitally photographed and submitted electronically. Please see the Official Entry Form for more information.
What is the deadline for entry submission?
All entries must be submitted using the Official Entry Form by Tuesday, March 1, 2016.
May I submit more than one entry?
For grades K-2, teachers must submit one entry for the entire classroom. For grades 3-5, teachers may submit individual entries for each group of 2-4 students in their classroom. Please see the specific grade pages or Official Rules for more information on group size.
Will I get a confirmation that my entry has been received?
As soon as you finish submitting your entry, a Certificate of Participation will appear in your browser window. Your entry title and personal entry code number will be listed here, and you will be given the option of printing it out.
May non-U.S. students in other countries submit entries?
Only students from the U.S., Canada, and their territories are able to submit entries.
Can students who attend Department of Defense schools enter The DuPont Challenge?
Yes, students at Department of Defense schools may enter following the same Official Rules and guidelines. On the Official Entry Form, military addresses should be entered as follows:
- City field: Type in "APO," "FPO," or "DPO"
- State/Province field: Choose the two-letter region code from the drop-down menu; either "AA (armed forces)," "AE (armed forces)," or "AP (armed forces)"
- Zip/Postal Code: Type in the 6- or 9-digit ZIP code
What are the most common reasons why students' entries are disqualified?
A large number of student entries are disqualified for overlooking the following basic competition rules:
- Personal information (student names, teacher name, school, etc.) cannot appear on the entry.
- The entry must have a clear connection to science and/or technology.
- Challenge topics and entry formats must match the specific grade range.
- Entries may not be more than 8 pages (plus a cover page). Entries longer than 8 pages will be disqualified.
- Multi-grade entries will be disqualified. All students participating in the same group must be from the same grade.
What if I don't teach the Challenge theme options provided?
Each grade is given one specific Challenge theme, as well as a second theme that leaves the choice open to the teacher and class. If your students will not be learning about the suggested topic for your grade level, please select the second option and choose a topic that better aligns with your curriculum.
What do you mean by a storyboard?
A storyboard format allows students to use both words and images to explain their project. Each storyboard should include an introduction, what the students did, what the students observed, and a conclusion. Please see the specific grade pages for information on the appropriate length and format of your grade's storyboard.
