Genes in Space announced the 2021 challenge for students in grades seven to twelve. Only residents of the United States can participate and either work alone or form a team of up to four members. Selected finalist must be able to present during Genes in Space virtual finals from July 26 to July 29, 2021. All participants are encouraged to have a teacher, parent or another science enthusiast as a mentor. Entrants are instructed to design a DNA experiment, which addresses challenges in space travel and exploration. Everything works differently in space, so this challenge is all about choosing a topic that interests the participating students and expresses why it’s essential for space exploration. Students can explore through and use the current space biology research to start. In the end, the application must be submitted through the online portal.
The main reasons for proposal competitions describing a hypothesis and/or experiment is to promote creativity, interests, and uniqueness among students who have an interest in specific fields. Students can win scholarships, prizes and other types of recognitions through these competitions. Every year organizers select new topics and accept applications from teens and adults.
In 2015, Genes in SpaceTM started as a cooperation between Boeing and miniPCR bio. This initiated with a goal of inspiring and encouraging young minds to think and solve real-world problems, which exists in the fields of biological and physical sciences. Since its start as a collaborative project, Genes have grown as a result of generous sponsors that also include the ISS U.S. National Laboratory and New England Biolabs. Up till now, Genes has received thousands of proposals from inspiring students, and their alumni have enabled outstanding milestones in space biology. They celebrate collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking among young innovators through contests like Genes in Space every year.
Brief Description
Refer to the below table for more details of the scholarship:
| Organization | Genes In Space |
| Educational Level | 7 to 12 grades |
| Subjects | All |
| Amount | Varied |
| Access Mode | Online |
| Number of Awards | Various |
| City | Multiple |
| Nationality | Domestic |
| Country | United States |
| Application Deadline | April 12, 2021, |
| Application Fees | N/A |
| Requirement | Complete application form and proposal on DNA experiment |
Who May Be Eligible
- A current 7 to 12 grader living in the United States
- Students who receive permission and consent from their parents or guardians
How to Apply
Eligible students can complete the online application and submit their proposal by April 12, 2021. Finalists from this competition must present their proposal during the virtual finale and undergo mentoring.
Supporting Documents
- Entrants are instructed to complete the online application and submit a design on a DNA experiment, which addresses challenges in space travel and exploration.
Benefits
The main benefit for Genes to organize Genes in Space 2021 Challenge/Contest for students in grades seven to twelve is to encourage and promote interests and inspirations. The finalists and winner of this contest can receive a miniPCR DNA Discovery SystemTM and take part in Space Biology Camp to prepare the proposed experiment for space travel.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for this 2021 contest is April 12, 2021. Please send your application as early as possible.
