2027 Official Rules & Terms.

1Important Dates

EXPLR will only change material dates where circumstances outside its reasonable control make a change necessary. Any material change will be communicated as soon as reasonably practical.

2Eligibility

To enter, an applicant must:

1. be 13–19 years old inclusive on 22 November 2026;
2. ordinarily reside in the United Kingdom;
3. be participating in a school, sixth form, college, home-education programme, apprenticeship or equivalent secondary or pre-university education or training pathway in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland;
4. not be enrolled in an undergraduate university degree programme;
5. submit an individual project;
6. meet all application and submission requirements; and
7. submit the complete application by the deadline.

UK citizenship is not required.

Employees, officers or directors of EXPLR who have material responsibility for administering the Competition or selecting Finalists or National STEM Champions are not eligible to enter. Members of their immediate household are also not eligible.

Judges, employees of Festival partners or sponsors, educators, mentors and members of their families are not automatically excluded from entering or having an eligible student enter the Competition, provided that applicable conflicts of interest are declared and appropriately managed as described in these Rules.

EXPLR may request reasonable evidence of age, UK residence, education status or other eligibility information before confirming Finalist or National STEM Champion status.

3Individual Entries

Students may submit one entry only.

Team submissions are not permitted.

Students may receive appropriate assistance from teachers, mentors, parents, researchers, experts or other adults, but the project must represent the applicant’s own work, decisions and understanding.

Projects developed through school, another STEM programme, research programme, competition or similar activity may be submitted provided that the applicant is entitled to submit the work and it complies with these Rules.

Returning National STEM Festival participants may enter provided they submit a materially different or substantially developed project in accordance with the current Rules.

4UK Competition Regions

Applicants compete in the region of their usual home address.

The 12 Competition regions are:

• East Midlands
• East of England
• London
• North East
• North West
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• South East
• South West
• Wales
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and the Humber

Applicants select their region during the application and provide their home postcode.

EXPLR may use postcode information to verify regional eligibility. Where the selected region and postcode appear inconsistent, EXPLR may contact the applicant for clarification and correct the regional classification where necessary.

5Festival Themes

Each applicant must select one Festival Theme for their project.

The 2027 UK Festival Themes are:

1. Building & Infrastructure
2. Health & Human Potential
3. Technology, AI & Digital Futures
4. Food, Planet & Sustainability

EXPLR may reclassify a project where another Theme more accurately reflects the submitted work and doing so is reasonably necessary for judging or Festival administration.

6Required Application Materials

Applications must be submitted through the official National STEM Festival application form.

A complete submission includes:

1. Applicant and eligibility information
2. Project Title
3. Festival Theme
4. Project Summary
5. Research Question, Challenge or Hypothesis
6. Objective or Purpose
7. Acknowledgements and References, where applicable
8. Project PDF
9. Project Video link
10. Original Work and AI declarations
11. Required applicant declarations

The application, PDF and video are submitted together as one Competition entry.

There is no second project submission if an applicant later becomes a Finalist.

7One-Session Submission

The application system does not provide account creation, save-and-return functionality or substantive post-submission editing.

Applicants should have all required materials ready before beginning.

Applicants are responsible for reviewing their application carefully before selecting Submit Application.

Once submitted, the substantive project entry may not be edited, replaced or resubmitted.

Applicants may contact EXPLR to correct inaccurate personal or contact information. Such corrections do not permit substantive changes to the project, written responses, PDF or video.

EXPLR may request a limited technical correction where, for example, a submitted file is corrupted or a video link is inaccessible. A technical replacement must contain substantially the same material originally submitted and may not be used to improve or materially alter an entry after the deadline.

8Project PDF Requirements

The Project PDF must:

• be no more than 3 pages;
• be no more than 5MB;
• use a minimum 12-point font for substantive text;
• be submitted in PDF format;
• contain the applicant's own project information and authorised materials; and
• comply with the blind-review requirements below.

The PDF may include project photographs, diagrams, data, charts, drawings, sketches, prototypes, models and other relevant visuals.

Blind Review

Phase 1 judges review the applicant's written project information and Project PDF anonymously.

Applicants must not include their name, school or college name, teacher name, social-media handles or other identifying information in the Project Title, written project responses or Project PDF.

In particular, the Project PDF must not include:

• their name;
• their face or identifiable photograph;
• school or college name;
• teacher name;
• personal email address;
• telephone number;
• social-media usernames; or
• other unnecessary identifying information.

Where acknowledgements are necessary, applicants should describe support without identifying individuals where reasonably possible — for example, “my science teacher” or “a university mentor.” Full acknowledgements may be requested later.

Applicants are responsible for following the anonymisation requirements.

EXPLR may remove incidental identifying information where reasonably practical but is not required to repair a submission that substantially fails to follow the blind-review requirements.

9Project Video Requirements

A Project Video is required as part of the application.

The video must be no more than 2 minutes.

The applicant must appear on camera and identify themselves in the video.

The video should explain:

• what the project is;
• the problem, question or opportunity it addresses;
• what the applicant did, investigated or created; and
• what visitors could expect to see or experience at the National STEM Festival if the applicant is selected to present.

Applicants may show prototypes, demonstrations, experiments, models, data or other appropriate project materials.

Professional video production is not required and production quality is not itself a judging criterion.

The video must be submitted through a URL.

The video:

• may be unlisted;
• does not need to be publicly searchable;
• must be accessible to authorised Festival staff and judges;
• must not require an individual access request;
• must be downloadable by EXPLR; and
• must remain accessible throughout the judging period.

Where a password or access code is required, it must be supplied with the application.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring they have the right to include all visual, audio and other material appearing in the video.

The Project Video is not shown to Phase 1 judges.

Judges are not required to review additional websites, videos, files or external materials beyond the materials required by these Rules.

10Original Work, Mentors and Artificial Intelligence

The project and submission must represent the applicant's own work and understanding.

Applicants may appropriately use assistance and tools including:

• teachers;
• mentors;
• parents or guardians;
• researchers or experts;
• software and analytical tools; and
• artificial intelligence tools.

Such assistance must support rather than replace the applicant's intellectual contribution and understanding.

Applicants remain responsible for the accuracy, integrity and originality of their submission.

Applicants must disclose use of generative AI where requested in the application.

Use of AI is not automatically prohibited.

Submitting AI-generated, copied or third-party work as though it were the applicant's own may result in disqualification.

EXPLR may ask an applicant to explain their methodology, sources, mentor involvement, use of AI or individual contribution where reasonably necessary to confirm compliance.

11Content and Intellectual Property

Applicants must have the right to submit all material contained in their entry.

Submissions must not knowingly include:

• plagiarised material;
• material that infringes another person's copyright, trade mark, privacy, publicity or other legal rights;
• confidential information submitted without authority;
• unlawful material;
• defamatory material;
• threatening, hateful or discriminatory material;
• sexually explicit or obscene material; or
• other content reasonably considered inappropriate for a youth STEM programme.

Sources, quotations and third-party materials should be appropriately acknowledged where applicable.

Sensitive Personal Information

Applicants must not submit identifiable medical records, diagnoses, genetic information, biometric information or other sensitive personal information about themselves or another person in the initial Competition submission unless EXPLR has expressly requested that information through an appropriate separate process.

Projects involving human participants must use anonymised or aggregated information in the Competition application, written responses, Project PDF and Project Video.

Potentially Protectable Ideas

Applicants remain responsible for deciding what information about an invention, discovery or potentially protectable idea they wish to disclose.

Applicants who believe their project may contain patentable, commercially sensitive or otherwise protectable intellectual property should consider obtaining appropriate advice before submitting or publicly presenting the project.

12Ownership of Entries

Applicants retain ownership of their original project and intellectual property.

By entering, applicants grant EXPLR a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free right to copy, store, download and share the application, PDF and Project Video with authorised staff, contractors and judges where reasonably necessary to:

• administer the Competition;
• conduct judging;
• verify eligibility or compliance;
• maintain Competition records; and
• comply with applicable legal obligations.

Submitting an application alone does not grant EXPLR a general right to use the applicant's Project Video, images, quotes or application responses for public Festival marketing.

Additional provisions apply if the applicant becomes a Finalist or National STEM Champion.

13Review Phase 1

How judging works

All eligible entries enter Phase 1.

Phase 1 uses a blind-review process.

Judges do not receive the applicant's:

• name;
• photograph;
• contact information;
• parent or guardian information;
• demographic information;
• school name; or
• Project Video.

Projects are scored out of 100 points:

14Opportunity Bonus

The Festival includes an Opportunity Bonus intended to help recognise students who may have had fewer financial resources available to support their STEM participation.

An applicant may receive 5 Opportunity Bonus points if they confirm that they are currently eligible for:

means-tested Free School Meals or substantially equivalent means-tested educational support based on household income.

Universal school meal provision that is not based on household income does not, by itself, qualify an applicant for the Opportunity Bonus.

Applicants may answer:

• Yes
• No
• Unsure
• Prefer not to say

Applicants selecting Prefer not to say will not receive the Opportunity Bonus.

EXPLR may request reasonable confirmation of eligibility.

The Opportunity Bonus:

• is not shown to judges;
• does not alter the score awarded by an individual judge;
• is added administratively to the applicant's Phase 1 score for the purpose of determining advancement to Finalist status; and
• is used only during Phase 1.

The Opportunity Bonus does not carry forward into National STEM Champion scoring.

15Finalist Selection

EXPLR will calculate a Phase 1 Selection Score consisting of:

Up to 12 applicants from each Competition region may be designated Finalists.

A maximum of 144 Finalists may therefore be selected.

Finalists will ordinarily be selected based on the highest Phase 1 Selection Scores within each Competition region.

A region is not guaranteed 12 Finalists. Fewer may be selected where fewer than 12 eligible and compliant entries are available.

Finalists are expected to be publicly announced during the week of 11 January 2027, with 13 January 2027 currently anticipated as the principal announcement date.

16Public Recognition of Finalists

EXPLR may publish the following information about a Finalist:

• applicant name;
• Competition region; and
• project title.

This information may appear on:

• nationalstemfestival.com;
• EXPLR and National STEM Festival social channels;
• Festival announcements;
• press information; and
• other materials identifying the 2027 Finalist cohort.

Becoming a Finalist does not automatically authorise EXPLR to publicly use the applicant's Project Video, photographs, quotes, media responses or complete application for promotional purposes.

17Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement

Each Finalist must complete a separate Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement by the deadline stated in the Finalist notification.

The form may request:

• confirmation of personal information;
• approved photographs;
• short biographical information;
• approved quotes;
• media responses;
• information needed for media opportunities;
• confirmation of Champion publicity requirements; and
• other information reasonably necessary for Finalist and potential Champion administration.

For applicants under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete applicable sections and permissions.

Applicants aged 18 or 19 may complete their own agreement.

Completion of this form by the stated deadline is required for continued eligibility for selection as a National STEM Champion.

EXPLR will make reasonable attempts to contact a Finalist before removing them from Champion consideration because required information has not been submitted.

18Finalist Media Materials

Photographs, quotes, media responses and other additional promotional materials collected through the Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement will be held securely.

They will not be publicly used for Festival marketing merely because the applicant has become a Finalist.

If the Finalist is not subsequently selected as a National STEM Champion, EXPLR will not use those additional materials for promotional purposes and will delete or otherwise dispose of them in accordance with the Festival's applicable retention policy.

This does not prevent EXPLR from continuing to identify the applicant as a 2027 Finalist by name, Competition region and project title, subject to applicable data-protection rights.

19Review Phase 2

Finalists do not submit a new project.

Phase 2 uses materials already included in the original Competition application.

Phase 2 judges may review:

• the original written project submission;
• Project PDF;
• Project Video;
• relevant Phase 1 judging information; and
• other information reasonably required to administer judging.

Phase 2 judges are not provided with demographic information or Opportunity Bonus eligibility information for scoring purposes. In particular, Phase 2 judges are not provided with, for scoring purposes:

• gender;
• demographic impact information;
• Opportunity Bonus eligibility; or
• parent or guardian information unrelated to judging.

The Phase 2 Project Video is scored out of 100 points:

20Final Competition Score

For Finalists, the Final Competition Score is calculated as:

The maximum Final Competition Score is 100 points.

A Finalist must achieve a Final Competition Score of at least 65 out of 100 to be eligible for selection as a National STEM Champion.

21National STEM Champion Selection

Up to three National STEM Champions per Competition region may be selected.

This provides for up to 36 Regional National STEM Champions.

A region is not guaranteed three Champions.

If fewer than three eligible Finalists within a region achieve the required minimum score or otherwise meet the Competition requirements, one or more regional Champion places may remain unawarded.

An unfilled regional Champion place is not reallocated to another region. No region may receive more than three Regional National STEM Champions.

National STEM Champions are currently expected to be announced on 9 February 2027.

22Special Awards

EXPLR may select up to four additional Special Award National STEM Champions, creating a maximum 2027 UK Champion cohort of 40 students.

Special Award criteria and any additional eligibility requirements will be published by EXPLR.

Special Awards do not alter an applicant's scoring for a Regional National STEM Champion place.

Unless otherwise stated in the published Special Award criteria, a Special Award Champion must:

• have been an eligible applicant;
• have advanced to Finalist status;
• comply with all Competition requirements; and
• meet the minimum standard required for National STEM Champion selection.

Special Awards may be selected by EXPLR and/or an appropriately qualified sponsoring or partner organisation under published criteria.

23Champion Attendance Requirement

National STEM Champion is an in-person participation designation.

Required in-person Festival: London — May 5–10, 2027.

To remain eligible for Champion selection, a Finalist must confirm in advance that they are able and willing to attend the applicable National STEM Festival and accept the required Champion participation conditions.

A student selected as a National STEM Champion must attend the Festival in person and substantially participate in required Champion programming.

A selected student who becomes unable to attend may remain recognised as a Finalist but cannot retain National STEM Champion status. EXPLR may offer the resulting Champion place to another qualifying Finalist in accordance with these Rules.

Some Champion selections may be announced through live, recorded, school, community or media surprise reveals. Finalists who remain eligible for Champion selection, and parents or legal guardians where applicable, authorise such a public selection announcement through the Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement.

24Judges and Conflicts of Interest

The National STEM Festival may use a large judging community consisting of educators, scientists, engineers, researchers, industry professionals, Festival partners, sponsor representatives and other appropriately qualified reviewers.

A judge's employment by, affiliation with or relationship to a Festival partner or sponsor does not by itself prevent that person from serving as a judge.

Before judging, reviewers must certify that they will:

• judge fairly and impartially;
• maintain appropriate confidentiality;
• use Competition information only for judging;
• disclose actual or potential conflicts of interest; and
• recuse themselves from any entry they cannot judge impartially.

A conflict may include, for example:

• an applicant who is the judge's family or household member;
• an applicant whom the judge directly teaches, supervises or mentors;
• a project to which the judge materially contributed;
• a personal, professional or financial relationship that could reasonably affect impartiality; or
• another circumstance in which the judge believes they cannot provide an objective assessment.

A conflict with one applicant does not necessarily prevent a judge from reviewing other applicants, projects or Competition regions.

EXPLR may reassign an entry to another judge where a conflict is disclosed or identified.

No sponsor, partner or judge is entitled to select a winner because of sponsorship, financial support or organisational affiliation.

Because National STEM Champion selection involves subjective judging, EXPLR will ensure that the winner-selection process includes at least one appropriately qualified independent judge or a judging panel that includes at least one appropriately qualified independent member.

The independent judge or panel member will be demonstrably independent of EXPLR, the administration of the Competition and the relevant entrant pool.

The full names of competent judges will be made available on request where required by the CAP Code.

The Festival may still use approximately 1,000 reviewers, including educators, scientists, engineers, researchers, industry professionals, Festival partners, sponsor representatives and other appropriately qualified reviewers.

Conflicts continue to be managed through certification and recusal.

25Tie-Breaking

If Phase 1 Selection Scores are tied and the tie affects Finalist selection:

1. the higher Positive Impact judge score will prevail;
2. if still tied, the higher Innovation, Creativity & Originality judge score will prevail; and
3. if still tied, an additional qualified judge may review the tied entries.

If Final Competition Scores are tied and the tie affects National STEM Champion selection:

1. the higher Phase 1 Positive Impact score will prevail;
2. if still tied, the higher Phase 2 Communication & Persuasiveness score will prevail;
3. if still tied, the higher Phase 1 Innovation, Creativity & Originality score will prevail; and
4. if still tied, the tied entries will be reviewed by an appropriately qualified independent judge.

26Public Role of National STEM Champions

The National STEM Festival is a public-facing programme.

National STEM Champions are selected not only to receive a prize, but to represent and present their projects publicly as part of the Festival.

Applicants should understand before entering that accepting National STEM Champion status includes public recognition and participation in Festival media and communications.

As a condition of accepting National STEM Champion status, the Champion and, where applicable, their parent or legal guardian must complete the required Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement permitting EXPLR to:

• publicly announce the Champion's name, region and project title;
• publish approved photographs and biographical information;
• publish, display and promote the Champion's submitted Project Video;
• publish approved quotes and media responses collected during the Finalist process;
• photograph, film and record the Champion during Festival activities; and
• use those materials to report on, communicate and promote the National STEM Festival and related EXPLR programmes.

Materials may be used through appropriate Festival and EXPLR channels including websites, social media, event screens, presentations, press and media materials and Festival reporting.

EXPLR may actively use approved Champion photographs, the submitted Project Video, approved quotes, media responses and Festival-created photography or video for up to five years following the 2027 National STEM Festival. The five-year period applies to active promotional reuse.

Previously published Festival materials may remain accessible after that period as part of the Festival's historical archive. EXPLR is not required to remove historical published pages, press coverage or archival Festival records after five years.

National STEM Champions may also be invited to participate in interviews with media organisations. Participation in individual external media interviews will be appropriately coordinated with the Champion and, for minors, their parent or legal guardian.

Where a Champion or parent/guardian raises a genuine safeguarding, security or exceptional privacy concern, EXPLR will consider reasonable steps to reduce identifying information or modify particular uses where this is compatible with the essential public-facing nature of the National STEM Champion programme.

An applicant who cannot participate on these essential terms may remain recognised as a Finalist but may be unable to accept National STEM Champion status. In that circumstance, EXPLR may select an alternate qualifying Finalist.

27National STEM Champion Prize

Up to 40 National STEM Champions may be selected.

Each Champion will be invited to participate in the 2027 National STEM Festival in London, currently scheduled for 5–10 May 2027.

The Champion package includes, as arranged or approved by EXPLR:

• reasonable return travel to London;
• Festival hotel accommodation;
• participation in National STEM Festival programming; and
• specified Festival meals and activities.

The approximate maximum retail value of each Champion package is £2,000.

Actual value will vary depending on travel origin, accommodation requirements and arrangements made by EXPLR.

Champions Under 18

A Champion under 18 must attend with one parent or legal guardian.

For a Champion under 18, the Champion package includes specified reasonable travel and hotel accommodation for one parent or legal guardian accompanying the Champion.

A sibling or other companion may only serve as the required accompanying adult if they are the Champion's legal guardian.

Champions Aged 18 or 19

A Champion aged 18 or 19 is not required to travel with a parent or guardian.

An 18- or 19-year-old Champion may elect to bring one accompanying adult who is their parent, legal guardian or adult sibling aged 18 or older, where an accompanying-person benefit is included within the Champion package.

The accompanying-person benefit may not be transferred to a friend, partner or other companion.

If an adult Champion chooses to travel without an eligible accompanying adult, the unused benefit has no cash or transferable value.

28Prize Conditions

Prizes:

• have no cash alternative;
• may not be sold;
• are non-transferable except where EXPLR expressly permits otherwise; and
• are subject to reasonable travel, accommodation, safeguarding and Festival participation requirements.

EXPLR may substitute a prize element with a reasonably equivalent or greater-value alternative where circumstances outside its reasonable control make the original element unavailable.

Champions and accompanying adults are responsible for:

• possessing identification required for travel;
• complying with transport-provider and accommodation requirements;
• personal spending;
• optional activities;
• expenses not expressly stated as included; and
• any personal tax obligations that may apply.

Further travel and participation requirements will be provided to selected Champions.

29Availability and Festival Participation

National STEM Champions are expected to be available to participate in the London Festival during the published Festival dates.

EXPLR will consider reasonable accessibility, health, disability, safeguarding and other relevant circumstances when administering participation.

Where a selected Champion cannot participate and appropriate alternative arrangements cannot reasonably be made, EXPLR may select an alternate qualifying Finalist.

For Champions under 18, the accompanying parent or legal guardian retains parental responsibility and responsibility for supervision except during any specific activity for which EXPLR has expressly communicated alternative safeguarding arrangements.

30Notification

Finalists and National STEM Champions will be contacted using the email address and, where applicable, parent/guardian contact information supplied in the application.

Applicants are responsible for providing accurate contact information and monitoring relevant inboxes, including spam or junk folders.

EXPLR will make reasonable attempts to contact selected applicants.

If an applicant:

• cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts;
• is found to be ineligible;
• supplied materially inaccurate eligibility information;
• fails to complete required Finalist or Champion documentation by the communicated deadline without reasonable explanation; or
• declines Finalist or Champion status,

EXPLR may select an alternate qualifying applicant.

31Publication of Results

EXPLR intends to publicly announce Finalists and National STEM Champions.

Finalist publication may include:

• name;
• Competition region; and
• project title.

National STEM Champion publication may include the additional materials described in the Champion Media provisions of these Rules and the applicable Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement.

An applicant or parent/guardian may contact EXPLR about a genuine safeguarding, security or exceptional privacy concern and request that the amount of identifying information made public be reduced.

EXPLR will consider such requests reasonably while preserving the integrity and essential public-facing nature of the National STEM Champion programme.

Where required, EXPLR may still provide appropriate winner information to a regulator or other competent authority to demonstrate that the Competition was validly awarded.

32Demographic and Impact Information

The application may collect demographic and impact information to help EXPLR understand participation, access and programme impact across the United Kingdom.

Demographic information is not provided to judges and does not affect Competition scoring or Finalist or National STEM Champion selection.

Opportunity Bonus eligibility information is also not provided to judges. Where applicable, the published 5-point Opportunity Bonus is applied administratively during Phase 1 only, as described in Section 14.

Where a demographic question is optional, applicants may decline to answer it.

Personal information is handled in accordance with the Application Privacy Notice.

33Privacy and Children's Information

EXPLR processes applicant information for purposes that may include:

• Competition administration;
• eligibility verification;
• communication with applicants and parents/guardians;
• judging;
• impact measurement;
• safeguarding;
• Finalist and Champion administration;
• prize and travel administration;
• Festival participation;
• media and communications as described in these Rules; and
• compliance with applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

Applicants aged under 18 are children for data-protection purposes and their information will be handled with appropriate regard to their age, interests and rights.

The Application Privacy Notice explains:

• what information EXPLR collects;
• why it is collected;
• applicable lawful bases;
• who information may be shared with;
• international data transfers;
• retention periods;
• applicant and parent/guardian rights where applicable; and
• how to contact EXPLR about privacy.

Where EXPLR relies on consent for a particular optional use of personal information, that consent will be requested separately.

34Disqualification

EXPLR may disqualify an applicant where it reasonably determines that the applicant:

• does not meet the eligibility requirements;
• submitted materially false or misleading information;
• submitted plagiarised work;
• misrepresented another person's or AI-generated work as their own;
• substantially failed to comply with the submission requirements;
• improperly interfered with the application or judging process;
• attempted to manipulate eligibility or scoring;
• submitted prohibited or unlawful material;
• breached confidentiality or other Competition requirements; or
• engaged in conduct that materially compromises the integrity or safe administration of the Competition.

Where reasonable and appropriate, EXPLR may request clarification before making a final determination.

35Technical Problems

Applicants are responsible for having access to equipment, software and internet connectivity reasonably necessary to submit an application.

Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the final minutes before the application deadline.

EXPLR is not responsible for technical problems outside its reasonable control.

If a technical failure affecting EXPLR's application system materially prevents applicants from submitting, EXPLR may take reasonable steps to administer the Competition fairly, including accepting evidence of a timely attempted submission or extending the deadline where appropriate.

36Changes, Suspension or Cancellation

EXPLR will administer the Competition in accordance with these published Rules.

Material Competition terms, closing dates, judging arrangements or prize structures will not be changed after the Competition begins except where circumstances outside EXPLR's reasonable control make a change reasonably necessary.

Any material change will be communicated clearly and implemented as fairly as reasonably possible.

If circumstances outside EXPLR's reasonable control make part or all of the Competition impossible or unsafe to operate, EXPLR may suspend, modify or cancel affected elements after taking reasonable account of the interests of applicants.

37Judging Decisions and Administrative Errors

Judging decisions concerning the merits of entries are final.

Applicants may not appeal a judge's subjective scoring decision.

EXPLR may correct:

• calculation errors;
• data-processing errors;
• regional classification errors;
• eligibility errors; or
• other clear administrative mistakes.

Where such an error materially affects a selection outcome, EXPLR will take reasonable steps to correct the outcome fairly.

38Liability

Nothing in these Rules excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

Subject to applicable law, EXPLR is not responsible for loss caused by circumstances outside its reasonable control or loss that was not reasonably foreseeable.

Nothing in these Rules affects an applicant's statutory rights.

39Questions and Complaints

Questions concerning:

• eligibility;
• submission requirements;
• Competition administration;
• suspected conflicts of interest; or
• suspected administrative errors

may be sent to: nationalstemfestival@explr-media.com

EXPLR will aim to consider Competition concerns fairly and reasonably.

40Governing Law

These Rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Applicants who ordinarily reside in Scotland or Northern Ireland retain any mandatory protections available to them under applicable law and may bring proceedings in the courts available to them under applicable law.

Nothing in these Rules requires an applicant to submit a dispute to arbitration or to bring proceedings outside the United Kingdom.

41Promoter

The promoter is:

EXPLR PBC, Inc.
82 Nassau Street #60050
New York, NY 10038
United States

Email: nationalstemfestival@explr-media.com
Website: nationalstemfestival.com

These Rules should be read alongside the:

• Application Guide
• Application Privacy Notice
• Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement, where applicable
• Special Award criteria, where applicable

If explanatory application-page copy conflicts with these Official Rules, these Official Rules govern, subject always to applicable law.