1. Submissions must be in English.
2. Students may submit only one entry.
3. Team submissions are not allowed.
4. Work created by AI cannot be submitted as your own.
5. No external links, files, or videos (e.g., YouTube or Canva).
6. Include only content you created or have explicit rights to use.
7. Do not include identifiable information (names, contacts, social handles, or school names).
8. No content that is inappropriate, obscene, hateful, harmful, defamatory, or infringes on rights (privacy, publicity, IP).
9. No content that defames EXPLR or any individual/entity.
10. No sensitive political or religious messages; no intolerance, racism, hatred, or harm. Discrimination of any kind is prohibited.
11. No personal information or likenesses of individuals under 13 unless parental consent has been obtained.
12. By submitting, you confirm compliance with all Submission Rules.

Non-compliant submissions will be disqualified. EXPLR has sole discretion to determine appropriateness. By submitting, you agree to hold EXPLR and affiliates harmless if later found non-compliant.

All entries undergo a privacy review before judging. EXPLR may request resubmissions, redact personal details, or disqualify entries deemed inappropriate, ineligible, illegal, unsafe, or unsuitable. Entries may be modified or removed during the Submission Period at EXPLR’s sole discretion.

Internet/Platform Disclaimer: Applicants are solely responsible for the equipment, internet connection, browser compatibility, and software required to complete and submit their application. EXPLR is not responsible for late, incomplete, corrupted, or failed submissions resulting from internet outages, device or browser issues, firewall or content-filter restrictions, blocked platforms, server downtime, power loss, or other technical or connectivity problems of any kind. No deadline extensions or exceptions will be granted due to individual technical difficulties.

Judges evaluate all eligible entries. The top 10 entries per region scoring 60 or higher are designated Finalists.

• 50 points — Project’s potential for positive impact on people, communities, or the planet.
• 25 points — Innovation, creativity, and/or originality.
• 25 points — Clarity of project through images and text.
• +5 points (Bonus) — Students attending Title 1 eligible schools (per US Dept. of Education NCES CCD data).

Final review of all eligible entries. If enough entries exist, at least one potential National STEM Champion per region will be selected.

• 50 points — Persuasiveness & ability to communicate the project in the video.
• 25 points — Positive impact on people, communities, or the planet.
• 25 points — Innovation, creativity, and/or originality.
• +5 points (Bonus) — Students attending Title 1 eligible schools.

In a tie within the same region, the higher score in Positive Impact breaks the tie; if still tied, Persuasiveness is used. If a region has no eligible entries or none meet the minimum score, no Champion will be selected and EXPLR may redistribute prizes to next highest-scoring entries from other regions.

Finalist Prizes: Up to 10 Finalists per region (max 530) receive a 1-year EXPLR subscription (ARV: $49).

National STEM Champion Prizes: Up to 56 Champions receive a 5-night/6-day trip to the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., for the student + one parent/guardian (transportation + hotel; ARV up to $2,500). Actual value may vary.

Prizes may have additional terms in winner documents. Taxes and expenses not listed are the winner’s responsibility. W-9 (or equivalent) required for prizes valued at $600+.

EXPLR may: (i) reduce/increase Finalists or Champions; (ii) grant additional/special awards; (iii) withhold/revoke any prize and disqualify if ineligible, incomplete, non-compliant, or if awarding could cause disrepute. Alternates may be selected. Decisions of EXPLR and Judges are final.

• AISES Indigenous Ingenuity Award — Eligibility: project entered in 2024 or 2025 NAISEF. Prize: $500.
• Broadcom Foundation Tech for Good Award — Recognizes STEM for social & planetary good; coding as language & design tool. Prize: $500.
• Carolina® Science Young Innovators Award — Life/health sciences excellence (genetics, DNA, biomedical). Prize: $500.
• Young Ambassador Award — From the 2025 Champions cohort, honoring youth leadership in STEM for good. Prize: $500.
• Women in Aerospace Access Award — From Space Happy Hour. Prize: $500.

Award criteria and selections are at the discretion of EXPLR and/or the sponsoring organization; decisions are final.

Parents/guardians of potential Finalists will be notified at the application email and must submit required documents (Liability Release, Publicity Release, Waiver) within the specified timeframe. If unreachable after three attempts or documents aren’t provided in time, an alternate may be selected.

Video entries, project/research titles, abstracts, questionnaire answers, and images may be displayed by EXPLR and/or the Administrator. PDF submissions will not be displayed.

EXPLR decisions on rules and interpretation are final and binding. By participating, applicants waive the right to a jury trial for any action arising from the Festival and its rules and agree to binding arbitration with a neutral arbitrator in or near Kings County, New York. No indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages may be awarded. Each party covers their own legal fees/costs. The arbitrator’s decision may be enforced in any court with jurisdiction. These Official Rules are governed by New York State law.