Genius Prize empowers youth to focus their natural creativity to solve real-world problems. Genius Prize helps youth develop teamwork, public speaking, open-ended problem-solving, and more important skills that will enrich other areas of their lives.
Ages 13 – 19.
Teams of 3 – 5 Youth Members.
Teams develop solutions to selected Competition Problems to be judged on creativity, presentation, and other factors.
All team members must participate in the solution and the presentation.
The team will present a 5 minute Main Presentation. Two minutes are allowed either, before, or after the presentation to introduce the team members. After the presentation, the judges will ask questions for 5 minutes. Judges then have up to 3 minutes to give constructive feedback.
Each team must be hosted by a community-oriented organization known as a “Pathfinder.” A Pathfinder can be a school, church, municipality, local charity, or local business. Pathfinders must do the following: Secure a safe, public location for team practices or rehearsals, identify and provide a team coach, and provide encouragement and morale for participants.
Coaches guide youth and may facilitate idea processes, but shall not directly participate in developing the solution or presentation.
Coaches organize and monitor meetings.
Youth meet no fewer than 3 times and no more than 20 times to develop solution.
Problems are divided into 3 sections: Live Action Presentation, Video Presentation, and Gizmo Sections.
Live Action Presentation
The team presents its solution live at the competition as a 5 minute, rehearsed dramatic, musical or demonstrative presentation. Three minutes are allowed either, before, or after the presentation for setup and to introduce the team and solution. After the presentation, the judges will ask questions for 5 minutes.
Video Presentation
The team prerecords and edits its 5 minute solution presentation, which is played before judges at the competition. Two minutes are allowed either, before, or after the presentation to introduce the team and solution. After the presentation, the judges will ask questions for 5 minutes.
Gizmo Section
The team builds a device or a model of a device that is used to demonstrate a technological invention that solves the given problem. The team presents its solution in a 5 minute demonstration with creative elements.
Teams must pick the category in which they will compete. A team may compete in only one category in a competition. If the team wins its category in a local competition, the team must also compete in that category in the subsequent advanced competition.
