2026 QUESTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Explore the Questions
2026 QUESTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Explore the Questions
2026 QUESTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Explore the Questions
Evaluation Criteria
CRITERION
WHAT JUDGES LOOK FOR
Understanding & accuracy
Concepts, mechanisms, terminology, and causal relationships are correct and genuinely understood.
Inquiry & focus
Develops a meaningful question, problem, contradiction, or uncertainty into a focused investigation.
Research & evidence
Uses relevant, credible, traceable evidence and distinguishes what is established, uncertain, or disputed.
Creative synthesis &
independent thinking
Connects evidence, ideas, or perspectives to produce an original insight, argument, design, or explanation. Originality should come from reasoning, not novelty alone.
Critical evaluation
Tests assumptions and seriously considers counterarguments, competing explanations, limitations, and uncertainty.
Clarity & relevance
Directly addresses the prompt with a coherent argument an informed non-specialist can follow.
Use a consistent, recognized citation style. APA is recommended, but other established styles are accepted. All sources must be clearly cited and traceable. Citation style itself is not scored, but missing, misleading, or untraceable citations may affect evaluation and academic integrity.
WHAT JUDGES LOOK FOR
Understanding & accuracy
Concepts, mechanisms, terminology, and causal relationships are correct and genuinely understood.
Inquiry & focus
Develops a meaningful question, problem, contradiction, or uncertainty into a focused investigation.
Research & evidence
Uses relevant, credible, traceable evidence and distinguishes what is established, uncertain, or disputed.
Creative synthesis &
independent thinking
Connects evidence, ideas, or perspectives to produce an original insight, argument, design, or explanation. Originality should come from reasoning, not novelty alone.
Critical evaluation
Tests assumptions and seriously considers counterarguments, competing explanations, limitations, and uncertainty.
Clarity & relevance
Directly addresses the prompt with a coherent argument an informed non-specialist can follow.
Use a consistent, recognized citation style. APA is recommended, but other established styles are accepted. All sources must be clearly cited and traceable. Citation style itself is not scored, but missing, misleading, or untraceable citations may affect evaluation and academic integrity.
Research Guidelines
COMPETITION AT A GLANCE
Questions
18
Themes
6
Maximum Essay Length
2,000 words
Referencing
APA 7th recommended
Registration Deadline
January 15, 2027
Extension Deadline
February 21, 2027
RESEARCH RULES
Base your essay on credible sources. You may use published data and established scientific principles to make your own estimates, comparisons, or theoretical conjectures. Clearly show where your data came from, what assumptions you made, and how those assumptions affect the result. Longer calculations or model building may be included in the Supporting Information, if the omission of such additional details does not affect the completeness of your essay’s logical flow.
Base your essay on credible sources. You may use published data and established scientific principles to make your own estimates, comparisons, or theoretical conjectures. Clearly show where your data came from, what assumptions you made, and how those assumptions affect the result. Longer calculations or model building may be included in the Supporting Information, if the omission of such additional details does not affect the completeness of your essay’s logical flow.
Base your essay on credible sources. You may use published data and established scientific principles to make your own estimates, comparisons, or theoretical conjectures. Clearly show where your data came from, what assumptions you made, and how those assumptions affect the result. Longer calculations or model building may be included in the Supporting Information, if the omission of such additional details does not affect the completeness of your essay’s logical flow.
WHAT A STRONG ESSAY SHOULD DO
A strong response should explain the relevant theoretical foundations, quantitative or qualitative reasoning, and technological details precisely and accurately. An encyclopedia-style information dump at any length is strongly discouraged. Your essay should compare and analyze evidence critically rather than simply list sources. The essay should engage with serious opposing views, reach and defend a narrow and debatable conclusion.
A strong response should explain the relevant theoretical foundations, quantitative or qualitative reasoning, and technological details precisely and accurately. An encyclopedia-style information dump at any length is strongly discouraged. Your essay should compare and analyze evidence critically rather than simply list sources. The essay should engage with serious opposing views, reach and defend a narrow and debatable conclusion.
A strong response should explain the relevant theoretical foundations, quantitative or qualitative reasoning, and technological details precisely and accurately. An encyclopedia-style information dump at any length is strongly discouraged. Your essay should compare and analyze evidence critically rather than simply list sources. The essay should engage with serious opposing views, reach and defend a narrow and debatable conclusion.
Original calculations and estimates are welcome only when they help answer the question. Every number should come with a visible trail of sources, assumptions, and reasoning. Using theories and models beyond high school curriculum will not necessarily impress the judges. Quantitative reasoning is not always superior to qualitative reasoning either. Use the methods that best serve your argument.
Original calculations and estimates are welcome only when they help answer the question. Every number should come with a visible trail of sources, assumptions, and reasoning. Using theories and models beyond high school curriculum will not necessarily impress the judges. Quantitative reasoning is not always superior to qualitative reasoning either. Use the methods that best serve your argument.
Original calculations and estimates are welcome only when they help answer the question. Every number should come with a visible trail of sources, assumptions, and reasoning. Using theories and models beyond high school curriculum will not necessarily impress the judges. Quantitative reasoning is not always superior to qualitative reasoning either. Use the methods that best serve your argument.
The goal is not simply to repeat what is known, but to build an explanation of your own.
The goal is not simply to repeat what is known, but to build an explanation of your own.
The goal is not simply to repeat what is known, but to build an explanation of your own.
Key Dates
September 18, 2026
Prompts Released
September 18, 2026
November 15, 2026
Registration Opens
November 15, 2026
December 15, 2026
Submissions Open
December 15, 2026
January 15, 2027
Registration Deadline
January 15, 2027
January 31, 2027
Standard Submission Deadline
January 31, 2027
February 21, 2027
Extended Submission Deadline
February 21, 2027
March 20, 2027
Finalists Announced
March 20, 2027
April 15, 2027
Annual Whole Brain Scholar Announced
April 15, 2027
September 20, 2026
Website Launch and Questions Released
November 15, 2026
Registration Opens
December 15, 2026
Submissions Open
January 15, 2027
Registration Deadline
January 31, 2027
Standard Submission Deadline
February 21, 2027
Extended Submission Deadline
March 20, 2027
Finalists Announced
April 15, 2027
Annual Whole Brain Scholar Announced
Plagiarism & Proper Use of AI
Every submission must reflect the entrant’s own ideas, reasoning, and writing. AI may provide limited support, but it must not generate the argument or replace the student’s judgment.
Every submission must reflect the entrant’s own ideas, reasoning, and writing. AI may provide limited support, but it must not generate the argument or replace the student’s judgment.
PERMITTED
PERMITTED
Checking spelling, grammar, and clarity without changing the substance of the essay
Translation assistance for entrants who are not native English speakers
Suggesting search terms or possible sources that the entrant then reads and evaluates independently
Helping organize notes while preserving the entrant’s own reasoning and voice
Checking spelling, grammar, and clarity without changing the substance of the essay
Translation assistance for entrants who are not native English speakers
Suggesting search terms or possible sources that the entrant then reads and evaluates independently
Helping organize notes while preserving the entrant’s own reasoning and voice
NOT PERMITTED
NOT PERMITTED
Submitting AI-generated arguments, analysis, or prose as your own work
Using words or ideas from any human or machine source without proper acknowledgment
Inventing or submitting fabricated citations, data, evidence, or quotations
Allowing another person or an AI tool to substantially write or rewrite the essay
Submitting AI-generated arguments, analysis, or prose as your own work
Using words or ideas from any human or machine source without proper acknowledgment
Inventing or submitting fabricated citations, data, evidence, or quotations
Allowing another person or an AI tool to substantially write or rewrite the essay
REQUIRED
REQUIRED
Declare every AI tool used and clearly explain its purpose
Cite all sources in a complete and consistently formatted reference list
Confirm that the submission represents the entrant’s own original work
Understand that entries violating these rules may be disqualified
Declare every AI tool used and clearly explain its purpose
Cite all sources in a complete and consistently formatted reference list
Confirm that the submission represents the entrant’s own original work
Understand that entries violating these rules may be disqualified