STEM challenges, competitions, and events

CoastWatch in the Schools

For Curry, COOS, aND Douglas County

CoastWatch is looking to engage three to six classrooms to participate in springtime art, ecology and shoreline workshops.

CoastWatch in the Schools is an Oregon Shores program that links Oregon coast schools to a shoreline mile near their school that they visit, observe and document over time. This opportunity encourages students to take pride in a part of Oregon’s public shoreline, watch it closely for changes (both natural and human-caused) and share what they find on our website.

Download a flyer and description

If you are interested, please contact [email protected] by December 21, 2022.

STUDENT CHALLENGES IN OREGON

BPA Science Bowl - The Bonneville Power Administration sponsors the nation’s largest regional science bowl for middle and high school students. The fast-paced academic bowl tests student knowledge in all aspects of science:  math, geology, chemistry, physics, environmental science and more. Team registration begins in October and the competitions are typically held at University of Portland in February.  The BPA Regional Science Bowl will not be held in 2021, but the 30th Anniversary BPA Regional Science Bowl is planned for January 29th and February 12th, 2022.

FIRST LEGO League and FIRST TECH Challenge Robotics Clubs - Explore the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program.  Teams complete missions with their student-built robots, as well as research and present an engineering solution. Registration begins in August and championships take place in January. See the calendar

Hatfield Futures Project - This program brings high school students together from all across Oregon to work together to shape the future in the year 2050 on important issues like climate change, houselessness, mental health, and employment. Student teams will be working with coaches and alongside Portland State University scholars to imagine and develop community engagement ideas and policy proposal presentations at an event held at PSU in April in front of community leaders, policy makers, and faculty. Each team will receive a $1000 stipend as well as travel + lodging costs for the event in Portland in April. The winning team will receive an additional $1000 and additional opportunities to bring their policy ideas to change makers.  Teams should apply by December 2, 2022.

MATE Oregon Regional ROV Competition  - Students from upper elementary to college age build remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and use them to complete underwater missions. The next competition will be held April 22, 2023.

video footage of undewater robotics competition
watch video of the 2017 competition

Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge - Students in grades 3-12 bring their wave energy devices, wind turbines, and/or solar devices to the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport to test in wave tanks, wind tunnel or under high powered lights to see which designs produce the greatest amount of energy. The next competition will be held March 21, 2023. Download a flyer

Opening video footage of Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge
watch video of the 2017 event

Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics - This professional organization's website lists a number of local, national and mail-in contests for students.

Oregon Game Project Challenge - Put your programming and design skills to the test!  The Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC) invites MS and HS students to create a computer game that meets a theme-based challenge. The competition is typically held in May. Check the website for details about the 2023 competition.

Oregon Science Olympiad - Science Olympiad is the premier national science competition at the middle and high school levels. Teams of up to 15 students compete in 23 events in this science and engineering competition. The state tournament is planned for April 2022, and team registration typically begins in January. See the website for details.

Salmon Bowl - In this regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), teams of 4-5 high school students are tested on their knowledge of scientific and technical disciplines through quick answer buzzer questions and more complex, critical thinking team challenge questions. There will be no competition in 2023.

Thru the Trees -This video contest is for all high school students ages 14-18 in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Use your creative skills to tell a story about a forest job/ career that interests you. Learn about it, and then tell about it in video form. Create a cartoon, tell a story, make an advertisement, use humor (or not), include your friends (or not), have fun, show off your skills, possibly win a cash prize! Entry deadline April 7, 2023

OTHER STEM COMPETITIONS

eCYBERMISSION - An adult advisor registers a team of 3-4 students in a 6, 7, 8 or 9th grade to identify and propose a solution for a problem in your community. Early registration opens August 15, 2022, final team registration is January 25, 2023, and team Mission Folders are due March 1, 2023. Prizes awarded to 1st and 2nd place teams for each grade in each U.S. state!

EPA Pollution Prevention Works - HS and college students, tell a story about how a company that reports data to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) has taken steps to reduce pollution and win up to $5000. Submissions due Feb 17, 2023.

Future City - Students in Grade 6-8 will utilize their science, math and engineering knowledge to create cities that exist at least 100 years in the future. Currently, Oregon does not have a Regional Competition, but students can also participate without competing. Educator registration for 2022-23 is now open.

Genes in Space - Students in grades 7-12 are challenged to design a DNA experiment for space. The winning experiment will be conducted on the International Space Station. Contest closes April 11, 2022.

Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) - Original science research competition for HS students. Student applications are due by January 31, 2022. The Oregon regional symposium will be held February 19-20, 2022.

NASA's Glenn Engineering Design Challenges - Glenn Engineering Design Challenges (EDCs) connect students, at both in-school and out-of-school settings, with the unique challenges faced by NASA scientists and engineers as they design the next generation of aeronautic and space vehicles, habitats, and technology. Topics include Spacecraft Safety, Powered and Pumped Up, Let it Glide, and Gaining Traction on Mars. There is no deadline for participation.

NASA's Scientist for a Day - Students in grades 5-12 are invited to apply to to think like scientists. Examine real spacecraft images of Uranus’ moon Miranda, Neptune’s moon Triton, and Pluto’s moon Charon. Choose the destination you think would be the best place to return with another spacecraft to learn even more about these amazing worlds. Support your choice in an essay of no more than 500 words. Submission deadlines are typically in February.

NOAA Marine Debris Art Contest - K-8 art submissions should feature marine debris impacts and what you are doing to reduce marine debris. Submissions are due December 16, 2022.

NOAA Picture Climate Change - How has climate change impacted you? Your family? Your school? Your community? We want to hear your climate impact stories as illustrated by a photo. In what ways has your landscape, wildlife, or way of life changed due to climate shifts? This photo contest is for students in grades 5-12, and submissions are due by February 15, 2023.

Ocean Awareness Contest - The 2022 competition theme was The Funny Thing About Climate Change. Students ages 11-18 from around the world are invited to submit pieces of art or communication that explore new ways to communicate about the urgency of the climate crisis. The most recent contest deadline was June 13, 2022 and the 2023 competition will open this Fall.

More math competitions for teams and classrooms are listed on the OCTM website

President's Environmental Youth Award - The PEYA recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth. Each year the PEYA program honors a wide variety of projects developed by young individuals, school classes (kindergarten through high school), summer camps, public interest groups, and youth organizations to promote environmental awareness. In 2022, applications were due February 18.

Regeneron Science Talent Search - This science research competition for high school seniors provides a national stage for the country's best and brightest young scientists to present original research to nationally recognized professional scientists. Apply by November 9, 2022.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow - Each year Samsung hosts a $2 million national competition for public schools grades 6–12 in which students are asked to consider how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can be used to create change in their communities. With the help of their teachers, students can apply to the contest and compete to win up to $100,000 in prizes for their school, plus the opportunity to work with Samsung employees to develop their prototypes. In 2021, teachers registered their student teams by mid November.

TI Codes Contest  - Teams of students age 13 - 19 are challenged to design a product that automates or optimizes a process or product related to food, and then use coding and TI technology to build a model of the solution. Submission deadlines are typically in March.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision -Students teams in grades K-12 are invited to register to compete for prizes in this national science competition.  Projects should be submitted by January 31 of each year.

Youth Innovation Challenge  - For people aged 15–30 who have fresh ideas for tackling the issue of marine debris. The Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) and Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration are seeking innovative, feasible solutions that are informed by research and are awarding prizes of $1,000 USD to three winners. Applications due September 1, 2022
 

Youth Making Ripples - This annual Film Festival empowers students to give a voice to marine-related topics, issues and solutions. Submissions for the film competition are due March 15, 2022.

Oregon Connections

INDUSTRY Chats and Special events

Students can connect to Oregon professionals with Oregon Connections. Oregon Connections is a web-based platform where industry professionals share their expertise and bring real-world, authentic learning opportunities to students. Coast students, tell your teachers about this resource and let them know that the Oregon Coast STEM Hub provides educators in our Hub with FREE platinum accounts!

Sign up at oregonconnections.nepris.com


Watch on-demand videos
Teachers can search the library which contains than 16,000 videos. Create and share playlists with peers and students.

Students, you can get started by watching video presentations from Oregon Coast STEM Hub partners.

View STEM Hub Playlist

Grandfather and grandson work together on an electronics project

For Families

Activities for the whole family

family sits on couch together and looks at laptop computer

Live Online Events

View recorded sessions, too!