Young inventors, scientists wanted to help change the world

This week, Google kicked off its fifth science fair awards, an invitation to students around the world between the ages of 13 and 18 to submit ideas around two themes: "It’s your turn to change the world" and "What will you try?”

The Google Science Fair, in partnership with LEGO Education, National Geographic, Scientific American and Virgin Galactic, challenges students to come up with an idea, invention or experiment that addresses specific issues they see around them, and within their society.

“It’s only through trying something that we can get somewhere,” said Google for Education’s Miriam Schneider in the Google Blog. “Flashlights required batteries, then Ann Makosinski tried the heat of her hand. His grandfather would wander out of bed at night, until Kenneth Shinozuka tried a wearable sensor. The power supply was constantly unstable in her Indian village, so Harine Ravichandran tried to build a different kind of regulator. Previous Science Fair winners have blown us away with their ideas. Now it’s your turn.”

One of last year’s winners, 17-year-old Hayley Todesco from Calgary, was inspired by her city when she figured out how to break down toxic runoff from oil drilling in waterways. Last year’s grand prize went to three 16-year-olds from Ireland who created a microbiology project that focused on speeding up crop growth, which could ease future food crises for generations to come.

This year, Google prizes include US$100,000 in scholarships and classroom grants from Scientific American and Google, a National Geographic expedition to the Galapagos, an opportunity to visit Lego designers at their Denmark headquarters, and the chance to tour Virgin Galactic’s new spaceship at their Mojave Air and Spaceport.

For the first time, teachers can also participate this year through the "inspiring educator" award. Google Science Fair judges will also issue a community impact award honouring a project that addresses an environmental or health challenge.

Young creators have until May 18 to submit their finished projects to Google.

For inspiration and more information on the global competition, head to googlesciencefair.com.