Join our exciting competition and showcase your research!
Introduction
The SPARK Research Challenge is built on a simple but powerful
belief: curiosity is the foundation of all meaningful learning.
Research is not reserved for laboratories, professionals, or
advanced degrees, it begins when a student notices the world
around them and asks thoughtful questions about how and why things
happen.
This challenge was designed by the SPARK HQ departments to give
students a structured, professional, and intellectually engaging
introduction to research. The goal is not to measure how much
students already know, but to evaluate how well they can think,
question, analyze, and propose ideas grounded in evidence and
logic. SPARK values originality, clarity, and real-world relevance
over memorization or technical complexity.
The SPARK Research Challenge is open to students from any country
who are in Grade 12 or below.
Junior Division: Grade 8 or below
Senior Division: Grades 9 - 12
Students who are eligible for the Junior Division may choose to
compete in the Senior Division if they wish.
Competition Rules & Academic Integrity
All participants are expected to uphold high standards of honesty,
responsibility, and academic integrity throughout the S.P.A.R.K.
Research Challenge. These rules exist to ensure fairness,
learning, and meaningful participation for all students. Failure
to comply may result in disqualification or removal from the
competition.
Proper Citation of Sources
All non-original ideas used in the proposal must be clearly
cited. This includes information obtained from books, articles,
websites, videos, databases, or AI-assisted tools. Proper
citation demonstrates respect for intellectual property and
allows reviewers to verify the accuracy of information.
Authenticity of Experience and Work
Any personal experiences, observations, experiments, or claims
described in the proposal must be truthful and authentic.
Submissions should reflect the participant's own understanding
and effort. Fabrication, exaggeration, or misrepresentation of
experiences is strictly prohibited.
Deadline Compliance
All submissions must be completed and submitted by the official
deadline. Deadlines are final, and no extensions will be granted
under any circumstances. This policy ensures fairness and equal
opportunity for all participants.
Originality
Submissions must be original work created specifically for the
S.P.A.R.K. Research Challenge. Plagiarism, including copying
from other students, online sources, or previously submitted
work, is not permitted.
AI Usage Policy
SPARK recognizes that artificial intelligence is an important and
rapidly evolving tool in modern education and research. As such,
the use of AI tools is allowed and encouraged when used
responsibly and ethically.
Participants may use AI to assist with brainstorming ideas,
improving clarity, organizing thoughts, or understanding complex
concepts.
AI should be treated as a support tool, not a replacement for
the participant's own thinking, reasoning, and understanding.
Any factual claims, statistics, or citations suggested by AI
must be verified through credible and reliable references.
Invalid, fabricated, or unverifiable sources provided by AI
tools must not be used.
Students are expected to fully understand and be able to explain
the content of their proposal. Submissions that demonstrate
overreliance on AI without genuine comprehension may be
penalized.
The core ideas, research question, and reasoning must reflect
the student's own intellectual contribution.
SPARK's goal is not to restrict technology, but to ensure that it
is used in a way that enhances learning, critical thinking, and
academic honesty.
Awards
Senior SPARK Research Excellence Award ($200)
Junior SPARK Research Excellence Award ($150)
Outstanding Research Design
Honourable Mention
Innovation & Creativity Award
Impact & Application Award
Judging Criteria
Senior & Junior SPARK Research Excellence Award
This award is given to the strongest overall research proposal
in the Senior/Junior Division. Judges will look for clear
reasoning, effective use of online research explained in the
student's own words, and a well-designed experimental plan
appropriate for the respective age division.
Outstanding Research Design
This award is given to a proposal with an especially strong and
well-thought-out experimental plan. Judges will look for clear
control of variables, fairness, and realistic methods that show
careful planning.
Honourable Mention
This recognition is given to proposals that demonstrate strong
effort, curiosity, or potential. Judges may award this to
projects that are well-structured and thoughtful, even if not
all sections are fully developed.
Innovation & Creativity Award
This award recognizes proposals with original ideas or creative
approaches. Judges will look for unique or niche research
questions and meaningful connections that go beyond common or
expected topics.
Impact & Application Award
This award is given to proposals that clearly connect their
research idea to real-world use. Judges will look for realistic
and meaningful applications that logically follow from the
project's goals.
Resources
The SPARK Research Challenge Handbook contains all the
information you need to get started:
Use the template below to structure your research proposal. You
may also
view it as a Google Doc.