Frequently Asked Questions

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Challenge Overview (1)Timelines & Deadlines (1)Eligibility Criteria (9)Participation & Teaming (10)Themes & Solution Types (4)Deliverables, Evaluation & Feedback (4)Prototyping (14)Resources & Support (5)Prizes & Recognition (1)Costs (1)Post-Challenge Opportunities (1)Help & Contact (1)

Challenge Overview

Timelines & Deadlines

Eligibility Criteria

Participation & Teaming

Themes & Solution Types

Deliverables, Evaluation & Feedback

Prototyping

Resources & Support

Prizes & Recognition

Costs

Post-Challenge Opportunities

Help & Contact

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Navigation

Challenge Overview

What is the structure of the challenge?

Timelines & Deadlines

What are the key dates for the challenge?

Eligibility Criteria

Who can participate in the challenge?

Do I need to be studying climate science to participate in GSC?

Am I eligible to apply for GSC if I am a part-time student, have a dual enrollment status, or have a deferred admission to college?

Can I apply if I am about to graduate from college?

Is there an age limit for participation in GSC?

Can I apply if I am currently enrolled in a professional certificate course / bootcamp?

Are middle school / high school students eligible for the challenge?

Can recent college graduates apply?

I participated in an earlier cohort of GSC. Can I participate again?

Participation & Teaming

Do I need a team to apply, or can I apply as an individual?

How can I form a team?

Do team members have to be from the same discipline or degree?

Can team members come from different universities or countries?

How big can my team be?

Under which region will my team be grouped?

Can I be part of multiple teams at the same time?

How do I leave my current team and join a new one?

Until when can I add new members to my team?

How do we remove a team member from our team?

Themes & Solution Types

What kinds of problems can we work on?

Are teams restricted to technical solutions only?

Can I submit an existing idea that I have submitted in another competition?

Can I submit my idea if I already have it as a product / service in the market?

Deliverables, Evaluation & Feedback

What are the deliverables in each phase?

Is there a submission template we can follow for the slide deck?

How will our project be evaluated?

Will we get feedback on our submissions?

Prototyping

What exactly counts as a prototype for GSC?

Does our prototype need to work and be fully functional?

How do we show that our prototype “works” if it’s non-functional?

What kind of prototype should we create if our team’s solution is not technical?

Are AI generated prototypes allowed?

What if we don’t have access to maker spaces or technical tools? Will we get access to funding for buying materials / tools to build our prototype?

Do we need to test the prototype with real users?

On what criteria will our prototype be evaluated by the judges?

What other deliverables do we need to submit with the prototype?

Can we update the prototype once we build and test it?

What if our idea feels “too early” to prototype?

Can mentors help us with technical prototyping?

Our hardware prototype is too bulky / large to transport to the Regional / Global Finals. What should we do?

Will we receive training or resources on how to prototype?

Resources & Support

What support will we receive during the challenge?

When and how can I access mentorship?

Is the use of Generative AI tools (ChatGPT, etc.) permitted?

My team members need a visa to travel for Regional Finals and / or the Global Finale. Who should we contact for a visa issuance letter?

Will there be any funding / grants available to support my team’s travel costs to the Regional Finals and Global Finale?

Prizes & Recognition

What are the prizes or incentives for participation?

Costs

Is there a cost to participate in GSC?

Post-Challenge Opportunities

Can we continue working on our solution after the challenge ends?

Help & Contact

Who do we reach out to if we have more questions or need help?

Still have questions?