Science fairs can feel intimidating – so much so that 77% of 13-18 year olds back out before they complete their project. Our brief was to evolve the Google Science Fair so that the energy around curiosity and discovery could find its rightful place in the world. We wanted to expand our audience beyond the kids with access to mentors and lab equipment, and give it back to every child who wanted to use science to answer a question.

Our objective was to create a new website that felt more “alive” and current, build a communications platform that spoke to kids at their level, and make the entry process more approachable by building more inclusive and easy-to-use tools and materials for educators. Lastly, we wanted to localize all of these materials so they could reach as many students and educators as possible.

Our creative idea was to give global audiences of middle and high school students the inspiration to get started, aided with thought-starters that are engaging and fun. In doing so, we wanted to broaden students’ understanding of what a science fair can be – a forum for solving problems that matter to them, and a way to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math.

We also realized that kids need allies and support in their journey to participate in the science fair. To facilitate this, we wanted to provide help and support to educators in order to teach, inspire, and engage students through the project creation, execution and entry process.

Lastly, we wanted to level the playing field and lower the barrier to entering the science fair, with easy-to-use resources, step-by-step guidance, and encouragement from educators online and in their own classrooms.

We rebuilt Google Science Fair from the ground up. Our re-envisioned approach, “Every idea has the power to shape the world” is approachable and inclusive, and spoke to students on their level.

We created a communication platform based on questions, sparking interest and excitement, including online tools such as thought starters and educator materials for clear steps to start the process. We rebuilt the website, leaning on bright colors and simple shapes to make the site feel accessible, inclusive, and easy to use.

We provided approachable thought starters, reducing barriers to entry and giving students and educators clear steps to get going. And we built a full resource package: vetted, verified, and ISTE-certified in 14 languages, so no one gets left behind.

We also built an inspirational poster series to motivate kids to get started, and hosted simultaneous live events in San Jose and Atlanta to kick off the project.

Through our brand refresh, reimagined submissions site, live events, and eye towards accessibility, the 2018 Google Science Fair saw 80,000 students get involved and engage with the program from all around the globe, a 2x increase from the previous Google Science Fair.

Praise came from across the board with students, educators, and influencers, like this student testimonial: "Participation in your Google Science Fair made me think of whom I could be in the future. I felt like a real engineer. I learned that engineers start with a question, then they keep trying to answer it."