CHILDREN’S

SCIENCE
CONGRESS
 CHILDREN’S SCIENCE CONGRESS
A PROGRAM OF NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (NCSTC),
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,
GOVT OF INDIA
CONDUCTED ANNUALLY AT NATIONAL LEVEL
BETWEEN 27 AND 31 DECEMBER
PARTICIPATION AT NATIONAL IS THROUGH
SELECTION FROM STATE, FROM REGION,
FROM DISTRICT
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
Open to young scientists in the age group of
10-17 years.
Two age groups, first is 10-14 years and
second is 14-17 years.
31st December of the calendar year will be the
base for determining the age.
A child scientist cannot participate in the
National Level CSC two times in the same age
group.
 WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS
CSC PROJECT

• INNOVATIVE
• SIMPLE
• PRACTICAL
• INEXPENSIVE
 CSC PROJECT
 IDENTIFY LOCAL PROBLEM, CORRELATE WITH FOCAL & SUB-THEME
 WORK UNDER SELF-EXPLANATORY TITLE, IN WELL-DEFINED LOCAL /
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
 OBSERVATIONS RECORDED IN A LOG BOOK
 PROJECT IS SURVEY AND / OR OBSERVATION AND / OR
EXPERIMENTATION
 DATA IS SUBJECTED TO ANALYSIS
 INFERENCES ARE MADE
 SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM SUGGESTED
 ACTION PLAN FOR FOLLOW-UP DEVISED
 USE OF LIVE, HAZARDOUS AND INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES
RESTRICTED
 MODELS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED UNLESS IT EXPLAINS OPERATION
OF A DEVICE OR THE LIKES
 HOW TO WRITE A PROJECT
Written Report :
Report to be handwritten
in any scheduled language
on A-4 size (21 cm x 31 cm or 8.3” x 11.8”)
plain paper
Word limit is 2500 (lower group) and 3500
(upper group)
 Elements of written report :
Cover page, Abstract, Form-A, Index,
Introduction, Aims and Objectives,
Hypothesis, Work plan, Methodology,
Observations, Results, Data analysis,
Conclusion, Inference, Solution, Future
plan, Acknowledgements, References and
Appendix
Log book is a must, reflects team work, to be
submitted along with report
 COVER PAGE
20th National Children’s Science Congress
(NCSC-2012)
Focal Theme:
ENERGY: Explore, Harness & Conserve

Title of the Project

(Should be informative, specific, concise and self-explanatory)
Names and addresses of Team Leader
Other Members
Guide Teacher
District
State

(To be written in English or Hindi ONLY)

 ABSTRACT
One of the most important elements of a scientific report
Word limit is 250 words (one A-4 size page)
Summary of the report / work done including
– question investigated
– the methods used
– the principal results and
– conclusions
Wording should be clear and precise

(Abstract in English is mandatory)

 REGISTRATION FORM - A
District __________ State __________

Particulars of the Team Leader:

Name : ____________________________
Date of Birth : ___________________ Std/Class : ________ Sex : _________
Rural/Urban : ________________
Residential address : __________________________________________________________
School address : _____________________________________________________________

Title of the project : ____________________________

Sub-theme:___________________________________
Language used : _______________________________

Particulars of other team members:

Name : ____________________________________
Residential address : _____________________________________________________________
Sex : _____________ Std/Class : ______________ Date of Birth : ____________________

Name and address of the Guide:___________________________________________________________________

Name and signature of the Head of the Institution/

District Coordinator
 INDEX
Contents page to have separate sections for
subject matter (all the components of the
report) figures (include titles given to chart
(pie-chart), or graph, or photograph, or
illustration or map) and tables (include titles
or headings of your observation, result or data
analysis tables )
 INDEX
S. No. Topic Page No.

01 Introduction 01
02 Aims and objectives 02

list of figures –
S. No. Title Page No.

01 Graph showing variation in temperatures 09

02 Pie-chart showing distribution of land forms 11
03 Photograph showing collection of fossils 13

list of tables –
S. No. Title Page No.

01 Temperatures recorded during one month period 12

02 Varieties of butterfly species observed 14
03 Electric power consumption in homes 16
 INTRODUCTION
At the top Title of the Project should be mentioned
Title should be informative, specific, concise,
understandable and self-explanatory
The introduction should have
Relevant background information
Need statement focusing on the overall issue,
problem, or core / research question
One or two but not more than three paragraphs
 AIMS & OBJECTIVES
Should define very specifically
Why this project has been selected?
How this problem / issue would be addressed?
Keeping in mind that there is
Limited time period and
Limited localized geographical area

Avoid repeating introduction

 HYPOTHESIS
In one or two statements,
hypothesis should give an idea,
based on known facts that has not
yet been proven, about the problem
selected
 WORK PLAN
Define work plan, in schematic form or as a
flow chart, preferably with time schedules
It might get deviated from schedule due to
unforeseen circumstances, but having such
a guideline always help
 METHODOLOGY
After work plan, decide upon method of research in
proposed work; survey/observation/ experimentation
Survey
Involves using questionnaire for data collection
Questions should be specific and in logical order
On an average 20 relevant questions should be asked
Sample size of 50 – 100 people should be included in the
study
Include a copy of questionnaire
 METHODOLOGY
Observations
Though a part of survey work, may or may not
have questionnaire
Recording of observations during field studies
are included in this type of methodology
 METHODOLOGY
Experimentation
Done with own hands, either in the laboratory
or at home or in the field
Design of the experiment with proper
controls, number of readings, set of
conditions, parameters, mathematical
formula to be included
Detail experimental procedure, analytical
techniques also to be included
 OBSERVATIONS
This part contains all the observations or data
collected related to survey, observation, and
/ or experimentation, ONLY
 RESULTS
Results are the presentation of data collected
during survey, observation and / or
experimentation
Presentation could either be in the form of
charts, graphs, maps, figures or tables etc
Should be simple to understand
Results only describe and not interpret
findings
 DATA ANALYSIS
Data presented under the results are analyzed,
using principles of mathematics
Here only analysis part is shown
 CONCLUSION
After project completion, final opinion is
derived, based on the data analysis, is what
forms the conclusion
 INFERENCE
Inference, in fact, is the truthfulness of the
opinion formed based on the outcome of the
project

Check-point for hypothesis– accepted /

rejected
 SOLUTION
Since the problem selected is socially relevant,
this part will highlight how the findings
influence or have an impact on the society at
large
 FUTURE PLANS
For taking the work further, from where it has
been concluded, future plans provide
stepwise guidelines
It shows that the problem undertaken is open-
ended
It ascertains continuity of efforts, gives sense
of commitment
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
An expression of gratefulness or thankfulness
for the help received from different quarters;
family and friends, any motivator, elders /
seniors / peers, experts or resource persons,
even a librarian, farm workers, people
interviewed, laboratory assistants,
photographer, anyone for that matter
A true reflection of team work
 REFERENCES
All the resource material like books,
newspaper articles / clippings, or internet,
or even personal interview are to be
mentioned
References, under each section, are given in
alphabetical order
 REFERENCES
For books -
Name of the author(s)/editor(s) starting with
surname
Title of the book (underlined)
Edition (if available)
Page numbers referred
Publisher
Place and
Year of publication
 REFERENCES
For articles -
Name of the author(s) starting with surname
Year of publication (within brackets)
Title of the article (in italics)
Title of the book / magazine / newspaper (underlined)
Edition (for books, if available)
Issue and volume numbers (for magazines)
Page numbers referred
Publisher
Place and
Year of publication
Or internet source starting with www.website referred
 REFERENCES
For personal interviews -
Name of the person(s) interviewed
Date with month and year and
Place of the interview
 APPENDIX
All the letters, certificates issued by the
concerned authorities and / or survey sheets
(filled up questionnaire) are to be attached
at the end of the report
Each such document should bear a number,
viz., appendix 1, appendix 2, and so on
 LOG BOOK
This is one of the most important but
neglected written documents
It is the mirror reflecting activity
Provides all the answers related to the project
Covers minute to minute recordings,
mentioned on daily basis, successes and
failures, contacts and impressions
 Oral Presentation:

Time limit is 8 minutes followed by interaction for 2

minutes

Maximum of four charts or posters (55 cm x 70 cm)

/ LCD projector can be used

Loud enough with clear diction

EXPECTATIONS FROM EVALUATORS
CHILD SCIENTISTS ARE FROM 10-17 YEARS AGE
GROUP, WHO NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT
UNDERSTAND THEIR CAPABILITIES & CAPACITIES
AND PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE INPUTS & POSITIVE
FEEDBACK
APPRECIATE & VALUE EFFORTS, INNOVATIVENESS &
CONFIDENCE
THEY SHOULD RETURN MOTIVATED &
INTELLECTUALLY RICH
EVALUATE SUBJECT MATTER, SCIENTIFIC CONTENT
& NOT GADGETS, MODELS OR ORATORY SKILL
AVOID UNWARRANTED COMMENTS, COMPARISON
WITH SENIORS, DISTRACTION DURING PRESENTATION
INTERACT, BUT DO NOT TEST WHAT THEY DO NOT
KNOW RATHER HELP IN BRINGING OUT WHAT THEY
KNOW
Than’Q