If you want your academic profile to stand out, one surefire way to highlight your abilities is by participating in, and winning, an Olympiad. An Olympiad is a strong test of knowledge, critical thinking, initiative and passion, all skills that college admissions officers and recruiters seek in candidates. These competitions are a fantastic way to deepen your understanding of complex topics and to meet other students who share your interests. This blog focuses on the Genius Olympiad, and why it’s a great opportunity if you are interested in subjects related to the environment. 

What is the Genius Olympiad?

The Genius Olympiad is an international high school project competition focused on environmental issues. This competition is your chance to contribute to global sustainability while showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. The event covers eight main categories: Science, Creative Writing, Business, Robotics, Art, Music, Short Films, and Coding. Each category is designed to highlight different aspects of environmental advocacy and innovation. Whether you are presenting a scientific research project that could change how industries affect the environment or an art piece that brings attention to climate change, your work will contribute to a global dialogue on sustainability.

The Olympiad is hosted by the Rochester Institute of Technology, located in Rochester, New York. It is founded and organized by Terra Science and Education, and has grown seven-fold in terms of the number of participants since its launch in 2011.

Is it prestigious?

Absolutely. The Genius Olympiad draws around 2,000 participants from over 80 countries, making it one of the most significant and diverse competitions of its kind. The 2024 iteration had an average acceptance rate of around 29.6% across categories, making it selective, challenging, and highly respected. Winning or even participating sets you apart from your peers, providing a noteworthy achievement on your college applications. If you’re serious about making headway into environmental sciences, the prestige and networking opportunities stemming from this Olympiad can be highly beneficial for you.

Who is eligible and how do you apply?

To be eligible for the Genius Olympiad, you must:

• Be a US or international student in grades 8 through 12.

• Be at least 13 years old.

• Have an adult chaperone to accompany you if you’re under 17 years old.

• Be proficient with English, as all presentations must be made in English.

• Be able to travel to the Rochester campus if selected for presenting, as projects cannot be presented online.

The key application dates are as follows:

• Project Applications open - December 1 (online only, via the website)

• Project Applications close for individual and international applicants - March 1

• Project Applications close for regional/national student fair nominees - April 18

• The decisions are announced on a rolling basis, by April 3

• Registration deadline to attend the Olympiad is May 1

Note that while there’s no limit to how many projects you can submit, you can be selected as a finalist and present only one. The project submission for each category has its own requirements, and also specific submission rules that must be adhered to. You can check these here.

How much does a Genius Olympiad application cost?

The main costs associated with the Olympiad are:

• Application fee: $50

• Participation fee (if selected to attend the Genius Olympiad): $425

• Guest fee (for chaperones): $500 if staying off-campus, $850 if staying on-campus

There are also four optional trips available, as well as paid pick-up from the airport.

How is the Genius Olympiad structured?

In the Olympiad, you can submit projects in any of the following eight categories-:

Science:

In this category, you'll be tackling significant environmental issues through rigorous scientific research. Whether you work alone or team up with a peer, your challenge is to develop and present a solution that addresses one of several pressing environmental themes. These include:

• Environmental Quality, where you'll analyze and devise solutions for pollution and its effects on health.

• Ecology and Biodiversity, focusing on the relationships and impacts of organisms within their ecosystems.

• Resource and Energy, aimed at optimizing the use of various energy sources to minimize environmental impacts.

• Human Ecology, which explores the interplay between human activities and the environment, covering everything from sustainability education to the impact of societal behaviors on environmental policies.

• Innovation, where you're encouraged to create tangible, innovative products or processes that improve health and environmental conditions.

In each of these areas, your deliverables will include a detailed research description paper complete with data, graphics, photos, and drawings of your design concept. While presenting a physical model isn't mandatory, it's highly encouraged to better illustrate your solution's functionality. Your project will be judged on criteria such as the scientific method's application, the feasibility and originality of your solution, and its potential impact on environmental problems. This holistic approach ensures that you not only propose theoretical solutions but also consider their practical applications and potential to drive real-world change.

Creative Writing:

Here, you'll be engaging in a meaningful exploration of global environmental issues through the art of writing. You can choose to express your environmental concerns and solutions through one of three forms: short stories, essays, or poetry. While the short stories and essays have a word limit of 2000 words, you may submit between 1-3 poems of one page each. During the competition, you will present your writing by reading it aloud to a live audience for five minutes, followed by a session where judges will provide feedback. This format not only tests your writing skills but also your ability to engage with an audience and respond to critiques, enhancing both your written and oral communication skills.

Judges in this category look for how well you integrate environmental themes into your writing, assessing the unity, emotional power, and intellectual depth of your work. Whether your writing style is direct or metaphorical, the challenge is to make environmental issues resonate on a personal level with the audience, prompting reflection or inspiring action.

Business:

Your focus here will be on introducing and promoting sustainable business practices and green products. You will work alone or in a team of two to develop a comprehensive business plan that you will present as an investment proposal in a formal business setting. In this category, you can participate in two main sub-categories: Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility:

• For the Entrepreneurship sub-category, your project will involve creating a new product or technology, or improving an existing one, to reduce environmental impact. This will require a blend of scientific knowledge, engineering skills, and business acumen. Your business plan must cover market analysis, product details, promotional strategies, and logistical considerations such as staffing and facilities, alongside projected profits.

• In the Social Responsibility sub-category, you will develop a plan that aims to reduce the environmental footprint of existing businesses or industries. This involves analyzing the current environmental impact, proposing changes, and evaluating the potential financial and market impacts of these changes. Your presentation will need to convincingly argue why your plan offers the best solution compared to other sustainable alternatives.

Both sub-categories require you to prepare and deliver a detailed presentation, limited to 10 minutes, using tools like PowerPoint or Prezi, followed by a question-and-answer session with the judges.

Robotics:

In this category, you can work in teams of up to three students to design, build, test, and control a robot that performs specific tasks aimed at promoting environmental sustainability. This year’s theme, the Genie Coaster, focuses on simulating a scenario where your robot must clean a coastal area and collect water samples. The competition field features an island setup surrounded by coastline and ocean areas marked distinctly, where your robot will perform tasks like collecting recyclable items (such as tennis balls and water bottles) from the coastline, retrieving water samples from the ocean, and transporting stray animal figures from the island to the ocean. Each task is designed to test your robot's ability to navigate and manipulate objects in a complex environment.

You'll need to ensure your robot fits into one of two categories based on engine power—small or large—and adhere to specific rules regarding the construction and operation of your robot, including restrictions on entering the water and handling multiple items. Your team will present your robot's capabilities in a series of rounds, demonstrating how it handles the tasks in a timed setting, with each task contributing to your overall score based on efficiency and accuracy.

Arts:

This category allows you to present your environmental concerns through three different mediums:

 

• Photography - capture images that tell compelling stories of environmental challenges, such as pollution or land degradation, aiming to evoke strong emotional responses from viewers. Whether your photographs are photojournalistic, documentary, or experimental, your goal will be to motivate viewers towards environmental conservation through powerful visual narratives.

• Poster Design - create posters that encourage people to rethink their actions and attitudes towards the environment. Your posters can address a variety of topics like global warming, water pollution, waste management, or energy consumption, using digital tools or traditional painting methods. The design should aim to influence behavioral change regarding these critical issues.

• Mixed Media - combine different artistic elements into a single artwork. This could involve using ink, watercolors, colored pencils, and incorporating materials like recycled papers, fabric, or even natural elements to create a 3D effect. Your mixed media artwork should reflect your personal experiences and insights into environmental topics, creatively using recycled materials to emphasize sustainability.

Regardless of the medium, all artworks must be predominantly created by you, the student artist. Each piece should not only showcase your artistic skills but also serve as a catalyst for conversation and change concerning the environment. Your work will be judged on creativity, composition, expression of meaning, expression of emotion, relevance, quality and overall expression.

Music:

In this category, you can perform as a solo artist or as part of a group, using music as a powerful medium to connect with the audience on an emotional level. You may choose to perform a pre-existing piece related to the environment or your original composition. Before your performance, you'll present an Artist Statement explaining the environmental significance of your chosen piece, which helps set the context for the audience.

In a Solo Performance, you can play an instrument or sing, or even do both simultaneously. Emphasizing cultural instruments in your performance is highly encouraged, offering a unique personal or cultural perspective on the environmental theme. In a Group Performance, you can collaborate with up to two other students, creating a collective musical expression that highlights your combined artistic vision and environmental message. The Singer sub-category allows you to focus solely on vocal performance, which can be accompanied by live or playback music, ensuring the delivery is impactful and professionally executed.

Pros and cons of participating

Pros:

1. Scholarship opportunities: You have a chance to win scholarships, particularly if you plan to attend RIT.

2. Global networking: You'll meet peers from around the world, which can lead to several new opportunities and collaborations.

3. Project visibility: Your projects gain international exposure, showcasing your skills to a broad audience.

Cons:

1. Intense effort and time commitment: The level of competition can be intense. You’ll need to commit significant effort to coming up and submitting your project proposals and submissions.

2. No online option available: If you’re not able to travel to Rochester, then there’s no recourse to online submissions. You absolutely have to present your submission in person.

In summary, the Genius Olympiad is an excellent opportunity in the environmental field to grow, learn, and connect with the global community. Its accessible cost, diverse categories, and high visibility make it a strong option to focus on, though the lack of an online option can be an obstacle. If you’re able to attend it though, the learning and exposure are worth the time and effort required.

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

Image Source - Genius Olympiad Logo