COMPETITION: Google Science Fair ready for take off

GOOGLE'S worldwide Science Fair competition is calling for entries over the coming weeks. The Science Fair gives teenagers the opportunity to join in a new kind of online science competition that is more global, open and inclusive than ever before. It will also offer them the chance to win huge prizes including a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands or a $50 000 scholarship from Google.

Google's made this cool video to promote the Science Fair - done in the style of a Rube Goldberg machine. Reminds me of The Incredible Machine.

Google Science Fair promo video: Calling all Jr. scientists!

Who can enter?

The competition is open to students aged 13 to 18 from around the world working on their own or in a team of two or three. For more details, visit the Science Fair Rules page.

How to enter the Google Science Fair

• If you don't already have one, create a Google Account. You will need a Google Account to complete the sign up form.
• Complete the Google Science Fair sign up form. After you submit the form, you will see a link on the confirmation page. This link will create the Google project submission site where you will post your science fair project details.
• Plan your science project, conduct your experiment, and write up your results.
• Complete all of the sections of your Google project submission site.
• Create either a two-minute video or 20-slide presentation giving an overview of your project and embed it on the Summary page of your project submission. A video or presentation is required to enter.
• When your project site is done, make sure to submit it by 4 April 2011.
• Detailed instructions and tips for building your project submission can be found in the Resources section of the website.

Please note: Entries and supporting documentation must be submitted in English. Google Translate is a free tool that may be useful for students who don't speak English as a first language.

Science Fair Judging Process

The deadline for project submissions is 4 April 2011. After this date all projects will be judged by a panel of teachers who will be following the judging criteria. In early May, 60 global semi finalists will be announced and their projects will be posted online and open to public voting for a “People’s Choice Award”. The 60 global semi finalists will then be narrowed down by our judging panel to 15 global finalists who will be announced later in May.

The 15 global finalists will be flown to Google HQ in California, USA for our celebratory Science Fair event. The finalist judging round will take place on 11 July 2011. These finalists will be expected to present their projects before a panel of acclaimed scientists including Nobel Laureates, tech visionaries and household names. A finalist winner will be selected from each of the age categories, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. One of the finalist winners will be named the Grand Prize Winner.

The Grand Science Fair Prize: A National Geographic Expedition

The Grand Prize winner(s) plus one parent or guardian per winner will win an amazing 10 day trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions. Traveling aboard, the winner(s) will visit Darwin's living laboratory and experience up-close encounters with unique species such as flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, and domed giant tortoises.

Google will cover the cost of Economy Class flights to the Galapagos from the winner’s home. The prize is valid for one year from 11 July 2011 and must be booked directly via National Geographic expeditions. It does not, however, included items of a personal nature such as internet usage, laundry or spa services.

A Scholarship from Google

A $50 000 scholarship will be split equally between team members should a team win this prize. This scholarship is intended to be used towards the finalists’ further education.

A Once in a Lifetime Experience

The Grand Prize winner will have first choice of an experience at one of the following partner organizations: CERN, Google, the LEGO Group, or Scientific American.

A Personalised LEGO Prize

• A package from Scientific American.
• Digital Access to Scientific American Archives for your school.
• Digital access for the finalists' schools for a year. This prize is valid up to 12 months from winning the prize on 11 July 2011.
• A personal LEGO color mosaic (one for each team member, to build her/himself) and 1 personal, exclusive LEGO box - specially made for the occasion.

Finalist Winner Prizes

A $25 000 scholarship from Google, split equally between team members should a team win this prize. The Finalists will have second and third choice by random selection of one of the remaining experiences at one of the above-mentioned partner organizations.

** More Promotions and Events **

PVP: New Gaming experience opens at Liberty Midlands Mall

AN exciting new entertainment venue has opened in Pietermaritzburg’s Liberty Midlands Mall. PVP Digital Arena (short for Player Versus Player) allows gamers to at last take advantage of some built-in features of the Xbox 360 that they have been denied up until now.

Previously Xbox owners have only been able to take advantage of around 30% of the capabilities of the Xbox, says Brendon Holder, who together with Paul Gilliver is responsible for dreaming up the idea for this ground-breaking store.

PVP is, apparently, the first of its kind in the country and the only electronic game specialist store in Pietermaritzburg. The store also retails a range of the best and latest games for Xbox, Playstation, PC and Nintendo consoles and Holder and Gilliver are available to give expert advice.

PVP will give gamers access to 20 networked  Xbox 360s connected to high definition LCD monitors, to play the latest games that include first person shooters such as Halo: Orbital Drop Shock Troopers and Call of Duty; third person shooters like Gears of War 2; real time strategy games such as Halo Wars; car racing and rally games that include Dirt 2, and car simulators like Forza 3; as well as a variety of “beat-em-up” games, and sports games like Fifa 10, rugby and golf.

The real X-factor with PVP, however, is the fact that players can play against other players in the same room, giving the already convincingly rendered games, enhanced reality. Slow internet speeds in South Africa have meant that unlike other places in the world, live multiplayer gaming has not been a real option for gamers in SA. This has meant that possibly the most exciting aspect of electronic multiplayer games has yet to be experienced by locals.

“Playing Call of Duty is so much more real when you and your squad are in the same room, discussing strategy, while your opponents are on the other side of the room planning how to ambush you. The line between real and virtual is blurred.” - Holder

To further enhance the experience, PVP will hold competitions, elite tournaments for pro gamers, and in-store events, including the possibility of “moments of madness” where they will randomly give away PVP-branded gear and other prizes to players.

The eagerly anticipated store has already created a stir on PVP’s facebook page (PVP Digital Arena) and Liberty Midlands Mall centre manager Cassie Fourie says that there has been a lot of interest shown.

“Customers have been asking when PVP is opening and are extremely excited”, she said, “We welcome this new addition to the mall, which caters to the entertainment element.”

The best news though is that to get in on the action, it will cost players less than a ride in one of those peddle boats at the seaside, with prices starting at a mere R20 per 30 minutes.

Costs to play at PVP Digital Arena
- R20 per 30 minutes
- R35 per one hour
- R60 per two hours

Games store events planned
• After-hour “lock ins” will be organised for groups of 16 or more on request.
• Competitions for rankings, with prizes, to be held every month.
• Elite tournaments for pro gamers to be held at PVP.
• Various events to be held weekly, including “moments of madness”

Other goods on offer at PVP games store
PVP is also a retailer of the best electronic console games for Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Wii and PC. Buyers can try games before they buy and get expert advice on game choices. There will be a game swopping facility available too.

Membership options are planned for the future, with loyalty cards that earn members points that can be redeemed for playing time, games or PVP merchandise.

PVP games store equipment
• Twenty networked Xbox 360s linked to HDMI.
• 23” LCD monitors, with headphones and comfortable tub chairs.
PVP will keep their equipment current and in future will even change to another console platform if a better one is released.

PVP Digital Arena is at Shop 93A at Pietermaritzburg’s Liberty Midlands Mall. Don’t miss their grand opening at 9am this Saturday, October 24. Get there early to claim your place. For inquiries call PVP at 033 342 6420 or email Brendon Holder: brendon@pvp-arena.co.za

** More Gaming Articles **

MY GAMING: Attention all gaming enthusiasts

IF you’re keen on your gaming, there’s a fantastic website that started this year (2009) that you should know about by now. It’s goes by the domain name of www.mygaming.co.za and is packed full of news, reviews and the usual things gaming websites offer. Here’s an excerpt from their site:

MyGaming is a news, reviews and community website catering for the needs of the South African gaming community. It carries both national and international news about the latest games, consoles, PC gaming hardware and of course reviews about all of these.

Anyway, my point is that they’re offering some mean giveaways and hosting a Call of Duty 4 (CoD 4) competition. They are giving away over R2000 worth of prizes in a once off 20 minute CoD 4 match, R1000 in cash prizes, and two MSI G31M3 Motherboards.

The charitable gents at MyGaming are also giving away 2 copies of Killzone 2 for PS3 as well as two special-edition Killzone 2 T-shirts. Prize categories include “Most Kills”, “Most Assists”, “Most Deaths” and a “Special Knife Prize.”

You can enter this exciting competition here, or you can subscribe to their site to be kept up to date and become cool.

PS: Prizes are given to active forum members on a regular basis.

** More Gaming Promos **

IF you’re looking for something fun and exciting to do this weekend then make your way down to the Gateway Shopping Centre in Umhlanga where Nintendo Week (Wiik :P) is currently underway.

A section of the mall has been turned into a free-for-all Wii and DS arena, showcasing some of the latest and most popular Wii titles. Visitors are encouraged to try out as many of the games as possible, including 42 all-time Wii classics that will be on offer.

Kerry Taoushiani, Marketing Manager for Core Gaming says,

“While we have been running similar exhibits in malls countrywide all year, what makes Nintendo Week different from standard promotions is that the event is highly interactive with a big sound stage and room to kick up a fuss, perform and compete with others. We are not merely showcasing the games, but encouraging everyone to get involved, test their skills and stand in line to win exciting prizes”

A variety of tournaments will be run daily, and Mario and Luigi will be making daily appearances to keep the kids well entertained.

Wii want to play
With a colourful variety of Wii titles on offer, Nintendo Week aims to demonstrate that there is a game for everyone - from family fun with Big Brain Academy to kicking it up a gear with Mario Kart Wii and even building up a sweat with Wii Fit.

Visitors can also test their "brain ages" on the DS Lite with the latest self-improvement craze, Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training.

The crowds at Gateway will also be the first to experience Wii Music - the latest innovation from Nintendo, and will be able to join a virtual band.

Times of daily events:

• 11:00: Show folks who is the master of the Wii wheel in the daily Mario Kart Wii tournaments
• 15:00: Remember to bring your takkies for the Wii Sports tournaments and get some good exercise
• 16:00: Enter Gateway's Brainiest Family, a competition for the whole family to enter as a team, and test their skills on Big Brain Academy
• Nintendogs fans will be able to meet each other's puppies in daily "Bark Mode" sessions.

So if the weather is kak and the beach is out this weekend go check out Nintendo Week. The Nintendo team is on stand 09:00 - 22:00 until Monday 15 December. Go to Gateway's Promo court to catch some Nintendo action and find out what you really want for Christmas. And let me know what it's like!

Related posts:
Fitness that's fun - Wii!
Wii Music launched in SA

** More Gaming Promos **