REGULATIONS
STEM Film Stories
EdiTION 2024/2025
I. The Organiser
1. The European STEM Film Stories Competition (hereinafter referred to as the “Competition”) is organised by the Institute of Mathematics and the Institute of History and Archival Studies of the University of the Commission of National Education in Krakow (hereinafter referred to as the “Organiser”).
2. The Organiser appoints the Organising Committee and the Competition Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”). The Organising Committee oversees the organisation of the Competition, while the Commission is responsible for evaluating the content.
3. The Organising Committee and the Commission are located at the Organiser’s headquarters at 2 Podchorążych Street, 30-084 Kraków.
II. General Principles
1. The Commission ensures the proper and fair evaluation of the submitted works.
2. The Organiser maintains the Competition website, “Film STEM Stories,” and publishes competition materials submitted by participants on UKEN’s news platforms and social media channels, including:
a. Facebook: STEM Film Stories;
b. YouTube:
– Maths Through the Eyes of a Sympathiser;
– My Experience of STEM Lessons;
– Poles and Their Contribution to Science;
c. Instagram: STEM Film Stories;
d. TikTok: Wideomania UKEN.
3. The list of winners and finalists will be published on the Organiser’s website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.
4. The competition is divided into three thematic tracks:
– mathematics from a historical and contemporary perspective;
– experiences from STEM lessons at my school;
– traces of Polish scientists and their work in Europe;
Each submission must be entered under one thematic track only.
5. Any matters related to the Competition not covered in these regulations will be decided by the Organising Committee.
III. Objectives of the Competition
1. To popularise science among young people through ICT tools, multimedia, and audiovisual media.
2. To stimulate curiosity about historical and contemporary aspects of scientific research, with particular attention to the contributions of Polish scientists.
3. To foster a research culture and increase knowledge among participants and interested parties.
IV. Conditions for Participation
1. The competition is open to children and youth born between 2005 and 2018, residing in Europe.
2. Participation involves preparing a video in one of the thematic tracks listed in point 2.4 and submitting it via the application form, along with consent for publication on social media platforms created for the Competition.
3. Videos can be submitted individually or by groups of up to three participants.
4. By entering the Competition, participants agree to provide the necessary personal data (name, surname, year of birth, email) and consent to their image being used on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
5. Participants are fully responsible for ensuring the copyright compliance of the graphics, sound, and video elements used in their submissions.
6. Submissions must be in English or the national language with English subtitles.
7. Participants can withdraw consent at any time during the Competition by notifying the Organiser. Withdrawal will result in termination of participation in the Competition, and participants will no longer be eligible for further stages.
8. Individuals with disabilities participate under the same terms as others. If special accommodations are required, the Organiser should be notified at least 14 days before the Final Stage.
V. Competition Procedure
1. The competition has two age categories:
– junior – participants born between 2010 and 2018 (all group members must fall within this range);
– senior – at least one group member born between 2005 and 2009.
2. The competition has two age categories.
– Stage I (Open Stage): Runs from 23 September 2024 to 28 February 2025. This is the deadline for video submission.
– Stage II (Final Stage): Will take place on 25-26 May 2025.
A detailed schedule of the Competition and its individual stages will be announced on the Organizer’s website.
3. Open Stage:
a. The Open Stage consists of the preparation of the video material and making it available to the Organisers by the date specified in the schedule.
b. The video shall be prepared by a student or a group of
up to three students using software available to that student or group of students.
The preparation of video using illegally sourced software is prohibited. Supervision of the preparation of the material may be entrusted to the teacher, who may not interfere with the content or the preparation of the video.
c. The video is a presentation of content related to the thematic tracks of the competition. Participants choose their own content, technical preparation and presentation of the content.
d. Participants must prepare:
– A main film (3-6 minutes, 1920×1080 resolution, MP4 format);
– An motivational film (up to 30 seconds, 1080×1920 resolution, MP4 format) introducing the author(s) and discussing the film or motivation for participating;
– A thumbnail for the film, to be used for YouTube.
Additionally, participants can submit promotional material for their film (e.g. a fragment of the main film) of up to 30 seconds in 1080×1920 resolution.
e. Videos sent to the Organisers shall be assessed by the Committee, which will qualify up to 10 videos for each age category for the final stage. The Organising Committee reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of participants in the Final Stage.
f. An independent competition for the most popular video material is announced during the open stage.
i. The competition runs throughout the Open Stage and 10 days after the end of the Open Stage.
ii.The winners of the competition for the most popular material are the Participants who have produced the video with the highest number of “likes” during the period of the competition.
iii. The winners of the ‘Most Popular Video’ competition shall take part in the final stage of the competition, irrespective of the Commission’s assessment.
iv. The winners of the “Most Popular Video” competition receive special prizes/awards.
g. The results of the open stage will be announced by 4 April 2025. Participants will be informed of the results of the competition via the email address indicated on the application form.
4. The Final Stage:
a. The Final Stage of the Competition consists of a presentation of the authors and films, or extracts thereof, nominated for the finals.
b. Participation in the Final Stage can be in person or remotely.
c. The Organiser covers the costs of the Finalists’ personal participation (and one chaperone of each group) in the Final Stage of the Competition. The costs of participation include:
i. 1 overnight stay for all Participants from up to 499 km as the crow flies (distance calculator);
ii. 2 overnight stays for all Participants from 500 km to 1499 km as the crow flies (distance calculator);
iii. 3 overnight stays for all Participants from more than 1500 km as the crow flies (distance calculator);
and meals from dinner on the day of arrival to breakfast on the day of departure.
The Organiser does not cover the costs of the Participants’ journey to Krakow.
VI. Fair Play
1. Participants in the open stage are obliged to observe the rules of fair play.
2. Participants in the open stage are required to prepare the video themselves.
3. Participants in each stage are obliged to prepare materials respecting copyright rules.
4. In the event of a breach of any of the fair play rules, the Organiser reserves the right to disqualify the Participant and will notify the Participant via the contact details provided in the application.
5. Disqualification means deletion of the Entrant’s data by the Organiser and prohibition of participation in future editions of the Competition and other competitions organised by the Organiser.
6. The Participant has the right to appeal the disqualification to the Organiser. The Participant shall, within 3 days, notify the Organiser by e-mail, letter or in person of the disputed assessment of his/her work and include a substantive justification.
7. Any certificates of dyslexia, dysorthographia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia, illness or health indisposition, as well as an accidental event on the day of the final cannot constitute grounds for appeal.