Your Questions,
Answered.

"To inspire and empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators by providing a rigorous, inclusive, and nationally recognized competition platform that rewards excellence, fosters intellectual growth, and connects young talent with transformative opportunities."

The mission is built on three pillars: rigorous evaluation, inclusive design, and transformative recognition through medals, awards, and access to the Newton Honours Society.

Newton Awards does not simply reward the flashiest project or the most polished presentation. We reward:

• Intellectual courage — the willingness to tackle hard, unsolved problems
• Process — rigorous experimental design, including confronting null results and iterating
• Originality — work that is genuinely novel, not derivative or incremental
• Impact — projects with a credible pathway to improving lives or advancing knowledge

Students are encouraged to present their full journey, including what didn't work and what they learned. A well-reasoned failed experiment can be as impressive as a successful one.

All Newton Awards judges are independent professionals with verified credentials in relevant fields. No judge may evaluate a project from a student with whom they have a personal connection. Judges are trained to evaluate holistically — considering the resources available to the student, the difficulty of the problem they chose, and the quality of their reasoning, not just their conclusions.

A student working alone with limited resources may demonstrate more genuine scientific thinking than a team with access to world-class equipment. Context always matters in evaluation.

• Scientific rigor and intellectual honesty
• Equity of access and opportunity
• Recognition of diverse forms of intelligence
• Long-term mentorship over transactional awards
• Community over competition

Students choose one of two tracks: the Innovation Track (Science, Engineering, Math, Environment) or the AI Track (Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data). Both tracks share the same four divisions based on grade level:

• Division I — Junior Explorers (Grades 3–5): Foundational inquiry and curiosity-driven projects
• Division II — Rising Minds (Grades 6–8): Structured research and engineering prototypes
• Division III — Innovators (Grades 9–10): Advanced methodology and applied engineering design
• Division IV — Scholars (Grades 11–12): Pre-collegiate research depth and publication-level rigor

Students may enter as a Solo individual or as a Team of 2–5 members. Both paths compete under the same rubric.

Every project is scored against the same transparent rubric, published in advance so students always know how they will be evaluated:

• Scientific / Technical Merit — 30%: Rigor of methodology, validity of data, soundness of conclusions
• Originality & Innovation — 25%: Novelty of approach; contribution to existing knowledge
• Clarity of Communication — 20%: Quality of written paper, poster, and oral presentation
• Real-World Impact — 15%: Plausibility and significance of potential applications
• Responsible Development — 10%: Ethical considerations, safety, and societal implications (weighted higher in the AI Track)

Competition Day is September 19, 2026. Here is the full timeline:

• 7:30 AM — Registration & check-in; collect badges, proceed to setup areas
• 8:00 AM — Project setup; one hour to arrange displays and materials
• 9:00 AM — Opening Ceremony; welcome address and keynote from a Newton Alumni
• 9:45 AM — Judging Round 1; judges rotate through projects for evaluation and Q&A
• 12:00 PM — Catered lunch for competitors, families, and judges
• 1:00 PM — Judging Round 2; additional evaluation and senior judge review
• 3:00 PM — Public Exhibition; floor opens to guests, families, and press
• 4:00 PM — Judges deliberate; optional career panel sessions available
• 5:30 PM — Awards Ceremony; division awards, special sponsor awards, and Grand Prize announcement

All participants receive a Certificate of Participation. Top-performing students in each division and track receive medals presented at the Awards Ceremony. Special sponsor awards are also presented on Competition Day.

Competitors who participate in the Newton Awards competition are also eligible to enroll in the Newton Honours Society — an exclusive post-competition community offering mentorship, networking, and a formal letter of acceptance as an ongoing credential.

• Step 1 — Track: Choose Innovation Track or AI Track
• Step 2 — Path: Choose Solo (individual) or Team (2–5 members)
• Step 3 — Division: Select the division matching your grade level as of September 2026
• Step 4 — Application: Enter your name, school, city/state, project title, project abstract (100–300 words), and all team member names
• Step 5 — Review & Pay: Confirm all details and submit payment ($45 USD per entry) by credit/debit card or check

The registration fee is $45 USD per entry. You can pay by credit or debit card online (secured by 256-bit SSL encryption; card details are never stored), or by mailing a check payable to Newton Awards Foundation at 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Include the applicant name and school in the memo line.

If paying by check, it must arrive by April 10, 2026 — five days before the application deadline. Applications will be held as pending until the check is received and processed.

If the fee presents a financial hardship, please contact us before applying — we do not want cost to be a barrier for any student.

This is critical: the complete and correct legal spelling of every team member's full name entered at registration is used directly on Certificates of Participation and all Awards presented at the competition. No corrections can be made after submission. Please verify every name carefully before clicking submit.

Once your application is confirmed you will receive a registration confirmation by email with your competitor ID. You should then download the Competitor Handbook, which contains everything you need to prepare — division-specific judging criteria, the full competition timeline, and presentation requirements.

Key post-registration deadlines to note: your abstract is due June 15, your final project upload is due September 1, and Competition Day is September 19, 2026. Students in Divisions III and IV (Innovators and Scholars) may also request a faculty mentor — details are included in the confirmation email.

Our inclusive model is not about lowering standards — it is about removing structural barriers that prevent brilliant minds from demonstrating their full capabilities. The competition structure is built to be accessible by default, not adapted as an afterthought. Judges are trained to recognize and value diverse forms of brilliance, communication, and problem-solving.

The competition explicitly welcomes students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD & ADD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Sensory Processing Differences, Dyscalculia, Tourette Syndrome, Hyperlexia, and more. If your condition is not listed, please reach out — no mind that has something to contribute will be turned away.

No. Disclosure is never required and never penalized. Students choose what to share. All information provided to our inclusion team remains strictly confidential and is never disclosed to judges or evaluators. Our dedicated inclusion coordinators are available from application through final presentation to support you at every stage.

All accommodations are provided at no cost. Available options include:

• Extended Time — Up to 2× additional time for written components, presentations, and Q&A
• Alternative Formats — Video, oral recordings, and visual portfolios accepted in place of written reports
• Private Presentation — One-on-one with a single judge in a quiet, private room; no audience
• Support Person — A trusted adult or aide may accompany the student through all stages
• Written Q&A — Respond to judge questions in writing with no time pressure
• Sensory Environment — Dimmed lighting, minimal noise, and designated quiet zones
• Advance Materials — Full schedule and judge questions provided 72 hours before event day
• One-on-One Judging — Must be requested at the time of application; cannot be requested after submission

Requests must be submitted by May 10, 2026. Written confirmation of your accommodations will be issued before payment is due — we will not process your registration if we are unable to fulfill your requested accommodations.

Our inclusion team responds to initial enquiries within one business day. Accommodation decisions are made within five business days of your request, and all decisions are confirmed in writing. You can also contact the inclusion team directly by email — they are available throughout the entire competition process, from application to final presentation.

The Newton Honours Community is an exclusive post-competition community open solely to students who have participated in the Newton Awards competition. You do not need to have won a medal — participation qualifies you to apply. It is for students who want to continue pushing boundaries, building connections, and growing within the STEM community after competition day.

• Monthly STEM Speaker Series — Virtual Zoom sessions with distinguished guest speakers from across the STEM professions, offering mentorship and real-world insights
• Exclusive Annual Reception — An in-person networking reception held during the Newton Awards competition, with direct access to peers, mentors, and industry professionals
• Elite STEM Peer Network — An exclusive community of distinguished young scientists, engineers, and innovators
• Formal Letter of Acceptance — An official credential recognising your place in the Honours Community
• Social Media Spotlight — Your essay or video may be featured on Newton Awards' platforms
• Lifelong Peer Connection — An ongoing membership, not a one-time honour

Submit either a reflective essay (under 500 words) or a short video (1 minute maximum) by October 19, 2026. Your submission should reflect on your STEM journey, a meaningful Newton Awards experience, and what you hope to contribute going forward.

Acceptance letters are sent by November 2026, followed shortly by the Inaugural Honours Community Welcome Gathering via Zoom, where you will meet fellow members and preview the year's speaker lineup.

Membership is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time honour. Members continue to grow alongside their peers through recurring events — monthly virtual speaker sessions and an exclusive annual in-person reception — and contribute to future generations of STEM leaders as the community grows year over year.