Environmental Science Competition brief
Entry requirements
The Environmental Science Competition is aimed at an advanced level of knowledge, equivalent to a
Level 3 qualification.
The competitors must be able to:
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Operate a personal computer and appropriate software.
Carry out research, identifying authoritative sources in print and on the Internet.
Analyse numerical, graphical and geographical information.
Competitors will be judged on a written report and oral presentation so should be able to demonstrate
excellent levels of literacy, numeracy and communication skills. They must also be able to demonstrate
their scientific knowledge and comprehension by completing a practical task involving the construction
and testing of a simple device (materials, tools and instructions will be provided).
How many competitors can an organisation enter for the competition?
Each school, college or training organisation can enter up to two teams. A team comprises two
competitors.
Competition structure
Stage one: Register teams online at http://worldskillsuk.org by 20 March 2015.
Stage two: Passive competition: complete the online test between 23 March and 13 May 2015.
Stage three: Teams that meet the required standard will be invited to compete at the UK final at the NEC
Birmingham over three days between 18 and 21 November 2015.
NB The organisers reserve the right to hold an additional event(s) to select the teams that will go forward to the final
if the passive competition is inconclusive; teams will be notified as soon as possible after the passive stage is
complete.
Project brief
The Environmental Science Competition is an exciting challenge for young people interested in
environmental issues such as climate change, environmental conservation and protection, and the
sustainable use of natural resources and energy. The competition is designed to raise skills and
awareness in the science and engineering disciplines for emerging technologies and industries that will
support the growing ‘green economy’. The competition is particularly aimed at those want to transfer these
skills and experience into areas of scientific and technical research which can be used to solve complex
socio-economic issues for the good of the community.
Over the duration of the three day UK final, competitors will:
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Research a major environmental issue and analyse scientific and technical information.
Identify potential technical, political, social and economic conflicts associated with the problem and
provide mitigation measures to resolve issues between “interested parties”.
Recommend, through a written report and oral presentation to judges, a technically viable and
environmentally acceptable solution to the specified problem. They will need to work within defined
Environmental Science Competition Brief – February 2015
economic, political and social constraints. They may also need to take into account the impacts on
existing infrastructure and potential threats to the environment and health of the human population.
The roles associated with the competition
Team members should be adaptable as they will need to take on multiple roles. Successful teams are
likely to include a balance of skills in at least some of the following areas:
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Geographers/Geologists/Environmental Scientists
Mechanical/Civil Engineers
Economist/Mathematician
The detail
Passive competition
To qualify for the national finals, competitors must complete an online test, or passive competition.
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The test comprises two parts: 25 multiple choice questions and a short essay (up to 800 words) on an
environmental issue. The judges will be looking for a well structured essay that summarises the issues
concisely and suggests innovative solutions where appropriate.
The online test will be available from 23 March to 13 May 2015. A hyperlink and further instructions will
be sent to registered teams.
The test must be completed as a team.
Only one entry will be accepted per team.
A declaration form must be signed by the supervising tutor or employer to confirm that competitors
have submitted their own work. The declaration form can be downloaded from the Environmental
Science Competition web page at http://worldskillsuk.org and must be returned to David Bailey at
david.bailey@univ.oxon.org by 5pm on 13 May 2015.
Teams will be ranked according to their overall scores and the top six teams offered a place in the
final. In the event that two or more teams receive the same overall score, the scores for the essay
question will be used to determine their final position.
The deadline for completing the online test and submitting the declaration form is 5 pm on 13 May 2015.
Any team that fails to do this may be disqualified from the competition.
UK final
The final takes place over three days between 18 and 21 November 2015 at the NEC, Birmingham.
Teams will be set a task that requires them to:
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Research and analyse scientific and technical information, including written, numerical, graphical and
map-based formats.
Identify potential conflicts within the information provided and recommend measures to resolve or
mitigate differences between various ‘interested parties’.
Recommend an action plan to address a specified large-scale technical and environmental challenge.
Document the team's decision-making processes and produce a detailed, well-structured, written
report.
Make a formal presentation of the team’s research to the judging panel using appropriate visual aids
(e.g. Powerpoint slides).
Construct a basic device or working model as instructed, using the tools, materials and guidelines
provided and present the completed device or model to the judges, demonstrating an understanding of
the principles of its operation, limitations and potential improvements to the design.
Each team will work with the following resources:
Environmental Science Competition Brief – February 2015
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PCs with access to the World Wide Web, Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat software.
Workstations.
Basic stationery.
Equipment, tools and materials required for practical task.
Marking and assessment
This is a ‘mixed’ competition, with assessment based mainly on defined subjective criteria with some
objective criteria.
Objective marking involves the candidate meeting strict criteria which can be assessed against a 'yes' or
'no' outcome.
Subjective marking is based on the judges’ expert opinions and is marked from 1 to 10.
Points awarded (Subjective):
Outstanding
10 points
Excellent
9 points
Very good
8 points
Good / Commendable 7 points
Average
6 points
Basic
5 points
Below basic
4 points
Weak
3 points
Very weak
2 points
Unacceptable
1 points
Nothing / Missing
0 points
Competitors will be assessed by the following methods:
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Observed while completing the competition (subjective).
Assessment of their written report (objective/subjective).
Assessment of their final presentation (subjective).
A practical task (objective/subjective).
The competition will be judged by a panel of three industry experts. The judges’ decisions will be
independently moderated and quality assured prior to confirmation. Judges’ individual marks will be
recorded and a final mark awarded for each criterion based on an average of the individual marks.
To allow judges to assess all of the criteria comprehensively and to ensure marking is efficient, the
competition judging will take place continuously over the three days of the competition.
Teams will be assessed on the broad allocation of marks shown below.
Criterion ID
A
B
C
D
E
Criterion Description
Construction and testing (Practical task)
Report structure and design
Analysis, understanding and strategic thinking
Technical and innovative solution
Understanding of socio-economic issues
Weighting
1
1
2
2
1.5
Max Marks
10
10
20
20
15
Environmental Science Competition Brief – February 2015
F
G
Teamwork
Communication
1.5
1
15
10
Competition rules
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There will be a familiarisation period with equipment and information. During this period, competitors
may ask questions regarding the competition format and schedule. Competitors are NOT allowed to
ask the judges or scrutineers questions once the familiarisation period is over.
Competitors are to use ONLY the PCs, software and equipment provided by the competition
organisers. No personal electronics, mobile phones, laptops or any other devices are allowed to be
taken in to the competition area.
Competitors are only able to discuss research material and ideas within their own team.
Competitors are not allowed to converse with other teams.
No material is allowed to be removed from the competition area unless specified.
All work must be completed within the allotted competition time frame. If competitors fail to do so 5
points will be deducted from their overall mark
Competitors wishing to leave the competition area during designated work periods must obtain the
permission of the judges or nominated competition personnel. The judges should make a formal note
of who has left the area and the duration of their absence.
Closed shoes to be worn throughout the competition.
Tutors or other supervisors from the competitors' organisations must remove themselves from the
competition area at all times while the competition is in progress.
Competition partners
This competition is managed by Prospect in association with the British Geological Survey.
Contact details
For technical advice about the competition contact:
Paul Curtis — Phone: 07773 907112; Email: paul.curtis@prospect.org.uk
For general information about competitions please contact the WorldSkills UK contact centre:
Free phone: 0800 612 0742
Email: enquiries@worldskillsuk.org
Web: http://worldskillsuk.org
Relevant links
http://worldskillsuk.org : look for Environmental Science under ‘Browse by Skill’
Environmental Science Competition Brief – February 2015