How The Earth Prize Blueprint Is Scored

By Dr. Harman Brah, MD · Judge, California Science & Engineering Fair

The Earth Prize Blueprint is scored out of 25 points across six criteria: Problem Validation (5), Proof of Concept (5), Solution Quality (4), Next Steps & Commitment (4), Feasibility & Planning (4), and Communication & Inspiration (3). The two heaviest criteria are about evidence, so 10 of the 25 points depend on showing that the problem is real and that the idea has been tested.

That split tells a team where to spend its time before the January 31, 2027 submission deadline.

The six criteria at a glance

Criterion	Points
Problem Validation	5
Proof of Concept	5
Solution Quality	4
Next Steps & Commitment	4
Feasibility & Planning	4
Communication & Inspiration	3
Total	25

Three of the criteria carry 4 points each, for 12 points together. Those are about the solution itself and whether the team can carry it forward.

Communication & Inspiration is the lightest weight, at 3 points. The video pitch matters, but it sits on top of the evidence and cannot replace it.

Why evidence comes first

The organizers describe the Blueprint as “a validation-first framework.” It is built from seven building blocks and ends in a video pitch.

In practice, that means the judges want to see proof before polish. A well-produced pitch for a problem nobody has checked is starting with the smallest part of the score.

Problem Validation: talk to the people affected

Problem Validation is worth 5 points. It asks for evidence and “real conversations with the people affected.”

Reading articles about a problem is a start. The criterion asks students to go further and hear from the people who live with it.

A few habits make this section stronger:

• Pick a problem you can reach in person, so the conversations are possible.
• Keep a simple record of who you spoke with, what you asked and what you heard.
• Note where the conversations surprised you or changed your idea. That shows the validation was real.

Students should do the asking themselves. The point of the conversations is what the team learns firsthand.

Proof of Concept: show the idea can work

Proof of Concept is the other 5-point criterion. It asks the team to show that the solution has been tested in some way.

This is where many students already have more than they realize.

Turning a research project into the proof

The Earth Prize is closer to a startup pitch than a research paper. Even so, a research project the student has already done can carry real weight here.

Take a student who ran a water quality or runoff project for a science fair. That student already has a question, a method and data. In a Blueprint, that data can become the proof of concept.

The research still has to be connected to the rest of the entry. A results section on its own answers only part of the Blueprint. The team also needs a clear solution, conversations with the people affected, and a plan for what comes next.

From judging science fairs, our view is that one clear question with real data beats an ambitious project with no result. The same thinking fits here. A small, honest test that the team can explain is a stronger proof than a large claim with nothing behind it.

The 4-point criteria: solution, plan and commitment

Solution Quality, Feasibility & Planning, and Next Steps & Commitment together carry 12 points.

These ask whether the idea is sound, whether the team has a realistic plan, and whether the team will keep going. Only students who built the project can answer those questions honestly, which is one more reason the work has to be theirs.

Regional Winners each receive USD 10,000 to put their project into practice, so a plan that shows how the team would use that support is worth thinking through early.

The student does the work

The problem, the conversations, the testing and the pitch should all belong to the students.

The organizers offer free volunteer mentors on their Discord. An outside mentor can help a student sharpen the question, check whether the evidence supports the claim, and pressure-test the plan. The students make the decisions and do the writing and recording.

Dates to plan around

• January 10, 2027: registration closes.
• January 31, 2027: Blueprint submissions close.
• March 3, 2027: 35 teams are named Earth Prize Scholars.
• May 3 to 9, 2027: seven Regional Winners are announced.
• May 28, 2027: the Global Winner is announced at the ceremony.

Registration is a separate, earlier step. Students who are minors also need parental consent before they can take part, so settle both well ahead of January.

Our physician-led mentors help students turn real research into strong competition entries while the student does the work. See our science fair and research mentorship, or read about doing high school research without a lab.

FAQ

What are the judging criteria for The Earth Prize?

The Blueprint is scored out of 25 points. Problem Validation and Proof of Concept are worth 5 each; Solution Quality, Next Steps & Commitment, and Feasibility & Planning are worth 4 each; and Communication & Inspiration is worth 3.

Which part of the Earth Prize Blueprint matters most?

The two evidence criteria carry the most weight. Together, Problem Validation and Proof of Concept make up 10 of the 25 points, so showing the problem is real and that the idea has been tested comes before polishing the video.

Does my child need to interview people for Problem Validation?

The criterion asks for evidence and for conversations with the people affected by the problem. Reading alone will not cover it, so students should plan to speak with people directly and keep notes on what they learned.

Can my child use a science fair project as the proof of concept?

Yes, it can be a strong starting point. Data from an earlier environmental project, such as a water or runoff study, can serve as the proof that an idea works. The Blueprint still needs a clear solution, a plan and conversations with the people affected.

How much does the video pitch count?

Communication & Inspiration is worth 3 of the 25 points, the smallest share. The Blueprint ends in the video pitch, and it works best when it presents evidence the team has already gathered.