You do not have to register first to begin working on your project.

There are three levels for the Panacea challenge
• Elementary: Grades K to 5
• Middle School : Grades 6 to 8
• High School: Grades 9-12

There are two categories to choose from
• Essay/Paper
• Video/Poster

No. One submission per student.

Guidelines for judging criteria:
• Spelling, Grammar, and Sentence Structure: No misspellings or grammatical errors.
• Well-constructed sentences.
• Vocabulary: Skillful word choice.
• Organization: Well-sequenced essay with smooth transitions. (If math analysis, look at the organization of mathematical approaches.)
• Scope: Evidence of breadth and depth of chosen topic. Includes proper citations.
• Quality of Presentation: Effectively presents and analyzes information.
• Delivery and Voice: Reflects commitment to topic and engages the reader.
• Out of the Box Thinking/ Novelty of Ideas: Displays creative thinking and displays a grasp of the bigger picture relating to topic.
• Theme and Word Count: Adheres to theme and word count requirements.
• Judges decision will be final

Yes, up to a maximum of 3 contestants can jointly submit it. The submission however has to be under the oldest contestant name and due credit should be given to all the participants by including their names in the submission.

Please send all your questions to panaceachallenge@northsouth.org

No, essays NOT written on the mentioned topics will be disqualified.

Your video must be in .mp4 or .mov format.

• Antiviral coating spray that can protect surfaces from viruses like COVID-19
• A virtual phone app to coordinate food donation within the community (can help tackle food insecurity)

Topic Examples:
• Addressing mental health among adolescents
• Improving healthcare access for underserved communities
• Addressing the gender pay gap
• Increasing school or workplace diversity
• Online learning educational disparities during COVID
• Community approach to preventing homelessness
• Food insecurity and health outcomes
• Bridging communication gaps within the community or amongst different generations of individuals

You can collaborate with friends and family. But most of the video content must be original and you must be the main author of the content.

Yes. You can get technical assistance from friends and family as long as you write the script and direct the shoot. Be sure to mention their names in your credits.

Yes. If you are using commercial music, make sure the music doesn’t violate or potentially violate any copyrights. Original music creations are encouraged.

The goal of the panacea challenge is for kids to be creative and have an original narrative. If you choose to use existing footage of scientists talking about your topic, please ensure that the footage doesn't violate or potentially violate any copyrights.

Yes, you can work with a group as long as the submission is under the team leader’s registration. You can brainstorm ideas, direct your friends/family as actors in your video. Make sure you give credit to all who helped you.

No. The rules allow only one video per participant.

No. Only one video can be submitted.

Video file name should be: FirstName LastName GradeLevel of the student who has registered.

You are only allowed one submission. That will be your final submission.

The deadline for the Challenge is as outlined on the General Info page and no extension can be given: https://northsouth.org/public/panaceachallenge/generalinfo

We recommend uploading your video as soon as it’s complete so you don’t risk missing this deadline.

Guidelines for judging criteria:
• Production Quality: High quality video and audio. Well edited.
• Creative Video Elements: Creative use of music, visuals, captions, props, and/or costumes.
• Vocabulary, Grammar, and Sentence Structure: No spoken grammatical errors. Well-constructed sentences with skillful word choice.
• Organization: Follows a smooth and logical flow.
• Quality of Presentation: Effectively presents and analyzes information.
• Delivery and Voice: Reflects commitment to topic and engages the reader.
• Out of the Box Thinking/ Novelty of Ideas: Displays creative thinking and displays a grasp of the bigger picture relating to topic.
• Theme and Video Video Length: Adheres to theme and video length requirements.
• Judges decision is final