The SciPOP Science Demonstration Contest is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Education Bureau. It aims to encourage secondary school students to pursue science knowledge while improving their science communication skills, presentation abilities, and creative thinking. In addition, the public can gain insights into scientific concepts from engaging perspectives, contributing to the goal of popularising science.

The theme for this year is "Artificial intelligence". Contestants are required to use props and experiments to present topics of AI in a lively and interesting way. Winning teams will have the opportunity to join the Young Scientists Study Tour 2026 to go on an AI-related field trip for free. Local secondary school students aged 15 or above are welcome to participate. The application period will be from 10 November to 8 December 2025. Seize the opportunity, come showcase your creativity and spread science together!

Eligibility
How to Apply
Talk cum Briefing Session
Details of the Contest
Prizes

Eligibility
• Contestants must be full-time Hong Kong secondary school students aged 15 or above (as at 31.12.2025)
• Contestants shall enter the competition on a school basis
• Each school can nominate a maximum of 2 teams, and each team shall comprise 2-4 students

How to Apply

Please read the Notes on application for the terms and conditions of the Contest prior to apply. Complete the application form and email it to hkscmstem@lcsd.gov.hk during the application period from 10.11.2025 (Mon) to 11:59pm on 8.12.2025 (Mon).

Talk cum Briefing Session

Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded beyond a specialised field, with technologies like machine learning and generative AI now driving innovation and reshaping our lifestyles.

To advance public understanding of the hot topic of artificial intelligence, Hong Kong Science Museum will invite Prof. Ray CHEUNG of The City University of Hong Kong to give an introduction on the field and application of AI. The session will also cover the details of the competition, and it is compulsory for all participating teams to attend.

Speaker: Prof. Ray Chak-chung CHEUNG (Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, The City University of Hong Kong) 
Date: 17.12.2025 (Wed)
Time: 4:30 – 6:15 pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum
Language: Cantonese

The remaining seats will be opened to public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Details of the Contest

Preliminary Round
Teams must submit a demonstration overview and a video trailer. The 12 teams with the highest scores will advance to the Final Round.

Details of Preliminary
• Teams are required to choose a topic related to Artificial Intelligence and develop a science presentation.
• Prepare a Demonstration Overview (in Chinese or English) and a 3-minute Demonstration Trailer.
• Demonstration Overview and Trailer must be submitted within 11.12.2025 (Thu) to 15.1.2026 (Thu) by 11:59pm using the specified method.

The Demonstration Overview must include:
i. Title
ii. Aim
iii. Introduction
iv. Science concepts involved
v. Details of the Demonstration, including a brief description of the props and experiments to be used for the demonstration (up to 10 graphics and photos may be included to illustrate the concepts)

The 3-minute Demonstration Trailer must include:
i. Aim
ii. Science concepts involved
iii. Offer a preview of the demonstration in an attractive way, with props or experiments, and must perform the key experiments (pictures and photos can be used to assist the presentation)

Judging criteria include:
1. Scientific accuracy (30%)
2. Creativity and attractiveness (25%)
3. Use of props and experimental skills (25%)
4. Presentation skills (20%)

How to submit:
• Details for submission of the Demonstration Overview and Demonstration Trailer will be sent to the participating teams by email.
• The deadline for submission is 15.1.2026 (Thu) at 11:59pm. Late submission will not be accepted.

Preliminary results
• The adjudicators will score the works of each team according to the established criteria, and the 12 teams with the highest scores will advance to the Final.
• The Preliminary result will be announced in late February 2026.

Details of Final
Teams qualifying for the Final must:
• Based on the topic and content submitted in the Preliminary round, write and submit a detailed Demonstration Proposal for rehearsal and reference for the judging panel and the organisers.
• Participate in the Final on 16.5.2026 (Sat).

Submit Demonstration Proposal:
• The method of submitting the Demonstration Proposal is the same as that of the Preliminary.
• The deadline for submission is 13.4.2026 (Mon) at 11:59pm, late entries will not be accepted.

The Demonstration Proposal must include:
i. Title
ii. Aim
iii. Introduction
iv. Science concepts involved
v. Props/instruments/chemicals used in the demonstration
vi. 10-minute demonstration process (up to 15 graphics and photos may be included to illustrate the concepts).

On-site Rehearsal
• The finalists must conduct an on-site rehearsal at the Lecture Hall of the Museum.
• Rehearsal sessions will be scheduled in the afternoons from 27.4.2026 (Mon) to 29.4.2026 (Wed).

Final
Finalist teams will deliver a 10-minute live science demonstration. Following the demonstration, the teams will field questions from the panel of adjudicators.

Date: 16.5.2026 (Sat)
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum
• Each team must give a 10-minute science presentation to the adjudicators and the public
• Demonstrations must be conducted using props or experiments
• Judging criteria include:
  1. Scientific accuracy (30%)
  2. Creativity (20%)
  3. Use of props and experimental skills (20%)
  4. Presentation skills (15%)
  5. Team work (15%)
• Following each presentation, the panel of adjudicators will conduct a Q&A session to evaluate the contestants' understanding of the topic and assign the score.
• The results will be announced immediately after the Contest and will be posted on the Hong Kong Science Museum website later.

Prizes
• Awards include the Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up and three Merit Prizes. Trophies and certificates will be presented to all winning teams. Participation certificates will be presented to the remaining finalists.
• Students of the top three winning teams will be entitled to join the Young Scientists Study Tour 2026.
• The remaining finalists will compete for individual places to join the Young Scientists Study Tour 2026 through a group interview to be held in late June.
• The Champion, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up will have the opportunity to showcase their demonstrations at the Hong Kong Science Museum.

Young Scientist Study Tour 2026
The "Young Scientist Study Tour 2026" will be held during 23.7.2026 (Thu) to 29.7.2026 (Wed). Participants will travel to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou to visit organisations and science centres and meet the experts working in the fields of AI and advanced technology.

Important Dates

Terms and Conditions

1. The Contest is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Education Bureau.
2. Contestants must ensure that the content of the entries do not infringe any copyright, and hold ownership of the copyright and publication right. Please refer to the relevant ordinances. The organisers take no liability whatsoever regarding any infringement therein. To respect intellectual property rights, the source of any non-original content must be acknowledged. Failure to acknowledge works that are not originated by the contestants may result in mark deduction.
3. Contestants shall understand and agree to grant and assign exclusively to the organisers all the intellectual property rights of the submitted entry. The organisers have the right to display the entry content, title, synopsis and contestants' information in any form of media for demonstration, publication, exhibition, promotion or any non-commercial activities. The organisers also have the authority to edit, translate, adapt, use, copy and distribute, in whole or in part of the entries without any need for prior consent of or payment of fees to the contestants.
4. Entries of non-awarded teams will be destroyed in one year after completion of the Contest.
5. Video and photo shooting will be performed in each stage of the Contest. The organisers are deemed to take and use images of contestants for educational and promotional purposes.
6. By submitting the application form, contestants confirm that they give consent to all rules of the Contest.
7. All decisions made by the organisers for the Contest are final and binding, and the organisers reserve the right to amend the rules of the Contest.

Enquiries
Tel: 27315442 (Monday to Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm, except public holidays)