The High School Big Data Challenge (HSBDC) is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary, experiential learning program that invites high school students from across the country to strengthen their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities by working with open data. By allowing students to undertake independent research projects that tackle real-world problems, the BDC synergizes with both classroom and extracurricular experiences to foster an active digital citizenship position and prompt new sustainable development innovative ideas.

How do competitions work?
We present the general competition theme, within which you define a research topic of interest. Teams of up to four students are provided with workshops, example datasets, learning resources and tools for data analysis. With the guidance of peer and expert mentors, teams then develop sustainable solutions to local and global issues using open data. At the end of the competition, teams submit their research findings in the form of a scientific manuscript. The top teams are invited to present their findings in front of a panel of industry and academic experts in the field.

Why should you participate?
Develop new skills: The HSBDC is a great platform to develop the following skills:

• Computational Thinking – The ability to translate aggregates of data into abstract concepts and conduct data-based reasoning for real world challenges.
• Design Mindset – The ability to create solutions in contexts where only part of the requirements is known.
• Digital Citizenship – The ability to responsibly utilize information technology to engage in society.
• Interdisciplinary Mindset – Engage in an interdisciplinary, problem space led by student-driven inquiry.

Scientific Communication – All abstracts and the top finalists’ full papers will be published by the open access, peer-reviewed STEM Fellowship Journal, published by the NRC Research Press!
Monetary Prizes – The winners get the chance to win monetary prizes sponsored by our sponsors.
Networking – Network with academics, industry professionals, and other forward-thinking students throughout the competition.

Note: Prior knowledge of coding is NOT required to participate. Students from all programs are welcome to participate.

Through this challenge, students will:

• Collect and Investigate Data on access to sustainable and clean energy and culture around it.
• Analyze the role of various factors including gender, race, geographical region, and socioeconomic conditions on access and use of Clean energy.
• Hypothesize and Formulate innovative solutions to improve access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Present Findings through scientific and scholarly writing in the form of a research project report.

Teams of up to 4 students will be provided with datasets, workshops, learning resources, mentorship, and tools for data analysis to undertake exploratory analysis of sustainable energy. Data analysis is combined with scientific writing, insofar that the teams present their research findings in the form of scientific manuscripts, which are then evaluated by academics and industry professionals. All aspects of the BDC, including the delivery of workshops, resources, and mentorship, will occur online and are equally accessible to all students regardless of their location or other circumstances.

At the end of the program, the research abstracts of all teams and the manuscripts of winning teams are published in the open access, peer-reviewed NRC Research Press STEM Fellowship Journal.

The top teams are then invited to defend their findings in front of a panel of experts in competing for monetary and academic prizes, at the culminating finale event.