For Nominators

All supporting programmes or competitions may nominate up to five projects for Realise the Dream. This involves completing a nomination form for each project and sending their work to the Realise the Dream Selection panel where it will be discussed and reviewed at the end of October.

Exemplar Nomination Interviews

Daniel Hodder

Hollie Andrewes

Peter Smallfield

Realise the Dream Nomination Form

Click on the link below to download a PDF of the nomination form. The form will open in a new window.

Realise the Dream Nomination Form

Structure of the Judging Process

Each contributing organization may nominate up to 5 projects (number determined by RSNZ) to be considered for selection to attend Realise The Dream. All nominations must be accompanied by written documentation from the student and the Chief Judge of the nominating organization, and a 5 minute video, as specified by the RSNZ from time to time. Nominations are invited from

Regional Science and Technology Fairs
CREST Awards programme
Bright Sparks programme
Young Enterprise Competition
Yr13 Young Historian Competition
Yr 13 Geography Competition
Other events determined by the Royal Society as being an appropriate source of projects.

The Nominations Judging Panel considers the submitted materials and ranks the nominated projects on the basis of these materials.
The top-ranked projects are selected to fill the places available in Realise The Dream that year.
At the Realise The Dream event the Awards Judging Panel allocates awards and prizes on the basis of the rankings and additional material presented at Realise the Dream.

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Selecting Projects for Realise the Dream - October

The Nominations Judging Panel consists of a Convenor (Chief Judge), and 7 to 9 others.

The Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) provides an organising official for Realise the Dream, who will attend the panel, to support its work. Furthermore, the relevant RSNZ Manager may attend at any time, and is available for consultation by the panel.
The panel is not open to the public or contributing organisations, except by invitation of RSNZ.

All judges have a broad range of knowledge, experience and qualifications, as the task requires relative evaluations across a very wide range of topic areas. Every judge is able to contribute comment on most aspects of every project. However, each judge has fields of special expertise and these are given appropriate weight.
Every judge is very familiar with the criteria outlined in the Judging Handbook1, as well as the principles of scientific method, technology development, research practice, and ethical considerations. The judging panel includes representatives well experienced in the relevant aspects of the NCEA Framework as they affect the production of projects.
Most judges have significant direct judging experience in other national or regional science and technology fairs. Occasionally judges may be selected for other forms of expertise.

Projects selected for Realise the Dream represent excellence across many categories including:

Science - including physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, astronomy, mathematics, psychology, environmental science ...
Social Science - including history, geography, environmental issues .
Engineering and Technology, including Biotechnology, Information and communication technology, Electronics and control technology, Food technology, Materials technology, Structures and/or Mechanisms
Business , including business acumen, company design ...
Selection for Realise the Dream is not restricted to senior school students: nominations are also encouraged from younger students (e.g. Year 7 & 8) who show a high level of potential.

It is expected that all contributing organisations will apply robust selection criteria and submit those projects they consider most worthy from their event. The Realise the Dream judging panel has no control over the range of projects nominated in a given year. As a result, most categories will be represented most years, but it will be unusual to have all the categories (above) represented in any one year.

EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR REALISE THE DREAM PROJECTS

Below we list the criteria that will be used by the selection panel. That panel will be able to apply the criteria only to the written material and DVDs presented by the students and their nominators. Exceptionally the selection panel may contact the nominator to help answer a question raised in the evaluation process. We strongly recommend that nominators and nominees take note of these criteria when preparing nominations.

These criteria will also be used by the judges at Realise the Dream in the process of identifying further award winners. In that case the judges will be able to examine the original nomination material as well as discuss with the nominees the project as submitted and any changes to the students’ opinions subsequent to the nomination.

The criteria are organised under five main headings.

CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
DESIGN PROCESS
EXECUTION OF DESIGN PROCESS
SOUNDNESS OF INTERPRETATION
APPLICATION OF RESULTS

In addition there is a set of criteria used that are common to all of the above five headings. Projects need to:

Maintain an appropriate focus on the project's aims.
Show an appropriate level of originality and ownership of the work by the student while acknowledging assistance received.
Include appropriate consideration of the suitability/reliability of the methods, results and conclusions.
Meet all ethical criteria (compulsory and moral).

In the remainder of this nomination please indicate how well you consider the project meets the criteria under the five main headings. Where possible and appropriate please include some reference to the common criteria mentioned above.

1 CONTEXT OF PROJECT

Explains why this project was initiated.
Reviews existing knowledge (Literature reviews/what has been done or made before etc.)
Has a clear statement of purpose/question to be addressed.
Discusses results or outputs in the context of other people's findings in the same or closely related fields.

2 DESIGN PROCESS

There are three broad approaches to research work. Each of these approaches generally comprise of a number of steps as in the table below.

The selection panel will expect to see clear and appropriate use of the following steps within the project design.

Experimental Research

Technology Development/Research

Research to increase knowledge for environmental or social systems (where controlled experiments are not possible)

Hypothesis
Prediction
Controlled experiments
Experiments/observations that involve controlled treatments and/or an attempt to falsify hypothesis by obtaining further experimental measurements
Theory to explain phenomena

Define the problem
Generate ideas
Gather information
Develop an approach
Design various prototypes
Produce the preferred solution
Evaluate responses to identify the best solution
May continue to prepare improved prototypes

A proposal or idea can be tested by evaluating options by gathering and analyzing data instead of controlled experiments (e.g. surveys)

The research may include:

Hypothesis
Prediction
Observations that do not involve controlled treatments
Adjunct experiments that do involve controlled treatments
Theory to explain phenomena

NB The selection panel and judges will need to be aware that some projects may use more than one of the approaches.

3 EXECUTION OF DESIGN PROCESS

Follows the specified plan.
Achieves an appropriate level of completeness.
Includes appropriate choice of equipment and materials, and specifically addresses the reliability and accuracy of the instruments and tools used.
Achieves the levels of accuracy and precision required to meet the project aim (this will include appropriate levels of replication and repeatability).
Attempts to verify its results (e.g. conducts some further test experiments or practically tests prototype products).
Indicates that any choices made to deviate from the plan were appropriate.

4 SOUNDNESS OF INTERPRETATION (of results/outputs/proposals)

Understands the limitations of the experiments/data/process.
Uses statistics effectively (including assessment of errors) where appropriate.
Logical data processing steps are used to achieve an appropriate level of analysis.
A clear relationship is made between the discussion and the research question/proposal.
Alternative interpretations are considered.
The results answer the question or address the projects purpose.

5 APPLICATION OF PROJECT

(Consider results and conclusions also)

Was the project's purpose achieved? If not, then why?
What should be the next step(s) along this line of investigation/development – or perhaps is there a recommendation that this line of work should not be pursued?
Any new directions that are suggested by the results? This may include spin-off discoveries.
Wider implications – is there value in the results that goes beyond the original project's aims or context?
Has the project made a significant contribution to advancement of knowledge – for the students involved or anyone else? This can include knowledge gained deliberately through for example testing an hypothesis, or unexpectedly through a chance observation.

Animal and Human Ethics

If the exhibit or investigation involves animals please make sure that the proper ethical approval forms accompany the documentation. Please click here to view information regarding animal and human ethics.

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Realise The Dream Awards and Prizes

Realise the Dream awards are sponsored by various organisations and businesses.

The Awards Judging Panel therefore has the task of allocating the available awards so that:

Awards are made on merit

Awards are made on the basis of:

The ranking and overall impression gained during the original selection process in October/Novemberr;
Posters made by each student specifically for Realise the Dream, which are displayed at the event; and
The students presentation to the judges at the December event.

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Conflicts of Interest

All judges are expected to act impartially at all times. Most members of the judging panels are inevitably associated with one or more of the contributing organisations.

To avoid conflict of interest in such a situation, the judge involved is required to state their conflict of interest and take a purely observational role: answering direct questions about the project, but not offering opinion or influencing the decision or consensus, which is made by the other panel members.

Disagreements, Enquiries and Protests

If an interested party disagrees with a decision of one of the judging panels (re. selection to Realise the Dream or allocation of an award), and wishes to follow up the matter, then

in most cases, the first approach is via an informal Enquiry to the RSNZ, usually by telephone call or by email. The RSNZ official and/or the Chief Judge will respond with an explanation, and the matter is usually resolved quickly through informal discussion by phone and email. If necessary other members of the judging panels may be included in the discussion.
Should the affected party remain unsatisfied, then a formal Protest may be made, in writing, to the RSNZ. Such a protest must include the reasons for disagreeing with the judges' decision. The RSNZ will use an independent mediator to review the protest, hold discussions with both parties, and report, in writing, with recommendations. This process should be conducted as speedily as possible. A copy of the report should be made available to both parties. The independent mediator may be a past Chief Judge of Realise the Dream, of a contributing National event, of a Regional Science and Technology Science Fair, a senior academic or a RSNZ official with experience and demonstrated interest in secondary school level education.

DVD Guidelines

The DVD that is sent to the Realise the Dream selection panel needs to be of good quality. Arrange to film in quiet and well lit surroundings. There should be no background noise.

It is compulsory for the students to be involved in the DVD either by way of the nominator interviewing the student or the student presenting the whole of the DVD themselves.

It is important to provide information about why this project is regarded as being of an excellent standard. For example explain the methodology clearly including replicates, controls, data collected, interpretation, statistical methods and the significance of the results. If focusing on technological development, please explain clearly the basis of the work, the process the student went through, trialling, modifications and the significance of the resultant product or system. The student should also include what they have learnt from carrying out this research and what they could have possibly done better.

Be succinct in your description or interview; the DVD is to be no longer than 5 minutes.

Clearly show the strengths of the research and weaknesses if any

Include one copy of the DVD together with the paperwork required as part of the nomination process.

Some ideas of what could be included in the DVD.

Explain why this project was initiated
What is the existing knowledge already? Discuss results of other people’s findings
What is the purpose?
Did you have a plan?
Have you used appropriate equipment and materials to carry out your research?
Have you verified your results?
If you have used statistics have you used them effectively?
A clear relationship is made between the discussion and research question/proposal
That the results do answer the question
Was the projects purpose achieved? If not, then why?
What would be the next step?
What have you learnt from this?
What were some difficulties that you had to overcome?
Has this project made a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge?

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¹ Judging Handbook, 2002 Genesis Energy Science and Technology Fair. Available from the Royal Society of New Zealand. Click here to view this document as a PDF