Scholarship Value $250,000

Number of Scholarships 1

There are a few key milestones on your journey for an opportunity to receive the prize, starting with applying for the Challenge.

Please make a careful note of each milestone and the deadline for reaching it.

Application Submission Deadline September 15

You must submit your application and video no later than September 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time (West Coast USA).

Peer-To-Peer Review September 17  30

As part of your entry, you must score at least 5 other submissions by September 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time (West Coast USA), during the Peer-to-Peer Review. You may be asked to score additional submissions as well.

Evaluation Panel Review October 4  25

In this period, the Evaluation Panel will score and judge the top 75 submissions in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Rules.

Verification of Finalists October 26  November 18

In this period, Challenge staff will review and verify the submissions (up to 30) selected by the Evaluation Panel.

Popular Vote Challenge November 24  December 9

The Popular Vote is your chance to participate in the voting for your favorite video. As a result of the Popular Vote, a Popular Vote Top Scorer and 7 Regional Champions will be named.

Announcement of Popular Vote Top Scorer & Posting of Finalists & Regional Champions Announcement December 10

The Finalists, Popular Vote and Regional Champions will be announced on this day.

Application Submission Deadline September 15

You must submit your application and video no later than September 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time (West Coast USA).

Peer-To-Peer Review September 17  30

As part of your entry, you must score at least 5 other submissions by September 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time (West Coast USA), during the Peer-to-Peer Review. You may be asked to score additional submissions as well.

Challenge

You get it. You’ve grasped an important scientific theory, concept or principle.

Now can you share your insight?

An inventive video can get across complex material that would take pages of text to communicate.

To take part in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, create a short video (2:00  two minutes max) to explain a big idea in one of these fields:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Life Sciences

Your film can take any form you like: animation, talking head, documentary, dramatic reconstruction, whatever. It’s worth keeping in mind that video is a dynamic visual medium using diagrams, simulations, physical demonstrations etc., is a lot more effective than standing in front of a blackboard talking.

The videos will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Engagement
• Illumination
• Creativity
• Difficulty

If you’re looking for guidance, you can see some of last year’s top-scoring entries here and below. But remember, to show ‘creativity’ your film should be as original as possible.