Cornell EWBScience & Engineeringcompetition 2027
For Middle and High School Students
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Step into:
This challenge is for you if you:
- Are interested in STEM
- Want to challenge yourself and compete globally
- Want to build a solid STEM profile
Summary
Online test with multiple choice and fill-in the blank questions
Present science solution through pitch deck
Present science solution live on zoom
2-5 students from the same school
Middle School (Grades 6-8), High School (Grades 9-12)
Option to join World STEM League Program
About Cornell Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders at Cornell University (EWB-Cornell) is a student-led organization committed to creating sustainable engineering solutions that empower local and international communities toward a more prosperous and enduring future.
Our mission is to combine technical expertise with a strong sense of social responsibility, working directly with communities to address critical infrastructural challenges and promote long-term resilience. As an active chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we uphold the highest standards of ethical engineering practice. Every project we undertake is built on a foundation of cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect, ensuring that the solutions we develop are both technically sound and aligned with the goals and values of the communities we serve.
About the World STEM League Program
Cornell EWB Science & Engineering Competition is part of the World STEM League Program. In the League, students compete across multiple competitions throughout the League Year, allowing them to:
Practice repeatedly
Track their improvement over time
Collaborate with teammates across competitions
This creates a cycle of growth: compete, learn, refine, and improve.
Distinguish Yourself at Cornell EWB Science & Engineering Competition
Calling all aspiring scientists and engineers! Step into this global competition designed to push your knowledge, curiosity, and creativity to the next level. Begin by testing your skills in an online test, then advance to developing and presenting your own solution to a real-world problem through pitch decks and live presentations. Each stage is an opportunity to grow, think critically, and stand out.
Whether you go one round or all the way to the finals, you'll gain valuable experience applying STEM to meaningful challenges—so take the first step and rise to the challenge.
Why Join Cornell EWB Science & Engineering Competition?
Build a strong academic profile for university and internships
Work on challenges inspired by real global problems
Work alongside peers who are as driven and ambitious
How Does the Challenge Work?
Team size
Team size: 2-5 students per team (all team members must be from the same school)
Can't find teammates at your school?
Email [email protected] to apply for an exception to create multi-school teams.
Age Categories
Grade: 6 - 8 (Year 7 - 9)
Grade 9 - 12 (Year 10 - 13)
Competition Format
Preliminary round: Test
The preliminary round is open to all registered teams worldwide
Asia Pacific: 12:00 noon Tokyo Time
Europe, Middle East, Africa: 9:00 AM London Time
North America, South America: 11:00 AM New York Time
1 hour
Read the Test Instructions Before Test Day
Review the test schedule, technology and proctoring requirements, format and scoring, and academic integrity rules.
Two-camera proctoring
Prefer not to be recorded? See this article to apply for in-person teacher proctoring.
Before you start
- Check your registered time zone
- Log in at least 10 minutes early and watch the required instructional video
- Enable pop-ups in your browser
Technology requirements
- Use a laptop or desktop with a camera to take the test
- Keep a second camera (phone, tablet or any device with internet access) on throughout the test.
- A stable internet connection
Online test (multiple choice, fill in the blanks, and free-response questions)
Each team member will individually attempt the same set of test. The top two scores will be used to calculate the team’s total score
Test Questions Formats:
The preliminary round of each STEM competition will use one of two test formats:
Prompt-Based / Applied: Questions will be based on and directly related to the real-world challenge prompts provided in the competition’s prompt package. Students will be expected to apply their knowledge to the given scenarios.
Textbook-Style / Theoretical: Questions will follow a more traditional format and will test students’ understanding of concepts, theories, and material typically covered in textbooks or coursework.
The two formats will alternate from one STEM competition to the next. For example:
1st STEM Competition (Caltech EWB): Prompt-Based
2nd STEM Competition (Rutgers EWB): Textbook-Style
3rd STEM Competition (UC Irvine EWB): Prompt-Based
...
The preliminary-round questions for the Cornell EWB Science & Engineering Competition are prompt-based.
No deep knowledge of any particular subject required. The test will focus on general knowledge, real problems, and critical thinking.
Scope:
Math: Ratios, percent, signed numbers, exponents, scientific notation; algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, systems, and slope; area, surface area, volume, angle relationships, congruence, similarity, the Pythagorean Theorem, and circles; statistics and probability.
Science: Atomic structure and matter; chemical reactions; thermal energy; cell structure and function; the nervous system; the Earth-sun-moon system and solar system; forces, energy, and electromagnetism; photosynthesis, respiration, and ecosystems; natural selection and the fossil record; plate tectonics; weather, climate, and human impacts on Earth systems.
Requires basic biology, chemistry, physics, and math knowledge to solve problems. The test will focus on critical thinking and real world applications.
Scope:
Math: Radicals, exponents, real and complex numbers; polynomial and rational expressions, quadratics, equations and systems; functions (domain/range, algebraic behavior, sequences, exponential/logarithmic models, trigonometry); geometric proofs, similarity, circle theorems, volume formulas; data summaries, correlation, conditional probability, and inference.
Science: Atomic structure and bonding; reaction rates and equilibrium; nuclear processes; DNA, inheritance, and evolution; ecosystems and biodiversity; Newton's laws, energy, and electromagnetism; wave and thermodynamic properties; photosynthesis and carbon cycling; astronomy and Earth's geologic history; climate systems and sustainability; vectors, matrices, trig identities, combinatorics.
Semi-final round: Pitch deck
The top 10 performing teams from the preliminary round in each of the Middle School and High School Categories will be invited to compete in the global semi-final round
Semi-finalist teams will have one week to develop a solution to a science problem and present their work through a pitch deck.
Final round: Live Zoom Presentation
The top 5 performing teams from the semi-final round in each of the Middle School and High School Categories will be invited to compete in the global final round.
Finalist teams will have one week to refine and improve their solutions from the semi-final round based on judges’ feedback, and present their final solution to a judging panel composed of Cornell professors and industry experts.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Registration Deadlines and Participation Fees
Deadline: September 14, 2026
Fees: US$ 35/student
Deadline: December 14, 2026
Fees: US$ 45/student
Deadline: January 14, 2027
Fees: US$ 55/student
Recognition
All participants will receive a Certificate for participation
Preliminary Round
Honor
MeritSemi- Final Round
Semi Finalist
Individual CategoryTop participants will receive individual honors, even if their teams may not win any awards.
Team categoryTeams will be awarded based on the sum of their two highest individual scores.
Final Round
Global Champion
Global 1st Runner Up
Global 2nd Runner Up
Finalist
Join the Challenge
This competition is more than a contest; it’s a gateway to the world of STEM innovation. Register now to begin your journey into STEM, where you’ll apply creative problem-solving and technical skills to real-world challenges.
Fee Waiver Policy
Fee waiver is available for individual low-income students. Please ask your principal (or school counsellor - only eligible for US schools) to send an email titled 'Fee Waiver Request' to [email protected] from their official school email with your email address and confirm you need a waiver.
US public schools where 90%+ of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch may also apply for school-wide waivers for all competitions with a quiz-based first round.
All fee waivers must be requested before the regular deadline. For the exact eligibility rules on fee waivers please refer to this article.
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