About Us
The Ottawa Science Innovation Challenge (OSIC) is a research-focused case competition for high school students in grades 11 and 12 to develop and pitch innovative solutions to health-related issues affecting Canadians.
Step 1: Registration
To enter the competition, candidates must register and complete the payment process directly through our website. During registration, participants can choose whether to compete as individual entrants or to form collaborative teams of two to three members. This flexibility allows students to customize their competition experience based on their personal working preferences and project goals.
Step 2: Written Proposal
Competitors draft a written proposal addressing a specific facet of the featured case study. Every proposal undergoes remote evaluation by panel judges composed of researchers and graduate students. Top-scoring teams and individuals earn finalist standing, granting them an invitation to present their work live on the University of Ottawa campus against standout peers from across various schools.
Step 3: Poster Competition
Finalists participate in a dynamic live poster competition on campus to showcase their innovative findings. Beyond presenting their projects to the evaluation panel, participants have the opportunity to tour the uOttawa campus, explore diverse academic programs, interact directly with university professors, and build meaningful networking connections with prominent researchers throughout the event.
Who can participate?
All Grade 11 and 12 students in Canada are eligible to participate in this year's Ottawa Science Innovation Challenge. As a fully bilingual event, OSIC allows students to submit materials and present to judges in their preferred language: English or French.
Competition Timeline
Finalists
Finalists will be evaluated using a comprehensive assessment rubric, which will be provided in advance so students can tailor their presentations to meet key criteria. For teams selected for the final round, OSIC will handle all poster printing free of charge, our team will professionally print and mount your poster so it is fully prepared and ready on presentation day. In addition to presenting their research, finalists will enjoy an immersive campus experience featuring insightful keynote presentations from guest speakers, guided tours of university facilities, direct networking opportunities with faculty and researchers, and the chance to connect with like-minded peers from across Canada.
Connect
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Collaborate
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Grow
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Connect • Collaborate • Grow •
Celebrating Success
SCHOLARSHIPS & CERTIFICATES
Winners will be determined by the judges on presentation day.
Prizes will include Gold , Silver and Bronze. Every winner will receive a certificate as well as a scholarship for their university studies if they are pursuing their undergraduate degree in a program offered by the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa.
Individual scholarships from the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Science are offered to each member of the Gold, Silver and Bronze teams, valued at 2000$, 1000$, and 500$, respectively.