Science Competition

Saturday, January 16, 2027

International school of Dongguan

Theme: Sustainability – Building a Better Future Together

The ACAMIS Science Competition encourages young people to become problem-solvers and changemakers by designing sustainable solutions for real-world challenges within their school communities.

Please click on the link or scan the QR code to register your artwork, including a photo of the artwork and requested details.

Event Information

Event Overview

Event Name: ACAMIS Science Competition

Host School: International School of Dongguan

Theme: Sustainability – Building a Better Future Together

Event Date: Saturday, January 16, 2027

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Venue: International School of Dongguan

Format: One-day team challenge and pitch competition

Eligible Participants: The competition is open to Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–11) students. Each team should consist of 3 to 5 students.

Registration Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026

Registration Fee: 250 RMB per person

Registration Method: Scan the QR code on the event poster to register a team.

The ACAMIS Science Competition is a one-day challenge where student teams address a real-world sustainability issue in a school context, such as paper waste. Teams will analyze a case, create and design a practical sustainability initiative, and present their solution in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to a panel of judges.

A video will be shared with all participants after the registration deadline to help them better understand the format of the project. Nothing needs to be prepared at their own schools before the competition. The cases/challenges will be shared on the competition day.

For questions, please contact Josephine Sutandhio at josephinesutandhio@i-s-d.org or Tanya Mo at tanyamo@i-s-d.org.

Event Purpose

The purpose of this event is to provide students with an opportunity to apply scientific thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills to real-world sustainability challenges.

Through this competition, students will:

Explore sustainability issues within a school context.
Collaborate in teams to create a product, design a system, and develop a policy to solve a sustainability-related issue in a school, such as paper waste.
Strengthen communication and presentation skills.
Pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
Contribute to the vision of building a more sustainable future in their own schools/community.

Competition Format

The competition will be structured around three main stages:

Stage 1: Solve the Case

Teams will analyze a sustainability challenge in a school context. The case/challenge will be shared on the competition day.

Students will be expected to:

Understand the problem.
Identify key sustainability issues.
Consider stakeholders affected by the issue.
Analyze causes and possible impacts.
Use scientific thinking and evidence to support their understanding.

Stage 2: Create and Design

Teams will develop a sustainability initiative that includes:

A product
A system
A policy

Their solution should be practical, creative, and relevant to the school context.

Stage 3: Pitch to Impact

Teams will present their proposed solution in a Dragon's Den-style pitch to a panel of judges.

The pitch should clearly explain:

The sustainability problem.
The proposed product, system, and policy.
How the solution works.
The expected impact.
How the solution could be implemented in a school setting.

Possible Event Activities

The event may include the following activities:

Student arrival and registration
Opening remarks and welcome session
Introduction to the competition format and expectations
Guest speaker session on sustainability
Release of the competition case/challenge
Team collaboration and solution development
Mentor or facilitator check-ins
Preparation of the final pitch
Dragon's Den-style team presentations
Judges' questions and feedback
Judges' deliberation
Awards and closing ceremony

We are currently in the process of inviting representatives from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to serve as guest speakers and/or panel judges, as they have been running the Global Sustainability Challenge for many years.

Expected Student Outcomes

By participating in this competition, students will be able to:

Analyze real-world sustainability issues.
Apply interdisciplinary knowledge and scientific thinking.
Collaborate to create a product, design a system, and develop a policy.
Work effectively as a team.
Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively.
Reflect on how schools can contribute to a more sustainable future.

School Introduction

Founded in 2012, the International School of Dongguan (ISD) has grown into an international learning community serving students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12, guided by a clear mission: “ISD provides a rigorous well-rounded education while fostering the unique gifts and aspirations of each child.”
ISD is an IB Continuum School, authorised to offer all four International Baccalaureate programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP).
Our commitment to education has earned recognition at the British Chambers of Commerce in China’s China Schools Awards, where ISD received the Enterprise and Employability Award in 2025 and the Staff Development and Wellbeing Award in 2026.
Situated between Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the Greater Bay Area, Dongguan is renowned as a “basketball city” and is home to the Guangdong Southern Tigers, making it a fitting setting for celebrating sporting excellence and teamwork.