Official Transparency Protocol

The 5-Point
Architecture.

We've moved away from simple popularity contests. Our system evaluates both public enthusiasm and academic rigor to identify true innovation.

1

Phase 1: Online Engagement

Digital Impact Factor • 2/5 Points

Video Engagement Requirement

To ensure informed voting and prevent automated manipulation, our platform employs a Video Engagement Protocol. Voters are required to watch a candidate's project presentation video in full to unlock the voting capability for that specific candidate. This ensures every vote represents a viewer who has actually evaluated the project.

Step 1: Open Qualifier

Every participant starts here. Candidates who receive **10% or more** of the total Step 1 community votes achieve this milestone and earn their first point.

Threshold: 10% • 1 Point

Step 2: Finalist Presentation

After top projects are physically demonstrated, a new voting window opens. Securing **20% or more** of the Step 2 vote share awards the second point.

Threshold: 20% • 1 Point
2

Phase 2: Finale Evaluation

Academic & Manual Factor • 3/5 Points

Student Vote (Card Vote)

A physical evaluation milestone. If the candidate receives **10% or more of the total manual card votes** cast across all finalists, they secure this point.

Achievement: 1 Point

Judges Vote

The highest weighted factor. Professional judges award direct points (0, 1, or 2) based on project scalability and technical depth.

Jury Award: Up to 2 Points

Academic Quiz Score

Elite Academic Metric

Separate from the 5-point championship tally, we track a raw **Quiz Performance Score (0-95)**. The finalist with the highest score is crowned the **Official STEM Quiz Champion**. In the event of a Grand Final tie, this score acts as the primary tie-breaker.

Global Tie-Breaker Priority #1

The "Standing" Threshold

To maintain the prestige of the JOS STEM Awards, we employ a performance threshold for all digital metrics.

Step 1 Qualifier: 10%

Candidates must secure 10% of the total vote share to earn their first innovation point.

Step 2 Finalist: 20%

Finalists must achieve a 20% share of the presentation vote to earn the second point.