**While reading through this please understand that this is not a competition I am hosting and a competition that I am suggesting the Scratch Team host and judge through various rounds. I have made myself as clear as possible and will be happy to answer any questions you have**

Hello! I have been passionate and interested about STEM for many years and wanted to ask Scratch if they would be able to host a STEM competition where Scratchers of any age would be able to create something STEM related around a certain topic (e.g Plastic pollution). I understand that this would be an excellent way for you to show your support for getting young people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. I know there are many young people out there who would create things which would blow away your minds and thought that through several rounds of competition, people who entered would have a chance to win a prize amount of money? I wanted to ask peoples opinions about this idea as I know lots of people want to get involved in STEM. I understand this may not work out because of the large scale of Scratch, but although it is a big organisation others organisations such as MicroBit thought this was a good idea and they seem to have taken it as a possible idea when I suggested it.

After the time I spent thinking about this idea, I thought it could run through three rounds of competition where users could create robots, programs or even software themed around a world issue set by the Scratch Team and then create a video or a project and submit to the Scratch Team through a temporary page in the similar style to the ‘Contact Us’ page with a submit form and I space to add in there project or upload the video (which would include there project in action and a description from the user on what it did). Although some users may argue this breaks the community guidelines, none of the video would become public on the Scratch website and would only be used to judge the project through the submit form directly to the Scratch Team, if anyone has any objections for this please notify me so we can work to create this description as accurately as possible. Some of you may be wondering where the prize money will come from, the simple answer for this is it will come from Scratch, after looking at there tax returns they make about 4 million every year through donations and sales in there shop, this is where the prize money will come from.

**While reading through below please understand that these are examples of what we could do for the prize (1 prize) and the logistics of the competition, this is meant as an explanation to those who had trouble understanding the finical and prize giving system would work.


I would like to start by addressing the comment made by someone ‘there’s a chance their parents/guardians are going to take all the money for themselves'. This would happen in very rare circumstances and considering the fact that over half of Scratch allegedly have their parent or guardians email setup the risk this would happen is very minimal. The prize would be 1 grand (dollars) converted into whichever currency you have. Many people have also flagged the ‘over 18’ to receive money, in the case of receiving 1 grand, there would be no tax because most tax starts over 5 grand for most countries and secondly, there is no law which stops people under the age of 18 receiving money.

Many people have stated that they don't like the idea of the prize money, I can understand why you think this but as Scratch are an organisation who in 2018 had over 4 million on a tax return I think they can afford just 1 grand. Subsequently many users would not be incentivised to enter if the prize was a trophy and certificate of sorts - if they won they would also like to cover the costs of the production of the STEM entry.

Hello everyone! Sharkyshar has got back to me with her ideas.

@CoverMusic that's a cool idea, but I'm not sure about the money prize. Scratch is completely run on donations, and scratch is mostly younger kids. They would get mad if they didn't win….. trust me.

I replied to this.

Hey Sharky, good to hear from you. I can understand your worry with that but I seem to remember seeing Scratch's tax return for 2019 and they have over 4 million, so if they gave the winner 15 grand it wouldn't leave anyone that bad off really? I can see where your coming from with the younger kids getting mad but I think they would just have to get on with it because its all good them getting mad but it wouldn't change there decision, I would love to know what you think of this! xD

My only problem is how will Scratch pay for all that? Scratch isn't a company, it's a non-profit. That means they can't get money through sales, the only way they get money is donations. So I don't think Scratch would have for convention rentals, set up and prize money. Semi-Support

pavcato wrote:

My only problem is how will Scratch pay for all that? Scratch isn't a company, it's a non-profit. That means they can't get money through sales, the only way they get money is donations. So I don't think Scratch would have for convention rentals, set up and prize money. Semi-Support

Hi there! A none profit organisation doesn't mean they cannot sell things, it just means whatever they make gets reinvested into the organisation - you make very clear in your post that Scratch wouldn't be able to money for donations 1) On a tax return in 2018/2019 Scratch had over 4 million dollars and 2) Even if they no longer had that money (which I doubt) they could easily get 15 grand off there sponsors. So I ask you now? Can I have your full support?

I don't really agree with the money, how will the kids earn it anyway? I think there might be another way. Besides this, I think having a STEM competition is a great idea. It's very educational. Semi-support.

geometric_ghast wrote:

CoverMusic wrote:

geometric_ghast wrote:

…
Please be constructive with your posts

They were being constructive they were showing there support

It's pretty much common sense not to write “support” and nothing else in the forums, it's just considered unneeded if they don't add anything to the discussion

I don't think the users who have posted on here are aware of it. What I believe has happened is that CoverMusic came up with a cool suggestion, posted it here and told his followers to show support for this topic, a lot of whom aren't familiar with the forums (hence all the users with very low post counts). I remember the same thing happening on one of their earlier suggestions.

This Is Such A Great Idea! But I Have A Few Things 1: This Would Probably Be A Huge Event If Hosted You Would Need All The Scratch Team Members to Contribute Or Even Do Something Like Scratch Camp Where They Chose Scratchers To Judge 2: Although STEM Is Great STEAM Is Better STEAM Includes Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, And Math This Would Allow Kids To Get Creative And Have More Ideas 3: Would This Be Online? OverAll This Is Such A Great Idea! And Would Help Kids With a STEM (or steam) Based Education

(Excess characters removed by moderator - please don't spam. Use your forum signature for advertising.)

I love the idea!!!!

CatsUnited wrote:

geometric_ghast wrote:

CoverMusic wrote:

geometric_ghast wrote:

…
Please be constructive with your posts

They were being constructive they were showing there support

It's pretty much common sense not to write “support” and nothing else in the forums, it's just considered unneeded if they don't add anything to the discussion

I don't think the users who have posted on here are aware of it. What I believe has happened is that CoverMusic came up with a cool suggestion, posted it here and told his followers to show support for this topic, a lot of whom aren't familiar with the forums (hence all the users with very low post counts). I remember the same thing happening on one of their earlier suggestions.

Im Very Familiar With The Forums xD I Run My Own shop And Are Very Active On Here

(Excess characters removed by moderator - please don't spam. Use your forum signature for advertising.)

CoverMusic wrote:

They were being constructive they were showing there support

No, to be constructive means to add on to the suggestion. Saying, just “Support” or “Like this idea!” isn't constructive.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on this idea.

A whole competition? With a grand prize of 15K‽ I don't know about that. Sure, there may have the money, but there are still many problems with giving away that much money. First of all, the winner is probably going to be under the age of 18, and, it's sad, but there's a chance their parents/guardians are going to take all the money for themselves. Okay, that may be stretching it a little. Anyway, with a grand prize of that much money, there are definitely going to be users angry. They might even leave Scratch or delete their account. Or what's worse, they might even go to the winner's profile and start attacking them! I think the grand prize should be a showcase of the winner's project on Scratch's Twitter and YouTube. And maybe a virtual meet-up with the Scratch Team, too. That seems like a good incentive to me. Remember, money can make the worse come out of people.

The actual competition though - I like that idea. I just have one suggestion. I think instead of STEM, it should be STEAM. (Art) Remember, people can display their creativity through art, too! And that doesn't just include drawings, it could include music, too.

CatsUnited wrote:

geometric_ghast wrote:

CoverMusic wrote:

geometric_ghast wrote:

…
Please be constructive with your posts

They were being constructive they were showing there support

It's pretty much common sense not to write “support” and nothing else in the forums, it's just considered unneeded if they don't add anything to the discussion

I don't think the users who have posted on here are aware of it. What I believe has happened is that CoverMusic came up with a cool suggestion, posted it here and told his followers to show support for this topic, a lot of whom aren't familiar with the forums (hence all the users with very low post counts). I remember the same thing happening on one of their earlier suggestions.

Oh ok.

xXRedTheCoderXx wrote:

CoverMusic wrote:

They were being constructive they were showing there support

No, to be constructive means to add on to the suggestion. Saying, just “Support” or “Like this idea!” isn't constructive.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on this idea.

A whole competition? With a grand prize of 15K‽ I don't know about that. Sure, there may have the money, but there are still many problems with giving away that much money. First of all, the winner is probably going to be under the age of 18, and, it's sad, but there's a chance their parents/guardians are going to take all the money for themselves. Okay, that may be stretching it a little. Anyway, with a grand prize of that much money, there are definitely going to be users angry. They might even leave Scratch or delete their account. Or what's worse, they might even go to the winner's profile and start attacking them! I think the grand prize should be a showcase of the winner's project on Scratch's Twitter and YouTube. And maybe a virtual meet-up with the Scratch Team, too. That seems like a good incentive to me. Remember, money can make the worse come out of people.

The actual competition though - I like that idea. I just have one suggestion. I think instead of STEM, it should be STEAM. (Art) Remember, people can display their creativity through art, too! And that doesn't just include drawings, it could include music, too.

What 15K! I Didnt Read That Part! This Brings A Whole Nother View

Thanks Cover!

Hello

good idea! i support

CoverMusic wrote:

**While reading through this please understand that this is not a competition I am hosting and a competition that I am suggesting the Scratch Team host and judge through various rounds. I have made myself as clear as possible and will be happy to answer any questions you have**

Hello! I have been passionate and interested about STEM for many years and wanted to ask Scratch if they would be able to host a STEM competition where Scratchers of any age would be able to create something STEM related around a certain topic (e.g Plastic pollution). I understand that this would be an excellent way for you to show your support for getting young people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. I know there are many young people out there who would create things which would blow away your minds and thought that through several rounds of competition, people who entered would have a chance to win a prize amount of money? I wanted to ask peoples opinions about this idea as I know lots of people want to get involved in STEM. I understand this may not work out because of the large scale of Scratch, but although it is a big organisation others organisations such as MicroBit thought this was a good idea and they seem to have taken it as a possible idea when I suggested it.

After the time I spent thinking about this idea, I thought it could run through three rounds of competition where users could create robots, programs or even software themed around a world issue set by the Scratch Team and then create a video or a project and submit to the Scratch Team through a temporary page in the similar style to the ‘Contact Us’ page with a submit form and I space to add in there project or upload the video (which would include there project in action and a description from the user on what it did). Although some users may argue this breaks the community guidelines, none of the video would become public on the Scratch website and would only be used to judge the project through the submit form directly to the Scratch Team, if anyone has any objections for this please notify me so we can work to create this description as accurately as possible. Some of you may be wondering where the prize money will come from, the simple answer for this is it will come from Scratch, after looking at there tax returns they make about 4 million every year through donations and sales in there shop, this is where the prize money will come from.

Yeah agreed

Really cool idea!

define 
(awesome idea)

PlanetCoder wrote:

Really cool idea!

define 
(awesome idea)

Welcome to the forums

Idk im still not liking the idea

I did STEM before in school! My teacher took me to a university like thing and we built things, like cars that have to go a certain distance!