2012 Competition

Entries for the 2014 awards are now closed

INTRODUCTION

Satellites – Expanding Africa’s horizons into the future
Through the amazing power and capabilities of satellites, the ability of scientists to make sense of our world and shape the future of human kind has increased in leaps and bounds. To explain a little: satellites have changed our perception of the Earth, helping us to realise that it is small, fragile and possibly unique world in the immensity of space, and as such it must be preserved. Satellites help us to learn more about our planet and to improve how we use its limited resources. They also revolutionise the way we travel and communicate.

The Star Awards aim to:

  • Showcase innovative ideas on the application of satellite technology in Africa
  • Create awarness of satellite technology and its applications among African students
  • Stimulate interest in science and technology among young people in schools across Africa

The Prizes

Winning posters and essays from each country will compete for the overall prizes:

Best overall essay: A trip for two to Eutelsat in Paris and onwards to a rocket launch.
Best overall poster: A trip for two to Eutelsat in Paris and a satellite construction facilities.
Runner up overall poster: A trip for two to MultiChoice and the South African National Space Agency at Hartbeesthoek.
Runner essay award: A trip for two to MultiChoice and the South African National Space Agency at Hartbeesthoek.

 

The schools attended by the four overall winners will also receive a DStv installation, including a dish, TV, decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.

The closing date

Entries must reach us on or before close of business on 27 October 2014.
NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE CONSIDERED.

NEW! The entry deadline has been extended to 12 November 2014.

Topic

Imagine you are a satellite high above your country, or even above your own home,
or school …

What would you see?

What would you like to tell the people below about what you see from up there?

What would you like people to know?

What would you like them to think about?

If you could send them a message or an image, what would you like to say or show?

Essay requirements

1200 to 1400 words (excluding bibliography)
Typed in Arial 12, 1.5 spacing or must be hand written, but clearly legible
Pages to be numbered
Only hard copy entries will be accepted
Entries may include illustrations, graphics or diagrams
References (all sources consulted during the preparation of the entry)

Poster requirements     

Entries may not be bigger than A1 Size (420 X 297mm)
Only hard copy entries will be accepted

All poster entries must be accompanied by a typed or legible hand written summary containing the following headings:

  • Title
  • Summary of idea/concept
  • References (all sources consulted during the preparation of the entry)

Judging Criteria

Our panel of judges are looking for innovative thinking and ideas. They will be looking at the following criteria:

Essays

Component Weighting
Accuracy of information/knowledge of subject matter  (30)
Structure of essay (20)
Language (15)
Creativity (15)
Innovativeness (10)
Bibliography/Referencing (10)
  (100)


Posters

Component Weighting
Accuracy of information/knowledge of subject matter  (30)
Overall layout of poster (20)
Graphic or illustrative style (20)
Creativity (25)
Bibliography/Referencing (5)
  (100)

The Categories and Prizes

The winning essay and poster from each country will compete in the final judging for the overall awards. Check with your MultiChoice country offices for country prize details.The overall winning entries will be awarded prizes as follows:

Overall Essay Award A trip for two to Eutelsat in Paris and onwards to a rocket launch.
Overall Poster Award A trip for two to Eutelsat in Paris and satellite construction site.
Overall Essay School Award A DStv installation, including a dish, TV, decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.
Overall Poster School Award A DStv installation, including a dish, TV, decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.
Runner up Overall Essay Award A trip for two to the MultiChoice offices and the South African Space Agency at Hartbeesthoek.
Runner up Overall Poster Award A trip for two to the MultiChoice offices and the South African Space Agency at Hartbeesthoek.
Runner up Essay School Award A DStv installation, including a dish, TV, decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.
Runner up Poster School Award A DStv installation, including a dish, TV, decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.

2014 Competition Rules

  1. Entries will be accepted in hard copy format only.
  2. Entries from previous country or overall award winners will not be accepted.
  3. Entry forms must be fully completely. Entries accompanied by incomplete entry forms may not be accepted.
  4. Only entries with attached entry forms will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that forms and in the case of posters, creative rationales/summaries, are attached in such a way that they do not become separated from the entry submission. In cases where entries and attachments become seperated, such entries may be disqualified.
  5. All poster entries have to be accompanied by a creative explanation/summary as specified in the criteria for posters section above.
  6. To enter, students need to be between 14 and 19 years of age and enrolled at a registered secondary, combined or high school (public or private). Only entries prepared by an individual will be accepted.
  7. Entry forms and essays/posters must be submitted before the closing date and time. It is the responsibility of the entrants to ensure that entries reach designated collection points prior to the closure of the competition. Any entries not received prior to the closure of the competition will not be eligible to participate, regardless of the reason for the late entry. MultiChoice and Eutelsat are not responsible for any entries which are not received, whether timeously or at all, regardless of the cause thereof. Without limitation, MultiChoice and Eutelsat are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer hardware or software failure or malfunction, postal systems, traffic congestion (whether physical, postal or on the Internet, telephone lines or at any service provider, web site or other device or medium), or any combination thereof, or any other technical or other problems.
  8. Only one entry, i.e. either poster or essay, may be submitted per student on the specified topic.
  9. Entries can be prepared in English, French or Portuguese
  10. Entries must be the own original work of the student.
  11. Any costs or expenses which the entrant incurs other than in respect of those items specifically included in a prize are for the entrant’s own account. It is assumed that entrants will have sufficient funds available for all costs and expenses which they may incur during and for purposes of entry into the competition.
  12. No previously published material will be accepted.
  13. Only entries in the correct and specified formats will be eligible.
  14. Plagiarism is forbidden. Entrants may quote short passages, but material copied from a source must be surrounded in double quotes (") and the source indicated. Copied materials should rarely be more than a few lines, and never as long as a paragraph. Quoting long passages is forbidden. Entries caught plagiarizing will be rejected.
  15. All entries must include a full bibliography of sources for the essay. The bibliography should be excluded from the essay word count. The bibliography should be the last page of the essay. In the case of poster entries, the entry form, as well as a creative explanation/summary (inclusive of any sources consulted) must be attached to the poster.
  16. Entries cannot be returned to participants.
  17. All the submitted essays and posters will be the property of the organisers. The organisers reserve the right to modify the format and content of any submitted essay or poster before publication. Also note that the organisers have the sole right to publish the submissions in any media.
  18. Participants agree to the publication of their names and to appear in the electronic media and the print media, and agree, within reason, to endorse, promote or advertise the organisers’ goods or services, for which no fee will be payable.
  19. The organisers reserve the right not to award any particular prize, if no entry is found fitting for that particular prize.
  20. Please note that the rocket launch may be cancelled or delayed due to reasons beyond MultiChoice and Eutelsat’s control. This may result in the best overall entry award winner visiting the spaceport facility but not being able to witness a live launch as planned. In the event that the live rocket launch is cancelled or delayed, you and your travel partner (if applicable) indemnify and hold the organisers harmless against any claim of any nature, arising in relation to entry in the competition and acceptance of the best overall entry award.
  21. The decision of our Panel of Judges will be final and is not subject to an appeal with regard to the selection of winning essays and posters as well as the selection of essays and posters meeting the minimum qualification criteria.
  22. Members of staff of the organisers and their direct family members are not eligible to participate in the Awards.
  23. Winners must possess whatever documents and permissions that may be required in order to accept the travel prize, including a valid passport and all necessary visa and travel documentation, which documents and permissions it is their responsibility to obtain at their own cost, and which documents and permissions must remain valid in such minimum form and for such minimum period after the prize date as may be required by the relevant authorities. The organisers will provide administrative assistance in applying for the travel visa for the overall winners if applicable.
  24. MultiChoice and Eutelsat will not be responsible, and disclaim all liability, for any loss, liability, injury, expense or damage (whether direct, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential) of any nature, whether arising from negligence or any other cause, which is suffered by participation in the competition or the acceptance and/or use by the participant, or their travel partner (if applicable), of any prize, or by any action taken by MultiChoice and Eutelsat in accordance with these terms and conditions.
  25. The participants indemnify and hold MultiChoice and Eutelsat harmless against any claim by the participants, or their travel partner (if applicable), (whether direct, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential) of any nature, whether arising from negligence or any other cause, relating to any injury, loss, liability, expense and/or damage which they may suffer, howsoever arising, in relation to their participation in the competition and/or acceptance and/or use of a prize.