Step 1: Registration

The first step is to register on our website for the competition. Students must decide if they want to participate alone or in teams of 2 or 3.

Step 2: Written Proposal

Competitors will form a written proposal tackling any aspect of the case being presented. Proposals will be judged remotely by researchers and graduate students. The top students will be finalists and will be invited to compete on the University of Ottawa campus against students from many other schools in a poster competition.

Ottawa Science Innovation Challenge

OSIC is a great opportunity for students to experience first hand what it's like to be a researcher in the field of science. No lab experience or technique required. It takes creativity and critical thinking to piece together a new idea based on existing literature and offer a new perspective to tackle key medical problems. The case will always be health related and will have a connection with the Canadian population. To register, visit our registration page by clicking the link below. OSIC is possible due to our partnership with Let's Talk Science.

Step 3: Poster Competition

Students compete in a poster competition. The day of the presentations will also serve a great way to explore the uOttawa campus and programs, meet professors and build relationships with researchers. 

OSIC Finalists

Finalists will be judged according to a rubric that will provided to the students. If the poster is chosen for the finalist round, the poster will be printed (free of charge) and will be prepared by our team for presentation day. Finalists will benefit from a day of guest speakers, a chance to explore campus early, build contacts within the university and meet their future peers!

Winners will be determined by the judges on presentation day.

Prizes will include Gold (for the top presentation), Silver and Bronze. Every winner will receive a certificate as well as a scholarship for their university studies. 

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.

We strongly value and appreciate our partnership with Let's Talk Science (LTS) in order to make the OSIC competition happen! LTS generously provides funds, helps develop the rubric, provides translation services, provides graduate student volunteers for judging in both rounds, and runs various interesting activites on the day of the final round. You can learn more about LTS at: http://outreach.letstalkscience.ca/ottawa.html.