The Build Your Own Alka Rocket Contest

If you’ve ever dreamed of building a rocket and launching it skyward, dream no more! Maybe just dream a little smaller. This summer, Scientific American Custom Media and our partners at Bayer are hosting the BUILD-YOUR-OWN ALKA-ROCKET CONTEST for backyard craft powered by water and effervescent tablets. The winner will become a legend overnight—and walk away with a $2,000 prize. So dust off your sketchbook, pick up some effervescent tablets and get busy building. History awaits. Entry: Going for the prize is easy. Build an Alka-Rocket (here’s a great primer). Send it skyward with fuel made only of effervescent tablets and water. And capture it all in a video, which you share over social media with the #alkarocketchallenge. So we can keep track, please also email the links to your social media posts to alkarocket@sciam.com. Please note, any entrant under the age of 18 also needs to email us a signed parental consent form when they or their team sends us the links to social posts. Competition: The BUILD-YOUR-OWN ALKA-ROCKET CONTEST will run from late June until mid-October, with an entry period from June 27th, 2018 until October 1st, 2018. By entering, participants agree to the terms and conditions within the official rules. Judging Criteria: The BUILD-YOUR-OWN ROCKET CONTEST is completely subjective. The panel of judges at Scientific American Custom Media and our partners at Bayer, which hosts the annual Alka-Rocket Challenge for university students, will award a winner and two runners up on the basis of creativity of rocket design, launch and video submission.

Design: Is it awesome? Will it turn heads at your Labor Day picnic or Sunday BBQ? Well, then you’re getting close.

Launch: Rockets fly. If yours does not, that doesn’t say much for your shot at the prize. Also, where and how you launch can be just as important as the launch itself.

Editing & Graphics: A great launch recorded in a not-so-great video is going to struggle in the judging competition. Have fun with your submission; get creative; and show off who you are, why you’ve entered and why you deserve to win.

Eligibility: Competitors must reside in the U.S. and be age 8 or older. Prizes: Beyond becoming a hero to your people, winners will receive $2,000. Runners up will also become legends (just smaller ones) and receive complementary, one-year, all-access, print & digital subscriptions to Scientific American, putting 173 years of breakthroughs and innovation within reach. Winners: The winner of the grand prize will be awarded $2,000 in the form of a check. Payment should be considered income and handled appropriately with the IRS. Rocket Requirements: To be eligible, rockets must adhere to certain requirements:

They must be less than one foot in height and six inches in width. The same specifications apply to any launch pads or platforms.

They must use only effervescent tablets and water as fuel.

They cannot include any metal or glass components, aside from the launch platform.

They must be totally awesome and capable of amazing anyone.

For more on how to build a basic Alka-Rocket, see here or watch the handy video below:

Safety (super important!!!!): Rockets can be dangerous—even small ones powered by effervescent tablets. Any project deemed remotely hazardous to competitors, family members, non-family members, animals (domesticated or wild), trains, planes, automobiles, other flying craft (human or alien), national security or the wellbeing of Planet Earth will be immediately disqualified. In other words, please think before you act. Scientific American is not responsible for any injury or death that might result from participation in this competition. Just as in space, your safety is your responsibility. Submission Instructions & Requirements: The official rules have plenty of information. But the long and short is that entries require a few key elements.

Video—You have up to one minute to tell your story: who you are, what you’re doing, why it’s awesome, and, of course, the proof. Have fun and get creative! Competitors also gain points by displaying knowledge of chemistry, physics and engineering.

Social sharing—All entrants must share their submission video over at least one social media platform (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) with #Alkarocketchallege. One share is the minimum but more can’t hurt.

Email confirmation—Just so we don’t miss your post, email us links to any social posts to alkarocket@sciam.com.

Parental consent—Entrants under the age of 18 needs to email us a parental consent form when they (or their team) send in links to social media posts.

By submitting materials to the BUILD-YOUR-OWN ROCKET CONTEST, you are granting Scientific American rights to reuse and repurpose your content in any way it deems necessary or warranted.

Also, just in case it wasn’t clear: By entering the BUILD-YOUR-OWN ALKA-ROCKET CONTEST, entrants agree to abide by the official contest rules, listed here. If you have questions or queries, submit them to alkarocket@sciam.com and we’ll do our best to get back to you. Enter and reach for the stars! Parental Consent Form Official Rules

This summer, Scientific American Custom Media and our partners at Bayer are hosting the BUILD-YOUR-OWN ALKA-ROCKET CONTEST for backyard craft powered by water and effervescent tablets.

The winner will become a legend overnight—and walk away with a $2,000 prize. So dust off your sketchbook, pick up some effervescent tablets and get busy building. History awaits.

Entry: Going for the prize is easy. Build an Alka-Rocket (here’s a great primer). Send it skyward with fuel made only of effervescent tablets and water. And capture it all in a video, which you share over social media with the #alkarocketchallenge.

So we can keep track, please also email the links to your social media posts to alkarocket@sciam.com. Please note, any entrant under the age of 18 also needs to email us a signed parental consent form when they or their team sends us the links to social posts.

Competition: The BUILD-YOUR-OWN ALKA-ROCKET CONTEST will run from late June until mid-October, with an entry period from June 27th, 2018 until October 1st, 2018. By entering, participants agree to the terms and conditions within the official rules.

Judging Criteria: The BUILD-YOUR-OWN ROCKET CONTEST is completely subjective. The panel of judges at Scientific American Custom Media and our partners at Bayer, which hosts the annual Alka-Rocket Challenge for university students, will award a winner and two runners up on the basis of creativity of rocket design, launch and video submission.

Design: Is it awesome? Will it turn heads at your Labor Day picnic or Sunday BBQ? Well, then you’re getting close.
Launch: Rockets fly. If yours does not, that doesn’t say much for your shot at the prize. Also, where and how you launch can be just as important as the launch itself.
Editing & Graphics: A great launch recorded in a not-so-great video is going to struggle in the judging competition. Have fun with your submission; get creative; and show off who you are, why you’ve entered and why you deserve to win.

Eligibility: Competitors must reside in the U.S. and be age 8 or older.

Design: Is it awesome? Will it turn heads at your Labor Day picnic or Sunday BBQ? Well, then you’re getting close.

Launch: Rockets fly. If yours does not, that doesn’t say much for your shot at the prize. Also, where and how you launch can be just as important as the launch itself.

Prizes: Beyond becoming a hero to your people, winners will receive $2,000. Runners up will also become legends (just smaller ones) and receive complementary, one-year, all-access, print & digital subscriptions to Scientific American, putting 173 years of breakthroughs and innovation within reach.

Winners: The winner of the grand prize will be awarded $2,000 in the form of a check. Payment should be considered income and handled appropriately with the IRS.

Rocket Requirements: To be eligible, rockets must adhere to certain requirements:

They must be less than one foot in height and six inches in width. The same specifications apply to any launch pads or platforms.
They must use only effervescent tablets and water as fuel.
They cannot include any metal or glass components, aside from the launch platform.
They must be totally awesome and capable of amazing anyone.

For more on how to build a basic Alka-Rocket, see here or watch the handy video below:

They must be less than one foot in height and six inches in width. The same specifications apply to any launch pads or platforms.

They must use only effervescent tablets and water as fuel.

They cannot include any metal or glass components, aside from the launch platform.

They must be totally awesome and capable of amazing anyone.

Submission Instructions & Requirements: The official rules have plenty of information. But the long and short is that entries require a few key elements.

Video—You have up to one minute to tell your story: who you are, what you’re doing, why it’s awesome, and, of course, the proof. Have fun and get creative! Competitors also gain points by displaying knowledge of chemistry, physics and engineering.
Social sharing—All entrants must share their submission video over at least one social media platform (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) with #Alkarocketchallege. One share is the minimum but more can’t hurt.
Email confirmation—Just so we don’t miss your post, email us links to any social posts to alkarocket@sciam.com.
Parental consent—Entrants under the age of 18 needs to email us a parental consent form when they (or their team) send in links to social media posts.
By submitting materials to the BUILD-YOUR-OWN ROCKET CONTEST, you are granting Scientific American rights to reuse and repurpose your content in any way it deems necessary or warranted.

Email confirmation—Just so we don’t miss your post, email us links to any social posts to alkarocket@sciam.com.

Parental consent—Entrants under the age of 18 needs to email us a parental consent form when they (or their team) send in links to social media posts.

By submitting materials to the BUILD-YOUR-OWN ROCKET CONTEST, you are granting Scientific American rights to reuse and repurpose your content in any way it deems necessary or warranted.

Enter and reach for the stars!

Parental Consent Form

Official Rules