STEM STORYTELLING COMPETITION Guidelines
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR ALL EDITIONS
The STEM Storytelling Competition is a signature activity of the Women in STEAM Initiative, designed to empower girls in primary and secondary schools to express scientific ideas through the art of storytelling. Held three times a year—April, August, and December—this exciting event is more than just a competition; it’s a platform for building confidence, communication skills, creativity, and scientific curiosity.
🧕🏾 Purpose
To help girls communicate STEM concepts in simple and relatable ways.
To boost public speaking, self-expression, and confidence.
To blend science and creativity, showing girls that STEM is not just technical—it’s imaginative too.
To celebrate the voices of young girls in STEM, especially those in underserved communities.
The STEM Storytelling Competition is not just a fun event—it is a powerful STEAM learning model that empowers girls to think like scientists, speak like leaders, and create like artists. It is a clear reflection of the Women in STEAM Initiative’s belief that girls learn best when their voices, cultures, and creativity are celebrated as part of the learning journey.
Women in STEAM Initiative intentionally includes the “A” for Arts in STEAM to reflect its unique, holistic approach to learning—where creativity, storytelling, and communication play just as important a role as science and technology.
The following is the criteria that is used to assess students in every STEM storytelling competition
In every edition we crown 1 girl as the STEM Queen. All other girls who participate receive a certificate for participation.
Criteria to assess:
| Criteria—- THE SKILL TEST | What to look out for | Points |
| Creativity | The candidate explores her journey as a STEM student in high school (Lab visits etc) Has a creative video with animations and imagery for either introduction or conclusion Thinks outside the box by telling the audience her aspirations, her journey and what it means to be a STEM student. | 2 2 2 |
| Self efficacy/ Confidence | Eye contact- ( She is fixed to looking directly to the audience without either looking away or reading somewhere) Evaluate body movement (She moves with her hands to expound on a point- but this should be at a minimal) Responds thoughtfully without mincing words (audible and confident enough to face the audience) | 2 2 2 |
| 3. Communication | Clear talk- (communicates in an audible and clear manner that can be easily understood) Background noise (The noise at the background should not be louder than her voice) Feeling relaxed and happy to share their journey by first introducing herself, her school and her form/grade. Concludes her storytelling piece in a composed manner | 2 2 2 2 |
| Total 20 points |
Rules for the STEM Storytelling competition;
- The candidate can only participate once!
- The candidate should be a girl in high school
- Due diligence will be carried out on the winner to ascertain their credibility
- Winners (STEM Queens) join the Women in STEAM Initiative Ambassadorial roles.
Gallery of STEM Storytelling Competition Participants and Queens
