Preliminary Evaluation

Preliminary works can be presented either in Chinese or English. When you submit your preliminary work, a short video (3-5 minutes) which illuminates your idea and achievement is recommended.

The first round of evaluations will be carried out by the preliminary review committee. After reviewing all works, the committee will give a rank to all works. Based on the results, the organizing committee will select 12 groups to enter the final competition. Other qualified works win a Participation Award.

The review process will be carried out anonymously. Reviewers will make their assessment according to the principle of fairness and impartiality. If the reviewers’ scores on the same work show some substantial deviation, the organizing committee will remove the score with the maximum bias or carry on a re-evaluation.

Preliminary review results will be provided to all teams. The review of works is based on the following criteria:

(1) Innovation

 Innovative research topic

 Novel question, or the unique point of view towards a question

 Novel research method and solution

(2) Completeness

 Reliable data and data sources

 Rigorous data analysis and reasoning

 Reasonable research and analytical methods

(3) Readability

 Concise but logical expression

 Result presentation in a diverse, innovative, and creative way

  Table 1 Standardized scores (for reference)

Innovation scores	100	Topics of vitally important innovation and strong practical value, using unique perspectives to analyze problems and strongly creative research methods or innovative solutions
	80	Topics of important innovation and some practical value, with its research methods or solutions of a certain creativity.
	60	Topics of some practical value, using appropriate research methods or solutions
	40	Topics that not innovative, lack of practical value, and solution can’t handle the question well
Completeness scores	100	Thorough and systematic literature study, using new data, data and documentation can offer good support to research methods and the participants' view
	80	Relatively systematic literature research, data is real, proper, and can support the research methods and the participants’ view.
	60	Conducted some literature study, has certain data to support participants’ view
	40	Not enough literature study, lack of data or examples to support participants’ view.
Readability scores	100	Problem-solving process is logical and concise; the results are expressed in a clear and diverse way, with concise language and format
	80	Problem-solving process is logical; the result is expressed in a clear and appropriate way
	60	Problem-solving process is rational, the result is expressed with fluent language and correct format
	40	Problem-solving process is lack of logic, and the expression is inappropriate.

The highest score is 100 points. In order to encourage participants to focus on the innovation of research topics, the total score is formed as follows:

Total score = innovation score × 40% + completeness score × 30% + readability score × 30%