Myth Busters Challenge 2026
 click here to view the poster | Briefing Video |
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Your Selected Topic
- Pick a widely held science myth
- Refute it using reputable scientific evidence
- Explain why the misconception persists
- Present your findings using fun analogies or experiments
- Use "layman-friendly" language for a general audience
| For examples of possible topics, please refer to our briefing video. |
The presentation is about 5 minutes and can be conducted in either English or Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin).
- The contest is open to students studying in Forms 3 to 5 (equivalent to Grades 9 to 11 / Year 10 to 12) in secondary schools located in Hong Kong, Macao, and Shenzhen (including public schools, schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, international schools, etc.) during the academic year 2026-2027.
- Participation in the contest will be based on a group format, with each group comprising 3 to 6 students.
- All participating group members must be students of the same school/institute. Each school/institute can enter a maximum of two teams in the contest.
- Participating groups must either submit the entries through their respective schools/institutes or be nominated by their schools/institutes to enter the contest (i.e. the entry should be submitted via the enrolment system by a teacher in charge, who is expected to be the primary contact point for the participating group(s) through the contest).
- The students who have won prizes in the previous year's contest will be eligible to participate, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Each group can submit only ONE entry.
First-round Selection
| Step | Actions for Participating Groups | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partner up with science enthusiasts and pick any persistent myth/misconception that sparks your interest. | We appreciate and encourage the innovative spirit of our contestants. In crafting your entries, it's essential that your own creativity and originality shine through in your presentation. Relying solely on AI-generated content will not be acceptable.
* Language Policy: The written proposal may be submitted in either English or Chinese. (Note: For entries submitted in Chinese, an AI-assisted translation may be generated to facilitate the evaluation process for selection panel members if needed.) |
| 2 | Curate content for
* All content must be incorporated into the designated Proposal Template, which can be completed in either English or Chinese * Note that teams advancing to the second round of selection will take the responsibility of independently crafting their video entries, following the storyboard submitted. | |
| 3 | Enrol in the competition below, and upload your script and MP3 file to enrolment platform. | Each group from the same school requires a separate enrolment application. Submissions must be on time to be accepted, and the deadline is: September 27 (Sunday), 2026 (23:59 HKT) |
* There will be 5 groups entering the second-round selection.
Second-round Selection
| Step | Actions for Entrants | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start producing a 5-minute video based on the script you submitted in the first round. | Please ensure that your final video features at least two presenters. * Language Policy: The video may be filmed in English, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Regardless of the spoken language, bilingual subtitles (English and Chinese) are mandatory to ensure the content is accessible to the general public. |
| 2 | Incorporate audio and visual aids or elements such as sound effects, stock photos, or animations (AI-generated or otherwise) to enhance your content delivery. | These elements should be properly sourced and credited. The duration of these visual and audio aids should not exceed 30% of the total runtime of the video (equivalent to 1.5 minutes in a 5-minute video). |
| 3 | Submit your final video entry to the Faculty Publicity & Outreach Team. | Submissions must be on time to be accepted, and the deadline is: December 13 (Sunday), 2026 (23:59 HKT) |
Selection Criteria
First-round
| Weighting | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Panel selection (100%) | Content organisation (30%) |
| Ideas and creativity (30%) | |
| Delivery and interpretation (20%) | |
| Scientific Accuracy & Reference (20%) |
Second-round
| Weighting | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Panel selection (100%) | Video production (10%) |
| Content organisation (40%) | |
| Delivery and interpretation (50%) |
| Award (per Team) — Transfer to School Authority | |
|---|---|
| Gold Prize | HK$12,000 |
| Sliver Prize | HK$6,000 |
| Bronze Prize | HK$4,500 |
| People's Choice Award^ | HK$1,500 |
| Merit Prize [2 groups] | HK$1,000 |
| ^The video with the highest score selected by netizens. | |
Notes:
- All contestants will get an e-certificate after the contest.
- Videos of the selected groups entering the second round of selection will be put on the Faculty’s social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and Xiaohongshu for public voting.
- Special consideration may be given to awardees for admission to the 6901 Bachelor of Science programme.
- Free quota for JSI workshops may be given to awardees (if appropriate).
| Month | Item/ action |
|---|---|
| September 27, 2026 | Deadline for enrolment with entry submission |
| Late September – Late October 2026 | First-round selection by panel |
| November – Mid-December 2026 | Video shooting by selected groups for the second-round selection |
| Mid-December 2026 – January 2027 | Second-round selection by panel |
Public voting for People’s Choice Awards | |
| Mid-January 2027 | Announcement of results |
| Late February/Early March 2027 | Award presentation at our flagship outreach programme Junior Science Institute |
- Professor Rachel LUI, Assistant Dean (e-Learning), Faculty of Science
- Dr Evan PICKETT, Lecturer, Faculty of Science
- Dr Kenneth NG, Lecturer, Department of Chemistry
- Dr Toby LAI, Lecturer, Faculty of Science
- The contest will be on group basis and each group can only submit ONE entry.
- All entries must be the original work of the participating teams and must not have been previously exhibited publicly or used in other competitions or platforms. AI must not be the sole generator of content. Furthermore, all entries must not infringe upon any intellectual property rights.
- Media contents must adhere to guidelines that strictly prohibit the promotion of hate, discrimination, or any form of unethical behavior, and must not cause harm to individuals or society in any manner.
- The Faculty (organiser) reserves the right to interpret the selection criteria. Contestants shall agree to and respect the results.
- Contestants acknowledge and agree that the Faculty reserves the right to use submitted video entries for promotional purposes free of charge.
- The provision of personal data is voluntary and will be treated as confidential. Personal data will be used solely for communication related to submissions, selection, and administrative matters. The names of awardees will also be published on the Faculty’s website for public viewing.
Enquiries
Publicity & Outreach Team, HKU Faculty of Science
Tel: 3917 2683
Email:scipr@hku.hk