The Cardiff Scientific Society

About the competition

We’re celebrating the Cardiff Scientific Society’s centenary by inviting students across Wales to create a science poster on the theme “Science for the Future.” Entries welcome in Welsh or English.

Theme: Science for the Future
Format: Poster (A1 design) + ≤ 250-word caption (English or Welsh)
Disciplines: Any STEM areas
Presentation: Shortlisted entrants should be ready to give a 3–5 minute presentation on the research behind their poster and how they developed it.

Competition rules (summary)

Originality: Your poster must be your own work and not previously submitted elsewhere. Credit any sources/images used.
Caption: ≤ 250 words explaining the idea and its real-world relevance.
Accessibility: Use readable fonts and colour-blind-friendly palettes.
Submission: Entries are submitted by a teacher using the online form.
Files: PDF up to 25 MB.

Download: Full Rules & Criteria (PDF)

Eligibility

Who: Students in Years 10–13 at schools across Wales (state and independent).
Language: Welsh or English — bilingual participation welcomed.
Entry type: Individual entries (one teacher point-of-contact per school).

Key dates

Launch: 3 Nov 2025
Submission deadline: 18 Mar 2026 (23:59)
Winners announced: 12 May 2026
Exhibition & awards: Autumn term 2026, Cardiff (details TBC)

Judging & prizes

Judging panel: Balanced by gender, discipline and sector, with representation from CSS, IOP Wales, CSconnected and the Fine Arts Society.

Judging criteria:

40% Scientific content & accuracy
30% Creativity & originality
30% Communication & design

Prizes:

Winner: £100 + £50 to the winner’s school
Runners-up (×2): £50 each + £50 to each school
Shortlisted students: Certificates; posters exhibited at a CSS lecture in the Autumn term 2026, Cardiff (TBC)
Presentation opportunity: Top three (winner and two runners-up) will be invited to present their posters at a CSS lecture during the centenary season.

How to enter

Submissions open 3 Nov 2025. Teachers submit on behalf of students using the online form.

You’ll be asked to provide:

Student details: name, school year, school, LEA, teacher name & email
Poster details: title, discipline, language (Welsh/English)
Caption: up to 250 words
File upload: PDF of the poster (A1 design), target ≤ 25 MB
Consents: teacher confirmation of parental/guardian consent (where required), and agreement to the T&Cs

After submission, teachers receive an email confirmation with an entry ID.

Submit here → Online Entry Form