MagnifiScience Drama Competition
MagnifiScience Drama Competition, a collaboration between
The Dawood Foundation and the United States Consulate General, Karachi, aims to
enhance the scientific knowledge of students through integrative arts. Aligned
with the MagnifiScience Centre’s (MSC) mission of advancing science through
informal education, the competition provides a creative platform for students
to seamlessly integrate scientific concepts with artistic expression,
transcending traditional classroom boundaries. It aims to address significant
issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, prompting students to
articulate their ideas through compelling drama performances.
The theme of the MagnifiScience Drama Competition 2024 is “Sustainable Future: Children in Action“.
This theme is aligned with the United Nations’ dedicated Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) and emphasizes the pressing need for global efforts to preserve our planet. It encapsulates the competition’s focus on inspiring young minds to creatively express their perspectives on critical issues regarding climate change and biodiversity.
The competition will encourage participants to actively contribute to the global sustainability initiative, fostering their involvement in caring for the world. Recognising that children hold the key to the future; the competition provides a platform for them to showcase their creative solutions and insights. Through their artistic expressions, children become ambassadors for a sustainable future.
Project Phases:
This competition is divided into three phases:
PHASE 1
SCRIPT ENTRIES, SHORTLISTING
Prospective schools will be required to complete an online registration form to express their interest, and must submit their scripts by the specified deadline. Submitted scripts will undergo a thorough evaluation process. Selected schools will be contacted for additional information regarding the next phases of the process.
PHASE 2
ENTRIES, SHORTLISTING
Selected schools will be required to perform and record the play from the submitted script in a 7-minute video. This video is to be recorded and submitted by the school prior to the specified deadline, after which they will undergo assessment. After careful evaluation, five outstanding performances will be chosen as finalists.
PHASE 3
PERFORMANCES
The five finalists will deliver their live performances at the TDF MagnifiScience Centre in Karachi. The live performances will be evaluated by a jury who will select the winner.
Guidelines for Phase 1: Registration and Script Entries
- All scripts, videos and final performances must be presented in English.
- Only one campus from each schooling networks* can register. Multiple registrations from the same schooling networks will not be entertained.
- The schooling networks can make as many scripts as they want from all over Sindh and Balochistan, but only register one team after selecting the best script amongst themselves.
- Word count of the script to be 650-1,000 words. (Note: This script will be enacted into a 7-minute drama video during Phase 2)
- The script must have no more than 3 scenes; roughly align to a plot that is organized as: 1) Introduction, 2) Problem framing, and 3) Solution.
- The script must align with the theme “Sustainable Future: Children in Action.” Topics include: Global Warming, Waste Management, Water Management, Biodiversity Conservation. Once submitted, the script shall be treated as the final version. No alteration/modification will be allowed after the script entry.
- Posts on social media on the script or any parts of the performance are not allowed and will result in automatic disqualification.
- The script should adhere to the format outlined in Annexure I.
- The script evaluation and judgment criteria can be found at Annexure II.
*Schooling networks: Any school having more than one campus in Sindh and Balochistan
**Only shortlisted schools will be contacted for further information on Phase 2 and Phase 3
The scripts will be judged on the following components:
Scientific Content 40%
Language 20%
Plot 20%
Characters 10%
Setting 10%
*Each component will be evaluated based on the following criterion: creativity, clarity, knowledge and understanding, reader impact.
- The registration form including the script must be submitted on the given link without publishing it online.
- All scripts, videos and final performances must be presented in English.
- The age limit for participation spans from 10 to 16 years. At least one member of the performing cast must be 10 years old, with the remaining members allowed to be 10 years old or older.
- All scripts, videos, and final performance of dramas should be based on the theme of “Sustainable Future: Children in Action”.
- All scripts, videos and final performances should focus on issues in Sindh and Balochistan to maintain the local relevance.
- The schooling networks can make as many scripts as they want from all over Sindh and Balochistan, but only register one team after selecting the best script amongst themselves.
- If participants are representing a school/schooling network and/or campus, all participants in the team must be current students or members of the school/schooling network and/or campus.
- All videos and final dramas should be based on the script that is submitted during Phase 1 of the competition.
- The final version of the performance, including the content therein (script and video), once submitted, shall become the intellectual property of the MSC.
- All scripts, and videos produced are considered the exclusive property of MSC, and MSC shall possess the rights to utilize the videos across all platforms.
- A script and performance once submitted in the any phase of the competition, shall be treated as the final version. No alteration or modification will be allowed after the entry.
- All participating schools, teams and cast members are prohibited from engaging with the media or posting content on social media platforms regarding scripts, videos or any parts of the performance.
- All videos and final dramas should be in the form of a short skit not exceeding 7 minutes. Any video that exceeds 7 minutes will NOT BE CONSIDERED.
- Each team must comprise of a maximum of 10 participants, and no more than 5 backstage crew members. Kindly note that backstage crew can only assist to place props, control AV, and help cast members backstage and should not be involved in the skit as cast members; teachers or adults can assist as backstage crew.
- The cast members are not permitted to be altered, except in the case of emergencies, legal obligations, or accidents, with prior permission from the MSC team. Leniency of altering the performing cast is only up to 2 members.
- All non-original sources for storyline, music and other media must be properly credited and acknowledged to avoid copyright issues.
Script Format:
After understanding the topics and their descriptions (at the end of annexure I), please use the following format and put relevant information as per headings.
Name of the School:
Name of the Teacher Leading the Play:
Title of the Play:
Theme:
Conflict/Problem Addressed:
Appropriate Solution:
Relevance to Our Country:
Moral/Message:
Brief Synopsis (Highlighting the Plot):
Major Characters:
Minor Characters:
Script:
*Note: The script must have 3 scenes, broadly: a) introduction, b) problem framing, and c) solution.
Topics:
Please choose any one of the following topics:
Global Warming: How climate change has affected different aspects of our society. Some examples of impacts are heatwaves, infrequent rainfall patterns and floods. Potential of renewable energy sources in (solar, wind, hydro) in Pakistan and their connection to the power grid, in reducing carbon emissions.
Waste Management: The issue of waste management in urban and rural settings, its causes, impacts and solutions.
Water Management: Implications for Pakistan as a water stressed country, droughts, water scarcity because of inadequate infrastructure for water reservoirs (dams, barrages), lack of water smart practices in agriculture and industrial sectors.
Biodiversity Conservation: Loss of biodiversity, human impact, efforts for conserving and hope for restoring this resource.
Core Script Elements and Weightages
The following are the core script elements and their weightages to be evaluated:
Scientific Content (40%):
Depth, originality, scientific themes and messages.
Language (20%):
Scientific terminology, clarity, sentence structure and vocabulary.
Plot (20%):
Coherent structure and progression of events.
Characters (10%):
Variety of types (antagonist, protagonist, flat, etc.), relevance of roles attached to characters.
Setting (10%):
Relevant and creative settings that represent scientific themes and messages.
Overall Score:
The final overall score will be calculated by combining scores from each element, with mentioned weights assigned to reflect their relative importance.
For further information please contact:
Name: Sadia Shaikh
Designation: Science Program Lead
Name: Saad Bin Imtiaz
Designation: STEM Instructor
Contact No: +92 326 8949180
Email Address: msc.competition@dawoodfoundation.org