We’re thrilled to announce that the new website for the 2012 Google Science Fair launched this morning (at 12:01 GMT, to be precise)! National Geographic is very proud to be partnering with Google and our friends Lego, Scientific American, and the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) on this groundbreaking program, following an extremely successful inaugural year in 2011. We’re especially honored to be offering one of the banner prizes, a scientific voyage to the Galapagos Islands!

So, what it’s all about!

The Google Science Fair is an online science competition seeking curious minds from the four corners of the globe. Anybody and everybody between 13 and 18 can enter. All you need is an idea!

Like, what kind of idea?

…It could be a new take on particle physics, or game theory. It could be a cost-effective way to provide clean water to a remote community, or maybe a project like reducing the carcinogenic properties of grilled chicken (that was one of last year’s winning entries). It should definitely be inspired! Everyone has a question. What’s yours?

Ok, now I’m interested. How  do I participate?

It’s a simple 4-step process:
1. Register
2. Get parental consent
3. Build your project site
4. Submit your project

Learn more about National Geographic’s participation in this post on the Nat Geo News Watch blog, and visit the Google Science Fair website to get all the additional details you need to enter!