The crystals will be judged in three categories:
- Best Overall Crystal – 1st prize ($200), 2nd prize ($100), 3rd prize ($50)
- Best Quality Crystal – 1st prize ($200)
- Best Teacher’s Crystal – 1st prize ($100)
Students win cash awards for their school and will receive books and individual certificates as personal prizes.
The top finishers will be invited to a reception at University of Wisconsin-Madison and receive prizes. The winners will have the opportunity to work with out X-ray crystallographer to build a crystallographically accurate ball-n-stick model of their compound, examine crystals a high-resolution microscope, and perform macro photography of their crystals.
In addition, the best crystals will become part of a permanent display at the Molecular Structure Laboratory at UW-Madison.
The crystal growing period is from April 1 to May 31, 2014. The judging will take place in June, 2014 by a panel of judges.