CurioCraft is a nonprofit student research competition empowering middle and high school students across San Joaquin County to investigate real-world problems, build research posters, and present to a panel of judges.
Each semester CurioCraft releases a Hot Topic — a real, unsolved problem that students can dig into. Research it deeply, build a poster, and present to judges. No prior experience required.
The Arduino is a small, programmable microcontroller used by engineers and makers around the world to build smart devices. Our community in San Joaquin County has real, pressing problems that technology could help address. Students research a local issue of their choice, then investigate how an Arduino-based solution could tackle it. The goal is not to build the device, but to deeply understand the problem and make a compelling, research-backed case for how technology could help solve it.
CurioCraft releases a new Hot Topic every semester. Sign up to be notified when the next topic is announced and get early access to research resources.
Students investigate their local problem using credible sources including news, academic papers, government data, and community context.
Every student builds a structured poster covering the problem, the technology or science, who is affected, and a proposed solution.
Students present findings to a panel of judges in a 3 to 5 minute presentation and answer follow-up questions.
CurioCraft is a real research competition where students present findings to a panel of judges, compete for recognition, and walk away knowing they tackled something that actually matters.
Students spend 2 to 3 weeks researching their chosen topic using credible sources. They organize findings into a structured research poster with five required sections: the problem, the science or technology, who it affects, existing solutions, and their own recommendation. On competition day, each student presents to a panel of judges for 3 to 5 minutes and answers follow-up questions.
Judges evaluate students on the depth and accuracy of their research, the clarity of their poster, the strength of their argument, and the ability to answer questions. Students are not judged on design skills, prior technical knowledge, or equipment access — only on the quality of their thinking and research.
Teachers introduce the semester's Hot Topic. Students learn the background of the problem and why it matters locally and beyond.
Students spend one to two weeks investigating their topic using a structured research worksheet covering the problem, who is affected, existing solutions, and what is still missing.
Students design and build their research poster covering five sections: the problem, the technology or science, community impact, existing solutions, and their recommendation.
Students present to a panel of judges. Each presentation is 3 to 5 minutes followed by a brief Q and A. Judges score independently and results are announced the same day.
Certificate of Excellence and program recognition
Certificate of Merit
Certificate of Achievement
Every participant receives a certificate of completion
CurioCraft was built on one belief — that every student in San Joaquin County deserves to feel like a scientist, not just a test-taker.
CurioCraft connects middle and high school classrooms across San Joaquin County to real-world research challenges. We do not run fake science projects. Every topic we use is a genuine problem that engineers, scientists, and community leaders are actively working to solve. We make it accessible to any student with curiosity and two weeks of class time.
San Joaquin County is home to some of the most creative and resilient young people in California. Our students are sharp, resourceful, and capable of extraordinary thinking. CurioCraft exists to give them a stage to prove it to their teachers, their families, and themselves.
CurioCraft is not a gifted program. It is not a competition for students who already love science. It is for every student who has ever looked at a problem and thought — why has nobody fixed that yet? That curiosity is all that is required to participate.
Based in San Joaquin County, California
Serving middle and high school classrooms
Topics updated every semester
Open to all San Joaquin County schools
curiocraftcorp@gmail.com
Register your interest below. Whether you are a student, teacher, or school administrator, fill out the form and our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
Have a question about CurioCraft? Want to bring the program to your school? Reach out and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
San Joaquin County, California
Middle and high school teachers and administrators across San Joaquin County schools.
We respond as soon as possible. We are a small team and appreciate your patience.
curiocraftcorp@gmail.com
Just internet access, poster boards, and a curious class. No special equipment required.