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Register your team today

The Curiosity Cup
 A Global SAS® Student Competition

The Curiosity Cup brings student teams together from across the globe for a competition of real-world analytics skills. This is the ultimate group project that will test – and grow – your knowledge of data science and analytics.

Registration is open Dec. 1, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024

I’m curious. Tell me more.

Teams of two to four students and a faculty advisor will choose an analytics topic that ignites their curiosity and use SAS software to learn from the data and answer big questions. Teams will submit papers during the first round and will describe their analysis in a video presentation during the second round. Industry experts judge entries based on data preparation, analysis and presentation, organization, use of visuals, and subject matter knowledge.

Register your team today

Team Requirements

  • Teams must consist of two to four students.
  • Participants must be at least 18 years of age and enrolled as a part-time or full-time student at the time the round one paper entry is submitted (or have graduated no earlier than Oct. 1, 2023).
  • Teams must have a faculty or educator adviser.

Important Dates

  • Registration opens Dec. 1, 2023.
  • Registrations must be submitted no later than Jan. 31, 2024.
  • Papers can be submitted between Dec. 15, 2023, and Feb. 21, 2024.
    • Up to 15 teams will be selected for round two and notified on or around March 6, 2024.
  • Video presentations for round two participants are due by March 27, 2024.
    • The top two teams (winner and runner-up) in each of the three domains will be announced at SAS Innovate, April 16-19, 2024.

Competition Guidelines

Teams can choose their own SAS® learning software, data and analytical question(s) for the competition.

  • SAS software allowed:
    • SAS® Viya® for Learners.
    • SAS OnDemand for Academics.
    • University-licensed SAS software.
  • Data and analytical question(s):
    • Student teams may choose their own data set and pose their own analytical question(s).
    • Data sets must be publicly available, and entries must include a link to the data.
    • SAS Viya for Learners users must follow the SAS-documented upload process and terms.

Judging

Teams have two rounds to highlight their skills:

  • Round 1: Teams submit a two-to-five-page paper that conducts a data analysis using SAS software and describes results to a general audience.
    • Judging is based on data preparation, data analysis, data presentation and overall paper structure.
    • Up to 15 teams will be chosen to compete as finalists in round 2.
    • All papers must be submitted using the approved paper template. Only papers using that template will be accepted.
  • Round 2: Teams submit a video presentation describing their data analysis as if given to an audience of analytical stakeholders.
    • Judging is based on presentation organization, demonstrated subject knowledge, use of visuals, presentation mechanics and message.

Awards

All finalist teams will receive a SAS digital badge acknowledging finalist status.

  • A winning and runner-up team will be declared in each of the three domains:
    • Data preparation.
    • Data analysis.
    • Data presentation.
  • Each student member of the top team in each domain may select one of the following prizes*:
    • Apple iPad Air, 5th Generation (approximate MSRP: US$499).
    • Bose SoundLink Revolve+ (approximate MSRP: $329).
    • Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones (approximate MSRP: $349).
    • Ruko F11PRO Drone (approximate MSRP: $299).
    • Nintendo Switch With Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con™ (approximate MSRP: $299).
    • Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera (approximate MSRP: $399).
    • Meta Quest 2 Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset (approximate MSRP: $299).

      * Prizes are subject to availability. In the event of a supply shortage, a comparable prize option of similar value will be offered. Only one first-place prize will be given to an individual winner regardless of the number of domains in which their respective team places first.

    Additionally, each student from a winning team will receive:
    • Twelve months of access to the SAS content subscription of their choice.
    • SAS digital badge acknowledging winner status.
  • Each student member of the runner-up teams in each domain will receive:
    • Twelve months of access to the SAS content subscription of their choice.
    • SAS digital badge acknowledging finalist status.   
  • Complete judging information and important notes regarding eligibility are available in the terms and conditions and FAQs.
Register your team today

Resources to Help You Succeed

  • Join us in January for some pre-competition training!
    The Curiosity Cup Enablement Training Workshop will help prepare you to compete whether you are new to SAS or an experienced SAS user needing a refresher on those essential data skills.     Secure your seat.
     
  • Need some help getting started?
    Stuck in the mud with a data set? Feeling inspired to take data science to the next level? Check out SAS Skill Builder for Students. Here, you'll find a wealth of resources for learning SAS, plus, online courses and certification pathways to take you to the next level - all free to you. Join SAS Skill Builder for Students.

Curiosity Cup 2023 at a glance

Teams of students and faculty advisors from all over the world joined us for the 2023 Curiosity Cup. The competition challenged the next generation of analytics experts to explore, analyze and learn from data on topics that inspired their curiosity.

52 teams

16 countries

151 students

25 industry consultants

Check out the top three Curiosity Cup winners from 2023

Data Preparation:
Data Voyagers
University of Technology and Applied Sciences
Oman

Data Analysis:
T(h)ree Sentinel
Babes-Bolyai University
Romania

Data Presentation:
Shazam!
University of Maryland Global Campus
US

Learn more about last year’s competition


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Any questions please contact us at curiositycup@sas.com.