Privacy Policy

High School STEM Research Competition ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect the personal information of students, mentors, judges, and visitors who interact with our website at highschoolcompetition.org.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

Students & Mentors: Name, email address, school name, grade level, research project details.
Judges & Reviewers: Name, email address, professional affiliation.
Visitors: IP address, browser type, pages visited (via cookies and analytics tools).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

Administer the competition and evaluate submissions.
Communicate updates and results to participants.
Maintain the integrity and security of the website.
Improve user experience through anonymous analytics.

3. Information Sharing

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We only share information:

With judges or staff involved in evaluating projects (with minimal access).
When required by law (e.g., legal or regulatory requests).
With your explicit permission (e.g., for publication or media release).

4. Data Protection

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your data, including:

Secure server environments
Limited access to personal data
Data encryption for submissions

5. Cookies

We may use cookies to:

Understand website usage trends
Enhance functionality and navigation
Track session activity for analytics purposes

You can manage cookies through your browser settings.

6. Your Rights

You may:

Request access to your submitted data
Ask us to correct or delete your data
Withdraw consent for data use (if applicable)

Please contact us at [insert email, e.g., admin@highschoolcompetition.org] to make such requests.

7. Children’s Privacy

We comply with COPPA and only collect student data with appropriate parental/guardian consent if required by law. Our platform is designed for students aged 13 and above.

8. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this policy. We will notify users of significant changes by updating the "Effective Date" and posting the revised policy on our website.