CSIRO Robot Responders Competition

Receive a free book pack

Take part in CSIRO Robot Responders and you could receive a free book pack!

The first 200 people to register will receive a pack featuring these titles from CSIRO Publishing, plus an exclusive 20% discount on all CSIRO Publishing books:

• Oceans at Night
• The Forgotten Song
• Tardigrades: Nature's Toughest Survivors
• Animal Migrations
• How to Survive on Mars
• Rocks, Fossils and Formations

Simply register to participate during National Science Week using the resources that suit you best.

Design a robot for a chance to win

Design a robot that helps people, animals or the environment in places humans can't easily reach, from the depths of the ocean to underground mines or even outer space. Show us your most creative ideas and explain how your robot would complete its mission. 

Bring your idea to life with a drawing, diagram or prototype. Whether you draw it or build it, show us how your robot would complete its mission and the design choices that help it solve the challenge. We're looking for creativity, innovation and thoughtful problem-solving. 

Need more inspiration for your competition entry? See how CSIRO roboticists use the engineering design process to build prototypes and test solutions?

Adults can submit designs on behalf of young people (accepted formats: PDF, JPEG, PNG).

• Entries can be submitted via Facebook by posting an image of the design and tagging @CSIROEducation, or by emailing CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au.
• Images must not include any identifying information. Only the student/young person’s first name may be included (no surnames, other identifiable details).

Great prizes are up for grabs:

• Two first prize winners: one per age group: primary (Years 6 and below) and senior (Years 7–9) will each receive a 3D printer valued at $600.
• Ten runners-up will receive an education voucher valued at $500 each.

Book Giveaway Terms and Conditions

1. The promoter is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (“CSIRO”) (ABN 41 687 119 230), Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia.
2. Each Registration entry must be made in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. By entering the Promotion, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Entries not submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions may be deemed ineligible. Information on how to enter and prize details form part of these Terms and Conditions.
3. Registration is open to all Australian residents aged 18 years or over, schools or community groups (adults/guardians are required to submit entries on behalf of young people).
4. Any registration received by CSIRO before or after the Registration Period will be ineligible for entry and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, late or misdirected submissions.
5. The first 200 eligible registrants will be notified by email within 14 days of registering.
6. The book packs will be sent to the mailing address supplied by the registrants by standard post once they have been contacted. The book pack is not transferable or exchangeable or redeemable for cash. We will make reasonable efforts to ensure winners receive their book pack. Where we are not able to deliver book packs despite making reasonable efforts to do so the book packs will be reassigned.
7. CSIRO may at its absolute discretion remove or reject any registration for any reason whatsoever, including if it is not in line with the CSIRO Code of Conduct. CSIRO may determine any entries invalid and/or preclude participation by an entrant if an entrant disrupts, annoys, abuses, acts contrary to law or engages in fraudulent, misleading or deceptive conduct. If the Registration is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the control of the CSIRO, including as a result of technical failures, CSIRO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law to modify, postpone, suspend, terminate or cancel the Competition as appropriate.
8. Except for any liability that cannot by law be excluded including any statutory consumer guarantees, neither CSIRO, nor any of their respective officers, employees and agents will be liable for any injury, damages, expenses, or loss whatsoever (whether direct or consequential) to persons or property as a result of any person entering the Promotion or accepting or using any giveaways, including without limitation, failure of any winner to contact the promoter, non-receipt of any prize or damage to any prize in transit.
9. Any questions about CSIRO’s privacy policy or any request to access, modify or delete any information provided in an entry should be directed to CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au.
10. The Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Meta.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. The promoter is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (“CSIRO”) (ABN 41 687 119 230), Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia.
2. By submitting an entry to the Competition, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Entries not submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions will be ineligible. Information on how to enter and prize details form part of these Terms and Conditions.
3. The competition is open to Australian resident primary school-aged children (Years 6 and below) and Australian resident secondary school-aged children (Years 7 to 9). Entries must be submitted by the child’s parent or guardian, or by schools or community groups with permission of the child’s parent or guardian. Employees, directors and officers of CSIRO, any person associated with the Competition, or any organisation or individual associated with the provision of the prize(s) are ineligible.
4. Maximum one entry per child. Community groups, schools or parents/guardians can submit entries on behalf of multiple individual entrants (children or young people).
5. To enter the Competition, entrants must submit robot designs via email to CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au or by tagging @CSIROEducation on Facebook. Only entries submitted in PDF, JPEG or PNG format will be accepted.
6. There are 12 prizes in total to be won:
   1. Two first-prize winners - one per age group: primary (Years 6 and below) and senior (Years 7–9) - will each receive a 3D printer valued at $600 (including 6 cartridges with each printer).
   2. Ten (10) runners-up will receive an education voucher each worth $500 and redeemable at redeemable at www.teaching.com.au.
7. The Competition period commences at 08:00am AEST on Saturday 15 August 2026 and closes 11:59pm Sunday 23 August 2026 (“Competition Period”).
8. Any entry received by CSIRO before or after the Competition Period will be ineligible and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, late or misdirected submissions.
9. All eligible entries will be assessed by a judging panel comprising members of the CSIRO Education and Outreach team.
10. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: relevance to the competition theme and objectives; creativity and originality; demonstrated understanding of the subject matter; any other criteria the judging panel considers relevant in its sole discretion. Any use of AI tools in creating the entry must be disclosed in writing as part of the submission.
11. The judges’ decisions are final and binding. Chance plays no part in determining the winning entries. No correspondence, will be entered into regarding the decisions of the judging panel.
12. The winners will be notified within 30 days after the Competition closes, via email or direct message on Facebook. The winners may be announced on CSIRO’s social media following the Competition. By submitting an entry you give permission for CSIRO to announce winning entries on CSIRO’s social media, publications and media channels. 
13. By submitting an entry, you grant CSIRO a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:
    a) reproduce;
    b) publish;
    c) communicate; and
    d) display,
    the submitted designs for publicity, reporting and promotional purposes without compensation.
14. The prizes will be sent to the mailing addresses supplied by the winners by standard post after the announcement of the winner. Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable or redeemable for cash. We will make reasonable efforts to ensure winners receive their prize. Where we are not able to deliver prizes despite making reasonable efforts to do so the prizes will be reassigned.
15. A prize will be deemed to be unclaimed if we have been unable to contact the prize winner through the contact details provided by 11.59 pm on Thursday 22 October 2026. If there are any unclaimed prize(s) a second judging will be conducted following the same criteria as the original judging on or before Thursday 29 October 2026. The new winner will be contacted by direct message on Facebook or email within 14 business days of the second judging. By submitting an entry you give permission for CSIRO to announce winning entries on CSIRO’s social media, publications and media channels.
16. Each person submitting an entry warrants to the best of their knowledge that the submission is the individual entrant's own creative work and does not breach the copyright or other intellectual property rights or privacy rights of any other person; and the exercise of the rights and licences granted to CSIRO under these Terms and Conditions will not infringe the rights of any person.
17. CSIRO may at its absolute discretion remove or reject any entry for any reason whatsoever, including if it is not in line with the CSIRO Code of Conduct. CSIRO may determine any entries invalid and/or preclude participation by an entrant if an entrant disrupts, annoys, abuses, acts contrary to law or engages in fraudulent, misleading or deceptive conduct. If the Competition is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the control of the CSIRO, including as a result of technical failures, CSIRO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, modify, postpone, suspend, terminate or cancel the Competition as CSIRO decides is appropriate.
18. Except for any liability that cannot by law be excluded including any statutory consumer guarantees, neither CSIRO, nor any of their respective officers, employees and agents will be liable for any injury, damages, expenses, or loss whatsoever (whether direct or consequential) to persons or property as a result of any person entering the Competition or accepting or using any prize, including without limitation, failure of any winner to contact the promoter, non-receipt of any prize or damage to any prize in transit.
19. Each winner of a 3D printer is responsible for the safe installation, operation, maintenance and supervision of the 3D printer at all times. Each winner is responsible for all ongoing costs associated with their prize, including but not limited to consumables, filament, replacement parts, repairs, maintenance, software, electricity and any other operating expenses. Each winner should undertake an appropriate risk assessment and ensure the printer is operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and any applicable workplace, school, organisational or household safety requirements. This includes consideration of potential hazards such as heat, moving parts, electrical equipment and fire risk, and if provided to a school, the school is responsible for ensuring appropriate supervision, risk assessments, staff training and safe operation of the 3D printer in accordance with their own policies and procedures.
20. Any questions about CSIRO’s privacy policy or any request to access, modify or delete any information provided in an entry should be directed to CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au.

CSIRO privacy notice

CSIRO is committed to protecting your personal information and complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ('Privacy Act') and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). CSIRO will handle your information in accordance with this Act. Your personal information, including your name, email address and postcode is being collected for the purposes of conducting the CSIRO Robot Responders registration and competition.

CSIRO does not intend to disclose your personal information to anyone outside CSIRO or overseas. In the unlikely event that this occurs, your personal information may not be subject to the requirements and protections of the Australian Privacy Principles

Your personal information will only be published with your consent.

You are free to withdraw at any time during the event. Unless requested, we will retain any personal information collected prior to your withdrawal. If you request that we delete your personal information, we will do so if permitted by and in accordance with any applicable laws (including the Privacy Act and the Archives Act 1983 (Cth)).

If you do not provide any personal information that is reasonably requested of you for the purposes of this competition, you may not be eligible for any prizes or incentives. However, if this occurs, it will not affect your ongoing relationship with CSIRO in any way.

For further information on how CSIRO handles your personal information and our access, correction and complaints process please read our privacy policy or by contacting us at privacy@csiro.au.

Receive a free book pack

Take part in CSIRO Robot Responders and you could receive a free book pack!

The first 200 people to register will receive a pack featuring these titles from CSIRO Publishing, plus an exclusive 20% discount on all CSIRO Publishing books:

• Oceans at Night
• The Forgotten Song
• Tardigrades: Nature's Toughest Survivors
• Animal Migrations
• How to Survive on Mars
• Rocks, Fossils and Formations

Simply register to participate during National Science Week using the resources that suit you best.

Design a robot for a chance to win

Design a robot that helps people, animals or the environment in places humans can't easily reach, from the depths of the ocean to underground mines or even outer space. Show us your most creative ideas and explain how your robot would complete its mission. 

Bring your idea to life with a drawing, diagram or prototype. Whether you draw it or build it, show us how your robot would complete its mission and the design choices that help it solve the challenge. We're looking for creativity, innovation and thoughtful problem-solving. 

Need more inspiration for your competition entry? See how CSIRO roboticists use the engineering design process to build prototypes and test solutions?

Adults can submit designs on behalf of young people (accepted formats: PDF, JPEG, PNG).

• Entries can be submitted via Facebook by posting an image of the design and tagging @CSIROEducation, or by emailing CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au.
• Images must not include any identifying information. Only the student/young person’s first name may be included (no surnames, other identifiable details).

Great prizes are up for grabs:

• Two first prize winners: one per age group: primary (Years 6 and below) and senior (Years 7–9) will each receive a 3D printer valued at $600.
• Ten runners-up will receive an education voucher valued at $500 each.

Book Giveaway Terms and Conditions

1. The promoter is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (“CSIRO”) (ABN 41 687 119 230), Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia.
2. Each Registration entry must be made in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. By entering the Promotion, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Entries not submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions may be deemed ineligible. Information on how to enter and prize details form part of these Terms and Conditions.
3. Registration is open to all Australian residents aged 18 years or over, schools or community groups (adults/guardians are required to submit entries on behalf of young people).
4. Any registration received by CSIRO before or after the Registration Period will be ineligible for entry and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, late or misdirected submissions.
5. The first 200 eligible registrants will be notified by email within 14 days of registering.
6. The book packs will be sent to the mailing address supplied by the registrants by standard post once they have been contacted. The book pack is not transferable or exchangeable or redeemable for cash. We will make reasonable efforts to ensure winners receive their book pack. Where we are not able to deliver book packs despite making reasonable efforts to do so the book packs will be reassigned.
7. CSIRO may at its absolute discretion remove or reject any registration for any reason whatsoever, including if it is not in line with the CSIRO Code of Conduct. CSIRO may determine any entries invalid and/or preclude participation by an entrant if an entrant disrupts, annoys, abuses, acts contrary to law or engages in fraudulent, misleading or deceptive conduct. If the Registration is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the control of the CSIRO, including as a result of technical failures, CSIRO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law to modify, postpone, suspend, terminate or cancel the Competition as appropriate.
8. Except for any liability that cannot by law be excluded including any statutory consumer guarantees, neither CSIRO, nor any of their respective officers, employees and agents will be liable for any injury, damages, expenses, or loss whatsoever (whether direct or consequential) to persons or property as a result of any person entering the Promotion or accepting or using any giveaways, including without limitation, failure of any winner to contact the promoter, non-receipt of any prize or damage to any prize in transit.
9. Any questions about CSIRO’s privacy policy or any request to access, modify or delete any information provided in an entry should be directed to CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au.
10. The Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Meta.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. The promoter is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (“CSIRO”) (ABN 41 687 119 230), Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia.
2. By submitting an entry to the Competition, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Entries not submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions will be ineligible. Information on how to enter and prize details form part of these Terms and Conditions.
3. The competition is open to Australian resident primary school-aged children (Years 6 and below) and Australian resident secondary school-aged children (Years 7 to 9). Entries must be submitted by the child’s parent or guardian, or by schools or community groups with permission of the child’s parent or guardian. Employees, directors and officers of CSIRO, any person associated with the Competition, or any organisation or individual associated with the provision of the prize(s) are ineligible.
4. Maximum one entry per child. Community groups, schools or parents/guardians can submit entries on behalf of multiple individual entrants (children or young people).
5. To enter the Competition, entrants must submit robot designs via email to CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au or by tagging @CSIROEducation on Facebook. Only entries submitted in PDF, JPEG or PNG format will be accepted.
6. There are 12 prizes in total to be won:
   1. Two first-prize winners - one per age group: primary (Years 6 and below) and senior (Years 7–9) - will each receive a 3D printer valued at $600 (including 6 cartridges with each printer).
   2. Ten (10) runners-up will receive an education voucher each worth $500 and redeemable at redeemable at www.teaching.com.au.
7. The Competition period commences at 08:00am AEST on Saturday 15 August 2026 and closes 11:59pm Sunday 23 August 2026 (“Competition Period”).
8. Any entry received by CSIRO before or after the Competition Period will be ineligible and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, late or misdirected submissions.
9. All eligible entries will be assessed by a judging panel comprising members of the CSIRO Education and Outreach team.
10. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: relevance to the competition theme and objectives; creativity and originality; demonstrated understanding of the subject matter; any other criteria the judging panel considers relevant in its sole discretion. Any use of AI tools in creating the entry must be disclosed in writing as part of the submission.
11. The judges’ decisions are final and binding. Chance plays no part in determining the winning entries. No correspondence, will be entered into regarding the decisions of the judging panel.
12. The winners will be notified within 30 days after the Competition closes, via email or direct message on Facebook. The winners may be announced on CSIRO’s social media following the Competition. By submitting an entry you give permission for CSIRO to announce winning entries on CSIRO’s social media, publications and media channels. 
13. By submitting an entry, you grant CSIRO a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:
    a) reproduce;
    b) publish;
    c) communicate; and
    d) display,
    the submitted designs for publicity, reporting and promotional purposes without compensation.
14. The prizes will be sent to the mailing addresses supplied by the winners by standard post after the announcement of the winner. Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable or redeemable for cash. We will make reasonable efforts to ensure winners receive their prize. Where we are not able to deliver prizes despite making reasonable efforts to do so the prizes will be reassigned.
15. A prize will be deemed to be unclaimed if we have been unable to contact the prize winner through the contact details provided by 11.59 pm on Thursday 22 October 2026. If there are any unclaimed prize(s) a second judging will be conducted following the same criteria as the original judging on or before Thursday 29 October 2026. The new winner will be contacted by direct message on Facebook or email within 14 business days of the second judging. By submitting an entry you give permission for CSIRO to announce winning entries on CSIRO’s social media, publications and media channels.
16. Each person submitting an entry warrants to the best of their knowledge that the submission is the individual entrant's own creative work and does not breach the copyright or other intellectual property rights or privacy rights of any other person; and the exercise of the rights and licences granted to CSIRO under these Terms and Conditions will not infringe the rights of any person.
17. CSIRO may at its absolute discretion remove or reject any entry for any reason whatsoever, including if it is not in line with the CSIRO Code of Conduct. CSIRO may determine any entries invalid and/or preclude participation by an entrant if an entrant disrupts, annoys, abuses, acts contrary to law or engages in fraudulent, misleading or deceptive conduct. If the Competition is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the control of the CSIRO, including as a result of technical failures, CSIRO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, modify, postpone, suspend, terminate or cancel the Competition as CSIRO decides is appropriate.
18. Except for any liability that cannot by law be excluded including any statutory consumer guarantees, neither CSIRO, nor any of their respective officers, employees and agents will be liable for any injury, damages, expenses, or loss whatsoever (whether direct or consequential) to persons or property as a result of any person entering the Competition or accepting or using any prize, including without limitation, failure of any winner to contact the promoter, non-receipt of any prize or damage to any prize in transit.
19. Each winner of a 3D printer is responsible for the safe installation, operation, maintenance and supervision of the 3D printer at all times. Each winner is responsible for all ongoing costs associated with their prize, including but not limited to consumables, filament, replacement parts, repairs, maintenance, software, electricity and any other operating expenses. Each winner should undertake an appropriate risk assessment and ensure the printer is operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and any applicable workplace, school, organisational or household safety requirements. This includes consideration of potential hazards such as heat, moving parts, electrical equipment and fire risk, and if provided to a school, the school is responsible for ensuring appropriate supervision, risk assessments, staff training and safe operation of the 3D printer in accordance with their own policies and procedures.
20. Any questions about CSIRO’s privacy policy or any request to access, modify or delete any information provided in an entry should be directed to CSIROscienceexperiment@csiro.au.

CSIRO privacy notice

CSIRO is committed to protecting your personal information and complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ('Privacy Act') and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). CSIRO will handle your information in accordance with this Act. Your personal information, including your name, email address and postcode is being collected for the purposes of conducting the CSIRO Robot Responders registration and competition.

CSIRO does not intend to disclose your personal information to anyone outside CSIRO or overseas. In the unlikely event that this occurs, your personal information may not be subject to the requirements and protections of the Australian Privacy Principles

Your personal information will only be published with your consent.

You are free to withdraw at any time during the event. Unless requested, we will retain any personal information collected prior to your withdrawal. If you request that we delete your personal information, we will do so if permitted by and in accordance with any applicable laws (including the Privacy Act and the Archives Act 1983 (Cth)).

If you do not provide any personal information that is reasonably requested of you for the purposes of this competition, you may not be eligible for any prizes or incentives. However, if this occurs, it will not affect your ongoing relationship with CSIRO in any way.

For further information on how CSIRO handles your personal information and our access, correction and complaints process please read our privacy policy or by contacting us at privacy@csiro.au.