Case Study Competition
Are you ready for the Case Study Competition? Competition Day is March 11 at 5pm CST / 6pm EST / 7pm CST.
For this two-week event, the Wetland Centre of Excellence students will tackle real environmental questions in Canada. Students will work in teams to research one of two case studies put together by DUC, and on Competition Day, they will present their recommendation to a panel of judges. There is no right answer! We expect students to think critically about their case study question and get creative with solutions.
Students will compete in teams of two or three. All teams must attend a mandatory virtual workshop on either February 22 at 1:40pm AST or February 23 at 7pm AST that will explain the two case studies. Competition Day will be on March 11 at 7pm AST. On Competition Day, each team will be given a 5-minute slot to present orally their recommendation to the judges (via Microsoft Teams). Teams have the option to pick only one member to present to the judges.
The winning team will receive $500 for their Wetland Centre of Excellence and their names on our Youth Wetland Expert Trophy!
Case Study Competition FAQ
What is the Case Study Competition?
The Case Study Competition is a two-week-long event where students will group up (groups of 2 or 3), choose a case study, complete background research, and then present their findings in a 4-minute oral presentation to a panel of judges. There will be two case studies and students will have the option to choose the study that interests them most.
Biodiversity Case Study Sea Level Rise Case Study
All competitors must attend a mandatory virtual workshop on either February 22 at 1:40pm AST or February 23 at 7pm AST that will explain the case studies and what they can expect from the competition. Competition Day is March 11 at 7pm AST.
Will the case studies be available in English and French?
Yes! The case studies will be available in both languages, and you have the option to present your recommendations in either language. In your registration form, please let us know your preferred presentation language.
Is it mandatory to attend the workshop on February 22 or February 23?
On February 22 and February 23, we’re hosting a mandatory virtual workshop to go over the two case study options, talk about the competition format and answer any questions. If you have registered for the competition, you must attend one of the workshops either on February 22 at 1:40pm AST or on February 23 at 7pm AST. If you are unable to make that time, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
When is Competition Day?
Competition Day is March 11. Competitors will be given a 5-minute time slot to present orally their recommendation to the judges (virtually over Teams). Presentations should be no longer than 4 minutes, giving the judges at least 1 minute to ask questions after the presentation. Judging will start at 7pm AST and will finish depending on the number of competitors.
Competitors will be given their time slot one week before competition day.
Am I eligible to compete?
If you are a secondary student part of the WCE program, you’re eligible to compete. If your teacher has signed up your class for the competition, only one team per WCE can present on Competition Day. If this is an extra-curricular activity, more than one team per WCE can present. Students must compete in pairs or groups of three.
How do I register my team or my class to compete?
The deadline has now passed to register for the case study competition. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
What are the judges looking for?
The judges will evaluate each presentation using the rubric below.
What is the prize?
The winning team will receive $500 for their Wetland Centre of Excellence and their names on our Youth Wetland Expert Trophy.
Where should I do my research for the case study?
When we send out an email with the case studies, there will be links to help you start your research. After that, it’s up to you!
How much work will I be expected to put in?
Including research time, presentation prep time and the 1-hour mandatory workshop, we expect that students will put in 5-10 hours of work.