Virtual Science Symposium

VSS: Badges

Projects submitted to the Virtual Science Symposium (VSS) are reviewed by a team of STEM professionals. After reviewing a project, VSS reviewers evaluate each project by awarding the project either a one, two, three or four-star research badge. Reviewers may also award optional, theme-specific badges to participants if their projects meet the given criteria.

Below are the badges that are available for the 2026 Symposium.
 

Badge for All VSS Projects

 

2026 IVSS Student Research Badge
I AM A GLOBE RESEARCHER

 All participants who submit a project to the VSS receive an "I am a GLOBE Researcher" badge. As such, participants can earn up to four badges total.

 

Highlight Badge for 2026 VSS Theme


 
I WORK WITH SATELLITE DATA


The research incorporates NASA satellite mission data to investigate the research question(s). Researchers explain how NASA satellite data is incorporated into their research project and used to answer the research question(s).

Other 2026 VSS Badges

I AM A DATA SCIENTIST

The report includes in-depth analysis of data downloaded from the GLOBE database as well as the research team's own data sources, if new data was collected. Participants discuss limitations of these data; make inferences about past, present or future events; or use data to answer questions or solve problems in the represented system.

I AM AN EARTH SYSTEM SCIENTIST

The project clearly describes the interconnectedness of Earth's spheres on the research question and applies multiple GLOBE protocols, or GLOBE Protocol Bundles, to investigate the research question. The research team clearly explains the dynamic and interconnected nature of Earth's systems and the processes that influence and depend on one another through the analysis and interpretation of GLOBE and Earth system science data. 

I AM A PROBLEM SOLVER

While working on environmental investigations, researchers may learn how they can be part of possible solutions to the problems they are investigating. This badge will be awarded to projects that demonstrate how GLOBE researchers are using Earth system science for a better world.

I am a collaborator badge, with image showing four students holding up the globe together.

I AM A COLLABORATOR

All research team members are listed including collaborators from other organizations, along with clearly defined roles, how these roles support one another, and descriptions of each researcher's contribution. If the researchers collaborated with others outside of their organization, describe how the collaboration improved the research. 

I make an impact badge, with image showing three students celebrating by the globe.

I MAKE AN IMPACT
The project clearly describes how a local issue led to the research questions or makes connections between local and global impacts. The research team clearly describes or shows how the research contributed to a positive impact on their community through making recommendations or taking action based on findings. 
I work with a STEM Professional badge, with image showing an adult and student holding a globe together.

I WORK WITH A STEM PROFESSIONAL

The project clearly describes collaboration with a STEM professional that enhanced the research methods, contributed to improved precision and supported more sophisticated analyses and interpretations of results.  

I am an engineer badge, with image of two people working on gears.

I AM AN ENGINEER

The project uses participant-generated sources of evidence to describe an engineering problem, looks at solutions through engineering or optimizes a design to address a real-world problem, and describes the potential impact of the engineering principles on the environment.

I am a STEM storyteller, with image of three students holding hands.

I AM A STEM STORYTELLER

The project describes or shows how the research team shared the story of their research in a creative way. This could be through a dramatic interpretation, a blog, Instagram post, artist rendering or any other way to creatively share what was learned through the research.