Nova Award Patch

Dr. Bernard Harris Bronze Supernova Award
for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts

The Requirements were ISSUED effective in 2012.

The following merit badges are approved for use in earning the Boy Scout Supernova awards:

Animal Science Energy Nuclear Science
Archaeology Engineering Oceanography
Architecture Environmental Science Plant Science
Astronomy Farm Mechanics Pulp and Paper
Automotive Maintenance Fish and Wildlife Management Radio
Aviation Forestry Reptile and Amphibian Study
Bird Study Gardening Robotics
Chemistry Geocaching Scuba Diving
Composite Materials Geology Soil and Water Conservation
Computers Insect Study Space Exploration
Dentistry Inventing Surveying
Drafting Mammal Study Veterinary Medicine
Electricity Medicine Weather
Electronics Nature Welding

First-Level Supernova Award for Boy Scouts.

  1. Complete any three of the Boy Scout Nova awards. (Note: These may be done at any time after becoming a Boy Scout.)
  2. Earn the Scholarship merit badge.
  3. Earn four of the Supernova approved merit badges from the above list. (Note: These may be earned at any time after becoming a Boy Scout.)
  4. Complete TWO Supernova activity topics. one each in two different STEM areas.
    A Supernova activity topic is a two-part, hands-on, high-level activity related to one of the STEM fields. Part 1 involves research, preparation, set up, coordination, and/or organization. Part 2 involves analysis and reflection, culminating in the creation of a report in any one of the available format options. See the "Supernova Activity Topics" chapter.
  5. Participate in a local, state, or national science fair or mathematics competition OR in any equally challenging STEM-oriented competition or workshop approved by your mentor. An example of this would be an X-Prize type competition.
  6. Do ONE of the following:
    1. With your parent's permission and your mentor's approval, spend at least one day "shadowing" a local scientist or engineer and report on your experience and what you learned about STEM careers to your mentor.
    2. Learn about a career that is heavily involved with STEM. Make a presentation to your mentor about what you learned.
    Be sure to receive approval from the appropriate unit leader and agree on a time and place for the presentation.
    If a Cub Scout den or pack is not available, your presentation may be given to another youth group, such as your troop or at your place of worship.
  8. Review the scientific method (you may know this as the scientific process) and note how scientists establish hypotheses, theories, and laws.
    Compare how the establishment of "facts" or "rules" using the scientific method differs from the establishment of "facts" or "rules" in other environments,
    such as legal, cultural, religious, military, mathematical, or social environments.
    Then do the following:
    1. Choose a modern scientific subject with at least two competing theories on the subject and learn as much as possible about each theory,
    2. Analyze the competing theories, decide which one is most convincing to you, and explain why to your mentor.
    3. Make a presentation to your mentor that describes the controversy, the competing theories,
      and your conclusions about how the scientific method can or cannot contribute to the resolution of the controversy.
  9. Submit a Supernova award application to the district or council Nova or advancement committee for approval.

The requirements for and further information about this award may be found in the current edition of the
Boy Scout Nova Awards Guidebook (BSA Publication No. 34033)

See the "Supernova Activity Topics" chapter for more information about activity topics.

Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format
Word Format PDF Format



Page updated on: April 08, 2015


(U.S. Scouting Service Project Donation)

(Ruth Lyons Memorial Donations)