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The 16th Speculative Fiction Contest Official Rules

The 16th Speculative Fiction Contest Official Rules

These are the Official Rules governing the Society of Actuaries’ (“SOA”) 16th Speculative Fiction Contest (Contest). In these rules, “you” and “your” refers to an eligible Contest entrant (Entrant). By entering, Entrants acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements.

1. CONTEST ENTRY PERIOD

Submission period begins Oct. 1, 2024, at 12:00:01 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) and ends Feb. 28, 2025, at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) (Entry Period). You may enter the Contest by completing an Official Entry Form at prior to the close of the Entry Period.

2. CONTEST GUIDELINES

Entrants must submit a story in accordance with the following rules:

  • The story must include some sort of actuarial topic.
  • The story must not exceed 6,000 words.
  • **NEW** The use of AI tools or AI-generated content in any part of the story is strictly prohibited. The entrant must attest that AI-generated tools were not used.
  • Entrants must use their real name on the story for submission and for publication (if selected) and may not use a nom de plume.
  • Submissions must be in English.
  • Stories may be submitted in Microsoft® Word (.doc and .docx) Rich Text Format (.rtf), and Open Document Text (.odt)
  • Entrant must provide name, phone number, email address, and the names and contact information for the co-authors, if applicable, on the entry form.
  • Entries limited to one story per person.
  • By submitting a story, you are agreeing to provide the SOA with the right to publish your story, in accordance with Section 7(b).

3. JUDGING

The 1st place and 2nd place stories will be determined based on the following content criteria: originality, creativity, writing style, and inspirational value to actuaries. The 1st place and 2nd place stories will be selected by Dr. Bob Mielke, Professor of English at Truman State University. Dr. Mielke’s rankings will also be used to determine Honorable Mentions and one (1) best first-time entry.

The Emerging Topics Community and the Actuary of the Future Section will provide judges to select one (1) winning story for the most unique use of technology; one (1) winning story for the most novel prediction forming the basis for the narrative; and one (1) winning story for the most creative actuarial career of the future. Readers are invited to vote to select one (1) winning story as the reader’s favorite or People’s Choice.

The judges’ decision is final and binding. The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes if they determine that no submission is qualified. The judges reserve the right to modify the judging process.

4. PRIZES

There will be eight (8) prizes awarded in this competition: one (1) US$400.00 prize for 1st place + professional literary critique by 1st place judge Dr. Bob Mielke + actor read audio version of the story; one (1) US$300.00 prize for 2nd place and one (1) US$100 for best first-time entry; one (1) US$200.00 prize for the “most unique use of technology”; one (1) US$200.00 prize for the “best use of futurism methods”; one (1) US$200.00 prize for the “most creative actuarial career of the future”; and (1) US$100 prize for “People’s Choice.” The winning stories will be determined on or about May 1, 2025. If the story has more than one author, the prize will be divided equally among the co-authors.

5. SUBMISSION RULES

Entries limited to one story per person. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning depend on the number of Entrants. By submitting a story to the Contest, Entrant is verifying ownership of the story and compliance with the Official Rules. Entries cannot infringe upon any third-party personal or proprietary rights. The use of AI tools or AI-generated content in any part of the story is strictly prohibited. Any Entrant whose work contains elements not owned by the Entrant must be able to provide legal releases for such use, including Sponsors’ use, in a form satisfactory to the judges.

6. ELIGIBILITY

Contest open to legal residents of the United States of America and Canada (void in Quebec). All employees of Society of Actuaries ("Sponsor") or any of their contractors or agents (all of the foregoing, together with Sponsor collectively, "Contest Entities"), and their immediate family members, are ineligible to enter or win the Contest. All Entrants must be members or candidates of the SOA, and in the case of a story with more than one author, all Entrants must meet this requirement. This Contest is void in Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations. Sponsors reserve the right to verify eligibility qualifications of the winner. Entries received prior to or after the Entry Period are void. Void where prohibited by law.

7. PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS

  1. By entering, Entrants consent to the use of their legal name, story, biographical information, photographs and/or likenesses for advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation (except where prohibited) by Sponsors for purposes concerning this Contest or succeeding contests and for publicity, special events and advertising purposes in connection with promoting the Society of Actuaries, the SOA’s Actuary of the Future Section, Emerging Topics Community, the SOA website and/or this Contest or succeeding contests.
  2. By entering, Entrants grant the Sponsors a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to publish, display, and reproduce their story in any and all media, in whole or in part, throughout the world for any purpose including commercial purposes. Entrants hereby grant the Sponsors permission to format their story for the Sponsors’ purposes at the Sponsors’ sole discretion.
  3. By entering, each Entrant agrees to defend, indemnify, release and hold harmless the Sponsors from and against any and all losses, demands, damages, rights, claims, injuries, actions and liabilities of any kind arising out of or related to Entrant's participation in the Contest. Any disputes that may arise hereunder shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdiction. Venue with respect to any such disputes shall be had in the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois. Sponsors' failure to enforce any term of these rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In any cause of action, the Sponsors’ liability will be limited to two hundred dollars (US$200.00), and in no event shall the Sponsors be liable for attorneys' fees and/or experts' fees and costs. By participating in the Contest, each Entrant waives the right to claim any additional damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, incidental or indirect damages.

8. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Personal information submitted to enter the Contest will only be used in the event you win the Contest, if there is a question or issue regarding your story or its content, and if there is an issue or news to communicate to you pertaining to the Contest. The personal information collected through this Contest is subject to Society of Actuaries' Privacy Policy, located at http://www.soa.org/legal/privacy-policy. By entering this Contest, you agree to the use of your personal information as described in the above Privacy Policy.

9. ADDITIONAL TERMS

By entering or participating in the Contest, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, the terms and conditions of the Contest Entities' websites, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Sponsor is not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, or (2) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of winners. Further, if, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest (or portion thereof). In the event of such cancellation, termination, modification or suspension, Sponsor will select Prize Winner from all eligible, non-suspect entries

received prior to such action. Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify the Entry of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or (b) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service. Contest Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Contest or in any activity related thereto or from any interaction with Contest information. Contest Entities make no warranties, and hereby disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any prize furnished in connection with this Contest. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. Sponsors are not responsible for any unauthorized use of your story by third parties.

10. WINNERS LIST

The winners will be posted on the SOA website on or about May 1, 2025.

11. SPONSORS

The Sponsors of this Contest are Society of Actuaries’ Actuary of the Future Section, and Emerging Topics Community, 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave Suite 1000. Chicago Illinois 60631.