Google has launched a Doodles 4 Google contest in which US students can submit designs for the next logo to appear on Google's home page.

Students will be asked to create a design based on their answer to the question 'What if?'.

The winner will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship, and his or her school will be awarded a $25,000 technology grant. The winner will be chosen on artistic merit, creativity and representation of the theme.

Google plans to enlist a panel of independent judges along with a group of its own employees to judge the contest.

The group will pick out 40 finalists who will travel to Google's California campus. The public will then be allowed to elect four finalists.

Google webmaster manager Dennis Hwang will then select a winner. Hwang has been charged with designing most of Google's custom logos in recent years.

Teachers and principals will have until 28 March to register their school for the contest. The final day for students to send in entries is 12 April.