Call for Applications: Youth Innovation Contest

The contest’s theme is all about sustainable development protecting and improving our world for future generations. You’ll have the chance to explore important global issues like marine conservation, land ecosystems, climate action, and building sustainable cities. You can submit creative works that reflect your vision of a more sustainable planet, using any format you choose whether it’s a painting, story, poem, or a research essay.

Themes & Topics

• The event focuses on four Sustainable Development Goals within the wider framework:
  • Theme I: Protection of marine ecosystems (SDG14 Life Below Water):
    • Topics include but are not limited to: flora and fauna in the oceans, marine biodiversity, marine pollution, the impact of climate change on the oceans, marine protected areas, and innovative technologies for marine science.
  • Theme II: Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG15 Life on Land):
    • Topics include but are not limited to: wildlife conservation, forest conservation, fighting land degradation, and ecotourism.
  • Theme III: Building sustainable human settlements (SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities):
    • Topics include but are not limited to: infrastructure development in urban and rural areas, optimizing resource utilization, strategies for reducing socio-economic disparities, environmentally sustainable living environments, and enhancing quality of life.
  • Theme IV: Responding to global climate change (SDG13 Climate Action):
    • Topics include but are not limited to: reduction of the greenhouse effect, management of extreme weather, establishment of a balanced relationship between development and environmental protection, and implementation of initiatives to address climate change.

Prize Information

• The distribution of awards in each category will be as follows:
  • Grand Award:
    • Award for Future Leaders in Green Innovations (Maximum 20 winners):
      • This award is given to works with high-ranking overall score, excellent performance in innovation and optimal overall quality assessed by the expert panel.
  • Special Awards:
    • Award for Eco-protection (Maximum 20 winners):
      • This award is given to works with outstanding performance in scientificity, rigorous and solid interpretation and high value topics focusing on eco-environment protection.
    • Award for Sci-Tech Innovation (Maximum 20 winners):
      • This award is given to works with outstanding performance in perspectiveness and innovation, novelty in the work and its interpretation and high level of creativity and originality.
    • Award for Remarkable Presence (Maximum 20 winners):
      • This award is given to works with outstanding performance in these 4 parts: accurate content, rigorous logic, expressive and clarified presentation, fluent and engaging speech. Moreover, the works can effectively promote the idea of sustainable development.
  • Merit Awards:
    • Award for Talents of Sci-Tech Innovation (Unlimited winners):
      • This award is given to works that overall meet the campaign’s requirements and have great quality and scientific strength.
    • Award for Pioneers of Environmental Protection (Unlimited winners):
      • This award is given to works that overall meet the campaign’s requirements, demonstrate a tangible concern for environmental issues and biodiversity, and show respect for nature and other species.
    • Award for Humanistic Care (Unlimited winners):
      • This award is given to works that concentrate on human needs in diverse environments, social justice and vulnerable groups, with a focus on conducting humanistic care.

Eligibility Criteria

• This event is open to children and youth worldwide. Participants are encouraged to submit work either individually or in teams of two or three. A panel of experts will select representative and innovative works, which will be shared through channels including the official website of the event organizer, official WeChat accounts, publications, and international on-site events.
• The event is designed for two different age groups: Children’s group (5-10 years old), and Youth Group (11-17 years old). Participants are invited to adopt their preferred format (which may include, but is not limited to, painting, storytelling, poetry, and research essays) to express their perspectives.

For more information, visit UNESCO.