The iF Student Design Award recognizes students and their future-oriented concepts that aim to solve a global development challenge. The best concepts earn a share of €50 thousand. All winners will be honored with a two-day event in Istanbul. Students and recent graduates of all design-related courses and programs are welcome to register their concepts. The registration deadline for participation is 03 February 2027. iF Student Design Award
awards/prizes
Trust for Sustainable Living — International Schools Essay Competition
Every year, the essay competition focuses on a different global sustainability challenge. This year’s theme is “Navigating El Niño.” Participating students are invited to create a piece of artwork, music, video, poem, essay, letter, or story. The Grand Prize trophy winner will receive a free international trip to a TSL Summit, including £1000 spending money. Schools have to register a Teacher Champion to participate in the competition. The deadline for essay entries is 01 March 2027. Details
Nikon — Photomicrography Video Competition
Nikon invites entries of microscope-captured videos for its Small World in Motion competition, judged on creativity, informational content, technical proficiency, and visual impact. Cash prizes range from US$200 (honorable mention) to US$3,000 (first place). The competition is open to anyone 18+ with access to a light microscope, worldwide. The deadline is 30 April 2027. Photomicrography Video Competition
Saudi Water Authority — Global Prize for Innovation in Water
The Saudi Water Authority invites innovators, researchers, universities, and specialized institutions worldwide to submit water-sector innovations to the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW), across six categories: desalination, water reclamation, conservation, digital water management, environmental sustainability, and wastewater solutions. Winners receive monetary awards; amounts are not specified on this source. Open to any nationality, at no cost to enter. The deadline is 30 September 2026. Global Prize for Innovation in Water
Planet Forward — Student Environmental Storytelling Contest
George Washington University’s Planet Forward invites enrolled or recently graduated post-secondary students to submit environmental storytelling entries — short video, social video, written story, or multimedia — on topics including food, water, energy, biodiversity, and climate justice. Six winners across categories receive a fully paid trip to Alaska’s Inside Passage with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. Applicants must be enrolled students or within six months of graduation, aged 18+. The deadline is 15 January 2027. Environmental Storytelling Contest
Garden Club of America — Awards in Tropical Botany and Horticulture
The Garden Club of America (GCA) offers several grants, prizes, and fellowships for students enrolled at universities in the USA, including some awards that have a tropical focus. The GCA Awards in Tropical Botany are open to PhD candidates (application deadline is 15 January); the Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture is restricted to U.S. citizens who are graduate students or advanced undergraduate students (deadline is 15 January). The Anne Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany is open to PhD students and recent PhD graduates (deadline is 31 January). Applicants should review all programs, criteria, and deadlines. Botany and Horticulture Scholarships
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation — Science without Borders Challenge 2027
The Science Without Borders (SWB) Challenge is an international student art competition. The theme for the 2027 challenge is “Navigate with care.” Students are asked to create artwork that explores how mariners can help protect both people and life in the ocean by navigating safely and responsibly. The SWB Challenge is open to primary and secondary school students (aged 11-19 years) from all around the world. The winners will receive scholarships of up to US$500. The deadline is 01 March 2027. Science Without Borders Challenge
Fast Forward — Tech Accelerator
The Fast Forward invites applications for the Accelerator Program to support and scale tech nonprofits. Tech innovations may include agri-tech or clean energy, among others. Selected entrepreneurs receive a US$25 thousand grant, mentorship, and connections to people who can help their innovation scale. The accelerator is open to tech nonprofits from around the world. Applications are open until 07 September 2026. Fast Forward Tech Accelerator
Insect Welfare Research Society — Teaching Innovation Award
The Insect Welfare Research Society (IWRS) offers Teaching Innovation Awards supporting instructors who develop new approaches to teaching insect or invertebrate biology. Two awards of US$2,000 each are available annually, funding the creation and implementation of instructional materials and pedagogical approaches. Priority goes to proposals addressing common teaching practices with substantial welfare implications. The next application deadline is 15 November 2026. Teaching Innovation Award
Farm Radio International — Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio
Farm Radio International invites applications for the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, which recognises radio programs serving women listeners across sub-Saharan Africa. The program need not focus exclusively on gender equality; any subject qualifies, provided the show demonstrably serves women, whether through health, education, agriculture, or another topic combined with attention to women’s experiences, concerns, or the role of men in gender equality. Any Farm Radio International broadcasting partner in sub-Saharan Africa may apply, and the award goes to the full programme team. The winning team receives a certificate and a prize of CA$1,000. The deadline is 21 August 2026. Liz Hughes Award