Smart Villages announces a photo competition on the theme of how energy access changes the life of rural communities around the world. The contest will emphasize the concept of energy “smartness” i.e., how energy is being used in productive, innovative, and even entrepreneurial ways. The competition is open to everyone regardless of nationality, background, age, and experience. The competition offers several cash prizes up to US$2 thousand for the overall winner. Photos must be submitted before 30 April 2017. Link
awards/prizes
World Academy of Sciences — C.N.R. Rao Prize for Scientific Research 2017
The prize is named after TWAS Founding Fellow and former president C.N.R. Rao to honor TWAS Fellows from the developing world. The special focus is scientists in the world’s scientifically lagging and least-developed countries who have made significant contributions to global science. The amount of the prize is US$5 thousand. The closing date is 31 May 2017. Link
World Food Program — Sustainable Food and National Security
The World Food Program’s Centre of Excellence against Hunger, in partnership with the University Centre of Brasília, invite research papers on the topic ”Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security: Building Bridges between Durable Agricultural Practices and School Feeding Programmes.” The contest is open worldwide to students enrolled in graduate programs, as well as professors and graduate researchers in social and political sciences, and nutrition. The three top winners will participate in international study trips organized by the WFP Centre of Excellence. Articles must be submitted in English. The application deadline is 02 April 2017. Link
Feed the Future — Data-Driven Farming Prize
The Data-Driven Farming Prize seeks tools and approaches that use data to help smallholder farmers improve their agricultural productivity and value. Feed the Future invites proposals for data-driven approaches to be tested in Nepal to improve the productivity of rice, other cereals, and vegetables. Eligibility to compete for the prize extends worldwide to individuals, groups, organizations, and companies — in all sources and sectors — particularly local innovators in South Asia. The judging panel will award two grants of US$100 thousand each, and two others of US$50 thousand each, to the proposals with highest potential. The deadline for applications is 06 April 2017. Link
Swiss Re — Leadership Prize in Water Management 2018
The International ReSource Award is a prize acknowledging social entrepreneurial thinking and leadership in addressing social and/or ecological issues related to sustainable water management practices in developing and emerging countries. Each of three finalists will receive US$20 thousand and expert assistance to further develop their proposals in order to compete for a first prize of US$75 thousand. Eligibility for the ReSource Award extends to charities, non-profit organizations, and revenue-generating social enterprises working in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene in the developing world. The application deadline for short proposals (Step I) is 22 March 2017. Link
Franklin Institute — Bower Award for Science Achievement 2018
The Bower Award of US$250 thousand is made to individuals who have made significant contributions to understanding and quantifying perturbations of natural systems within the biosphere, atmosphere, or hydrosphere in the age of the Anthropocene. The competition is open internationally. Self-nominations are accepted. Notices of intent to nominate should be sent by 30 April 2017. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2017. Link
Inter-Research Science Center — Ecology Prizes 2017
Inter-Research Science Center — Ecology Prizes 2017. The International Ecology Institute in Germany annually selects top performers worldwide in the field of ecology for the Ecology Institute Prize and the IRPE Prize. The winner of the Ecology Institute Prize will be awarded €6 thousand; the winner of the IRPE Prize will receive €3 thousand. Nominations are invited from research ecologists worldwide. The closing date for nominations is 31 March 2017. Link
Buckminster Fuller Institute — Buckminster Fuller Challenge 2017
The Challenge is an annual prize of US$100 thousand to invite ideas to radically advance human well-being and ecosystem health. Entries in prior years include several in energy, water, agriculture, natural disasters, etc., with relevance in developing countries. The application deadline is 31 March 2017. Link
MIT Center for Collective Intelligence — Climate CoLab 2017
The MIT Climate CoLab organizes contests to solicit the world’s best ideas to prevent and adapt to climate change. Some contests pose social and political questions, while others focus on issues in science and technology. Each year, the contest winners are invited to a conference at MIT’s campus in the USA, where a pool of prize funding is shared among the best ideas. Current contests include one on managing and reducing carbon contributions, with submission deadline on 20 January 2017. Another contest focuses on anticipating climate hazards, with deadline on 10 February 2017. Link
Rolex Awards — Rolex Awards for Young Leaders 2018
Five Rolex Awards will be offered to young leaders (ages 18 to 30) anywhere in the world who have ground-breaking proposals or initiatives that will help expand knowledge of the world and improve the quality of life on the planet. Applications can be submitted in three categories: the environment, applied science and technology, or exploration. Projects should be planned for the future, or be only partially completed. Each winner will receive CHF 100 thousand in order to help her/him with project implementation. The application deadline is 30 June 2017. Link