The Vienna Biocenter Summer School provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to work side by side with leading researchers in a dynamic scientific environment. Each fellow will be allocated a faculty member, with whom they will work closely. The research project will focus on a current topic in the allocated lab. Selected fellows receive free student accommodation, a stipend of €1400 euros, medical insurance, and other benefits. The Vienna Biocenter welcomes applications from students from all around the world who are undergraduates/master students and have completed at least two years of university study in a Life Sciences related study. The application deadline is 11 January 2026. Vienna Biocenter Summer School
youth
ChallengeUS — Future Leaders Competition
The Future Leaders Competition invites high-school and undergraduate students worldwide to submit original work (creative writing, analytical writing, speech, or art) reflecting on a key moment or insight that shapes how they approach climate action. The competition awards a top prize of US$500, along with recognition, publication, and inclusion in the Future Leaders Network. The call closes on 16 January. Details
Cisco and Global Citizen — Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award
Cisco and Global Citizen invites applications for the Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award. The Award is made to a young individual (18-30 years) who has contributed meaningfully towards the goal of ending global poverty. Global Citizen accepts applications from individuals who have, or contribute to, a registered legal entity such as a non-profit, for-profit, or social enterprise. The award includes a US$250 thousand prize paid to the organization to which the individual contributes. Submissions will close on 17 December 2025. Youth Leadership Award
ARROW — Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development Youth Forum
The APFSD Youth Forum 2026 invites young people (aged 13–30) from across the Asia-Pacific region to participate. Centered on the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the SDGs: leaving no young person behind in Asia and the Pacific,” the Forum will focus on SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 14 (Life Below Water) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Selected participants will receive full funding covering round-trip travel, accommodation, meals and local transport. Applications are open until 10 November 2025. APFSD Youth Forum
UN Global Compact — Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals
The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals is a nine-month program for business leaders and changemakers to develop and drive innovative sustainable development solutions and business models. The program targets entry- to mid-level managers across diverse businesses. The accelerator is open to business managers from selected countries (listed in the announcement). The call for nominations will remain open until 31 January 2026. SDG Innovation Accelerator
TED-Ed — Earth School
Earth School consists of 30 days of nature-focused content for learners of all ages. Each Quest includes videos and a quiz, combined with a series of engaging learning resources curated by environmental experts. Teachers and parents are invited to use these lessons and activities to keep their students and kids engaged and connected to the outside world. Lessons are free and accessible anytime. Link to Earth School
African Leadership Academy — Anzisha Prize for Young Innovators
The Anzisha Prize seeks young innovators ages 15-22 in Africa who develop and implement innovative solutions to challenges facing their communities. Past awards include innovations in energy, agriculture, and ecological consumer products. The grand prize winners will share prizes worth US$140 thousand. Applicants must be nationals of an African country with a business based in Africa for African customers/beneficiaries. The next application closes on 07 November 2026. Anzisha Prize
UNESCO — Youth Innovation Contest
The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) invites children and young people to take part in the 2025 Youth Innovation Contest. Participants can submit creative works that reflect their vision of a more sustainable planet, using any format (painting, story, poem, or a research essay). The contest is open to two age groups: Children’s Group (5-12 years old) and Youth Group (13-17 years old). Participants are encouraged to create works focusing on Climate Change, Biodiversity, Building Sustainable Communities, Protecting Water Resources, and Clean Energy. The deadline for application is 16 November 2025. More
U.S. Department of State — TechGirls 2026
TechGirls is an international summer exchange program designed to empower and inspire young women from around the world to pursue careers in science and technology. The program is open to teenage girls (ages 15-17) from eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and Latin America. TechGirls covers the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals for participation in the technology camp hosted by Virginia Tech University. The application will close on 04 December 2025. Link to TechGirls
Biomimicry Institute — Youth Design Challenge 2026
he Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge (YDC) is a project-based learning experience for middle and high school teams. Participants are asked to design bio-inspired ideas that can provide solutions to the climate crisis. The Youth Design Challenge follows an academic calendar which means that teachers can teach the biomimicry project at any time. The challenge is open to schools from all around the world (US equivalent grades 6th-12th). Schools have to register teams that consist of up to eight student team members and an official teacher coach. Each team has the chance to win multiple prizes. The registration deadline for student teams is 31 January 2026. Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge