The global essay competition is back for 2025!
Who? The International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD) and the Royal Society of Chemistry are excited to continue their collaboration and announce this year’s annual essay competition, focusing on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability.
What? The theme for 2025 is “From waste to wealth: how chemical sciences can sustainably transform waste into valuable products”.
When? The deadline for submissions is 31st March 2025.
Where? The competition is open globally to entrants under 35, providing a unique opportunity for young scientists and researchers to showcase their ideas and contribute to the important conversation on sustainability. The winning entries will be published in RSC Sustainability, providing a platform for the authors to share their work with a global audience and make a real-world impact.
Why? Sustainability is a pressing issue that affects us all, and the chemical sciences have a vital role to play in addressing it. The competition encourages young scientists to think about the importance of scientific approaches grounded in the chemical sciences for solving sustainability challenges and to take a wide, global perspective, including reflecting on the intersection of science, society and policy aspects, rather than to describe a particular scientific advance in great technical detail. This year’s theme is particularly relevant in light of the growing global issue of waste management and resource depletion. The competition challenges participants to envision how chemical processes can be harnessed to create sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact, enhance resource efficiency, and contribute to a circular economy.
Further information on entering the competition can be found here.
Explore last year’s winning essays in this collection:
- Utilizing advancements in chemical sciences for decarbonization: a pathway to sustainable emission and energy reduction by Faith Mwende Johnson
- Towards a net-zero future: the chemical sciences across technology, education, and policy by Amanda Mikaela Celestine Tolentino
- Chemical advances in transforming pollutants into new materials by Tales da Silva Daitx
- From lab to landscape: the role of chemical sciences in sustainable technology by Yana Walia
- Atoms and photons: how chemical sciences can catalyze the development of sustainable solutions powered by light by Govind Nanda
- Chemical sciences: the key to a carbon-neutral future by Alexandre M. S. Jorge
- Chemical innovations in nuclear energy: paving the way for a carbon-neutral future by Sarah Geo
We encourage all young scientists and researchers who are passionate about sustainability to submit an entry to this year’s competition.
