The Youth Innovation Challenge asks young people around the world to propose an innovative solution to a marine problem — biodiversity loss, marine debris, unhealthy habitats, or the human-health effects of a damaged ocean. It is run by the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), together with Taiwan’s Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA), which has sponsored the challenge since 2021. Entrants apply online with a short video pitch and written answers; there is no travel involved in applying.
Every proposal must build in an environmental education element, and be informed by research, feasible, measurable and genuinely new. Fifteen finalists are recognised each year and three of them are flown to Taipei to receive their award and present their idea at an international forum.
Benefits & funding
- 15 finalists receive a Youth Innovation Challenge certificate and recognition on the GEEP and NAAEE platforms.
- 3 of those finalists are named winners and each receives a US$1,000 prize.
- Winners are invited to the award ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, in September 2026, with all travel expenses covered.
- Winners present their solution at an international forum held alongside the ceremony.
- Support materials — the applicant handbook and a recorded applicant webinar — are published openly by the organisers.
Eligibility
- Open to anyone aged 15 to 30, from any country; no nationality or residency requirement.
- Individuals and teams may both apply; the person who submits the application must be aged 15–30.
- Teams of more than five members should contact the organisers before applying.
- One proposal per person or per team.
- All team members must submit signed photo and video release forms.
- No degree, enrolment or work-experience requirement.
- Proposals are accepted in English only.
- Applicants who need accommodations because of a disability can request them from the organisers at GEEP@naaee.org.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Age requirement
15–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Read the YIC Applicant Handbook for the full criteria, questions and word limits.
- 2Pick one of the three focus areas: cutting personal waste and marine debris; community- and society-level marine debris strategies; or global marine protection through collaboration, partnerships and policy.
- 3Shape a solution that is research-informed, feasible, measurable and includes an environmental education component.
- 4Record a video pitch of three minutes or less, in English, up to 800 MB. Reviewers judge the idea, not production quality or English fluency.
- 5Write the application answers within the stated limits — title 30 words, the solution 500 words, feasibility and measurability 300 words, research behind it 300 words, additional resources needed 150 words.
- 6Submit through the NAAEE Submittable portal before the deadline, 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time.
- 7An expert panel reviews entries in June and July; finalists and winners are notified in August.
Program timeline
2026-04
2026 applications open
Applicant webinar held; recording published afterwards
May 5, 2026
Original submission deadline, 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time
May 31, 2026
Extended submission deadline
Jun 4, 2026
Expert panel review
2026-06 to 2026-07
Finalists and winners notified
2026-08
Award ceremony and international forum in Taipei, Taiwan
2026-09