Earth Science Week Essay Contest

 

Contest Guidelines

Who can enter?

The essay contest is open to students in grades 6-9 who are residents of the United States.

Your essay should focus on the topic “Balancing Sustainability and the Demand for Critical Minerals.”

Critical minerals make clean energy, medical advances, and communication and transportation systems possible. However, meeting the growing demand for these minerals presents environmental, economic, and social challenges.

Write an essay exploring one stage of a mineral’s life cycle and ddescribe a specific innovation, technology, or practice that helps maintain the supply of that mineral or reduces environmental impact, waste creation, or other potential consequences associated with its extraction, processing, use, recycling, or reuse.

The essay must be in English and contain no more than 300 words. Longer essays will be rejected unread.

Must be original, unpublished work

Entries must be previously unpublished, original content and must be the sole property of the entrants, not previously submitted to any other contest. Published material includes work that has appeared online, including personal websites, blogs, school websites, or social media platforms.

The Earth Science Week Essay Contest celebrates original thinking and student writing. Essays should reflect your own ideas, analysis, and writing–not content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) or other automated tools.

The following are not permitted:

• Essays generated in whole or in part using AI tools or large language models.
• AI-assisted writing, paraphrasing, rewriting, or editing that substantially alters the student’s original work.
• AI-generated ideas, examples, or supporting content presented as the student’s own.
• Plagiarized or copied material from any source.

The use of basic spelling and grammar checkers is acceptable; however, the content, organization, wording, and ideas must be the entrant’s own. Any submission determined to contain AI-generated content or plagiarism may be disqualified.

What do I need to submit?

Each entrant may submit one essay. A complete submission will contain the following information:

1. A completed Microsoft Form found here
2. One original essay focusing on the topic “Balancing Sustainability and the Demand for Critical Minerals.”
3. An entry release form signed by a parent or guardian. Click here to download the essay contest release form.

When is the deadline?

All eligible submissions must be received electronically by 8:00 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026. A submission is not considered complete until all required materials have been received.

If you experience any problems submitting your entry, please contact the Earth Science Week staff at contests@americangeosciences.org.

What are the prizes?

The selected entry will win $300 and a copy of an AGI publication. The winner’s and finalists’ names and entries will be posted on the Earth Science Week website. No cash substitution for prizes will be permitted, and prizes are nontransferable.

Still have questions?

Please visit the Contest Rules and/or Frequently Asked Questions pages. Or please email questions to contests@americangeosciences.org.