The Schweickart Prize is awarded annually to an exceptional individual or team of graduate students and/or post-doc fellows for their innovative ideas and their potential for leadership in the advancement of planetary defense. Award applicants must submit a proposal for an innovative and original idea that, looking forward, would materially improve planetary defense capabilities in one or more areas that include asteroid impact prediction, impact mitigation, mitigation law and public policy development, and public outreach and education. The proposals are judged based on originality, implementability and likelihood to materially advance planetary defense.
The winning recipient will receive:
- $10k USD unrestricted cash award
- Museum quality award with authentic meteorite
- Networking opportunities with leaders in the field and conference presentations
- Public recognition through digital press campaign
To apply, students must complete three separate steps including pre-application, proposal submission and, if selected as a finalist, an interview, which will assess their ability to articulate, defend, and refine their proposals based on feedback from the Schweickart Prize Selection Committee.
The Schweickart Prize Committee is hosting a webinar on January 22 and January 23 at 9 AM PT to share more about the prize and how to apply. Don’t miss this chance to get your questions answered! → Sign up for the webinar here.
Eligibility
Student Requirements
Applicants must either be currently enrolled in a graduate-level program at an accredited university or have graduated within the past year.
International Students are encouraged to apply.
Applying as an Individual or a Group
Applicants may apply individually or as a member of a graduate student group. One student must act as the team representative to facilitate the application and selection process. A group may not consist of more than six students.
Reapplying to the Schweickart Prize
If an applicant's submission is not successful, they may reapply every year as long as they meet eligibility requirements. However, an applicant may only be awarded the Schweickart Prize once as an individual or as part of a group.
Key Dates
June 30 — Public announcement of 2025 Schweickart Prize winner
January 22 — Student Webinar + Q&A with Prize Committee - RSVP
January 23 — Student Webinar + Q&A with Prize Committee - RSVP
March 5 — Applications close
April 14–18 — Student interviews with Nomination Committee
April 30 — Revised proposals due
May 7 — Notification of winner
For more information and/or to apply:
https://www.schweickartprize.org/for-students
Deadline: 03/05/2025 00:00 Pacific Time