What if we COMPETED for the PLANET like we do in SPORTS?
1st Place - $1,000
2nd Place - $500
Winners will be announced at our Green Wave conference for student leaders in sustainability, February 7, 2024
Choose a focus (university, city or company)
Collect your observations about their environmental sustainability - their progress and challenges
Do some research on their sustainability impact and initiatives
Starting with a template, prepare a presentation.
Deliver your presentation over Zoom to a group of judges — leaders in the field of sustainability.
Learn to drive change in this virtual competition during football season
(10 minute video)
Sign Up
Deadline November 10, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What aspects of sustainability should I focus on?
Think broadly - energy, waste, food, etc. Use your judgment.
Is this open to graduate students?
Yes.
Who receives the prize?
The prize money will go to the team leader.
Can I donate the money to my school club?
Yes, this is encouraged.
What if I cannot go to the organization to obtain visual observations?
Then this organization is probably not a good fit for this contest.
What skills can I gain from this?
We teach the ability to see and pursue sustainability opportunities — ways that organizations can address their environmental impact.
Can I put this on my résumé?
Yes, as a presenter and a winner, you can draw attention to your participation in this competition.
Do you have internships available?
Yes, we will. Our goal is to find bright, passionate students through this competition.
Can my team have two people present together?
Yes.
Can my observations be anonymous?
Yes, your observations can be anonymous, but of course, one person on your team has to make a presentation online to a group of judges.
What is the purpose of University Climate Ambassadors?
Our mission is to connect the passionate with the powerful for the planet — to help student leaders see opportunities to protect the planet by promoting solutions and influencing leaders who are in a position to implement these solutions.
How do I join University Climate Ambassadors?
Sign up for the competition. We will connect you with representatives who can tell you more.
Contest Judging
Presentations will be in January 2024. You’ll have just ten minutes. Please practice with your team and make it a solid, compelling presentation. Use your slides but don’t read from them.
Judges
Gifford and Libba Pinchot, Founders, Intrapreneur.com and Bainbridge Institute (first MBA program in sustainability)
Anupama Pasricha, Dean, School of Business, St. Catherine University
Marissa Rosen, Founder, Climate Social
Glenn Hallam, Co-founder, Green Dock Ventures
Sameer Ameen, Climate Action & Resilience Fellow - Office of Sustainability, UC Berkeley
Hadley Willman, Former Director, University Climate Ambassadors
What judges will be looking for …
Did you cover a wide range of sustainability topics?
Was your commentary thoughtful?
Was your photography high quality and creative?
Were you knowledgeable about past successes and future plans?
Did you articulate clear and defensible priorities?
Did you show insight about challenges, process and leadership?