A 20,000 USD prize celebrating emerging sustainability researchers.
Emerging Sustainability Leader Award
The Emerging Sustainability Leader Award is presented by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation to early-career researchers that have made significant contributions to scholarly research on sustainability. It is awarded annually at the World Sustainability Forum (WSF) and consists of a monetary prize of 20,000 USD.
The 2025 Emerging Sustainability Leader Award will be presented during the World Sustainability Forum 2025.
Nomination Process
The nomination process for the 2025 Emerging Sustainability Leader Award will open on Friday, 10 January 2025 including details on how to nominate someone (self-nominations are accepted for the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award). The Selection Committee is then responsible for reviewing and selecting the winner(s) of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award. Nominee applications will go through 2 rounds of selection until the final 3 are decided. The finalists will then have to present during the Award Ceremony to win either first place (10,000 USD) or runner-up (2 x 5,000 USD).
What will the Selection Committee be looking for?
A unique, sustained and outstanding achievement based on strong pure or applied research in any appropriate discipline
Achievement that addresses at least 2 pillars of sustainability (*) and demonstrates measurable impact within those particular pillars
Novelty and feasibility of real-life applications of the research
Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
* The 3 pillars of sustainability are as follows:
Social (Standard of Living, Education, Community, Equal Opportunity)
Nominees for the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award Nominees may be individual researcher from the international research community who completed their PhD within 10 years prior to the submission deadline.
Candidates may be nominated by third parties or self-nominated.
The entrepreneurial and sustainable potential of the research will be considered in addition to the academic quality.
The 2025 Emerging Sustainability Leader Award will be shared amongst 3 winners (1 of 10,000 USD and 2 of 5,000 USD).
This award will be given upon the quality of research output and a pitch presentation from the nominees.
The Selection Committee will select the final 5-8 competitors. Out of the 5-8 competitors, a group of 3-5 judges will choose 3 finalists. The finalists will then be required to present their final pitch at the World Sustainability Forum 2025.
The nomination process for the 2025 Emerging Sustainability Leader Award will open on Friday, 10 January 2025, and close on Monday, 31 March 2025. Awardees will be personally notified by Sunday, 15 June 2025. The public award announcement will occur during the World Sustainability Forum 2025.
Dr. Shu-Kun Lin
Permanent Selection Committee Member
Founder and President of MDPI and founder and chairman of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation
Prof. Dr. Ed Constable
Permanent Selection Committee Member
Former Vice President for Research of the University of Basel
Non-Permanent Members:
A university professor from the Scientific Board of Sustainability
An unaligned university professor with expertise in sustainability
A representative of either an intergovernmental organization, a civil society or the business sector
Up to three non-permanent members of the selection committee may be appointed for each Award. Re-appointments are possible three years after having served on the Selection Committee.
The right to the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award is not transferable.
A recipient can receive the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award only once.
The recipient/s of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award is/are required to participate in the award ceremony at the World Sustainability Forum.
The associated costs are covered by the organizers to an extent that will be communicated to the recipient.
