What if a 60-second video could spark an idea for a more sustainable future? And how can we inspire students to see themselves as problem-solvers?
Now it its 16th year, the World of 8 Billion student video contest has successfully engaged middle and high school students in solving global challenges. And now it’s back! The video competition is open for the 2026-2027 school year.
Screenshot of a winning video from the 2025-2026 contest.
Many teachers use the contest as a small group project and we offer classroom supports that make it an easy addition. Individual students are encouraged to participate on their own as well.
Contest Details and Cash Prizes for Students
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to create a one-minute video proposing a sustainable solution to one of today’s most pressing challenges connected to population growth.
This year, students can choose from three timely topics: Fresh Water Use, Extreme Weather, and City Planning. Whether they’re exploring how communities can protect limited water supplies, prepare for more extreme weather, or create cities where people and the planet can thrive, students have an opportunity to dig into real-world issues and share their ideas for solutions.
And there’s more than $10,000 in prizes up for grabs! The contest officially opened on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Entries are due March 3, 2027. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and we hope this will give students plenty of time to research, storyboard, film, and polish their work before submitting. Winners will be announced in May 2027.
Turning Big Challenges into Student Ideas
Since the contest began, tens of thousands of students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries have participated. Past videos have explored topics ranging from food and agriculture to ocean health, energy, urbanization, and biodiversity.
The World of 8 Billion contest gives students a chance to look beyond the challenges themselves and ask an important question: What can we do about them? Through research, creativity, and storytelling, students investigate how population growth can be a threat multiplier, making other challenges more dangerous and harder to mitigate. Then, they turn what they’ve learned into a compelling 60-second video.
Along the way, students build skills in research, critical thinking, communication, and media production. The contest can also complement learning across subjects, making it a great way to bring real-world problem-solving into the classroom. “This contest gives teachers a hands-on way to connect classroom learning to the challenges students see in the world around them,” says Pam Wasserman, VP for Population Education. “Students aren’t just learning about these issues – they’re researching solutions, forming their own ideas, and using their voices to share them.”
Teachers: Bring the Contest into Your Classroom
Educators who want to incorporate the World of 8 Billion contest into their classrooms can apply for a $100-$500 mini-grant to help support their students’ participation. Mini-grant applications are due October 30, 2026. Learn more and apply at worldof8billion.org/grant.
Ready to see what students come up with? Learn more about the World of 8 Billion student video contest and start creating at worldof8billion.org. Follow #Worldof8Billion on Facebook and Bluesky, and be sure to sign-up for Teacher Update emails.
