Deadline:
March 30, 2025
Location(s)
Online
Overview
The Millennium Oceans Prize is returning for its tenth year to support and celebrate students who are passionate about conserving, protecting, and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine water and life.
Details
The Millennium Oceans Prize targets Sustainable Development Goal 14 by celebrating youth activists who are focused on enriching their communities through advancing marine and freshwater conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Prize winners will receive mentorship and a $5,000 prize for implementation of a concrete campaign idea to spark change and garner support in advocacy, policy, and leadership for oceans and freshwater systems.
THE ISSUE
The state of our oceans and freshwater systems is in peril. 500 million people depend on the fishing industry for their livelihoods, and over 2 billion people depend on seafood as their main or only source of protein. Overfishing, pollution and unsustainable practices are endangering these livelihoods and food security.
Communities from the Lobstermen of Maine, to the Usipa harvesters of Malawi, rely on fish for sustenance, income and community. Now, almost 30% of fisheries worldwide are depleted/over-exploited and 60% are already exploited to capacity. We are counting on young people everywhere to change these trends. This is especially important for the Kingdom of Morocco, which is the largest fishing market in Africa.
The Millennium Oceans Prize celebrates youth activism advancing Marine and Freshwater conservation, and sustainable use of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and marine resources. Initiatives that champion sustainable fisheries will receive special consideration. The objectives of this Prize are reflected in the proposed United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14. The Prize and Campaign it enables is supported by Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and the Remmer Family Foundation.
TIMELINE
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Nov 10, 2024: 11th Annual Millennium Ocean Prize Opens
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January 31st, 2025 - 11:59 pm EST: Priority I Deadline - Early applications strongly encouraged.
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February 28th, 2025 - 11:59 pm EST: Priority II Deadline
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March 30th, 2025 - 11:59 pm EST: Final Deadline
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April 2025- June, 2025: Review Period
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July 2025: Finalists invited for a brief interview
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August 2025: 11th Annual Millennium Oceans Prize winner announced
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August 2025-May 2025: Campaign is in action
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Summer/Fall 2026: Campaign results shared
About MCN
The Millennium Campus Network (MCN), Inc., is a global student network advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. MCN programs convene, challenge, and celebrate student leadership for social impact. The network, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has worked directly with over 5,500 young leaders from 300 universities through its programs.
75% of MCN alumni are now in social impact careers; over half share MCN programs definitively prepared them for success. MCN Advisors include Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Paul Farmer, and John Legend. Millennium Campuses include Georgetown University, Brandeis University, and Lynn University.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for campaign ideas that are concrete and can rally your peers to mobilize in this sector. How can you engage youth leaders on other campuses and in communities across the globe to fight for and champion advocacy and leadership for the oceans, freshwater systems, sustainable fishing, and marine conservation? Your campaign could take shape through activism, social entrepreneurship, or research. How will you mobilize your community and inspire youth leaders world-wide to take part in the fight for sustainable practices that protect our oceans and freshwater systems?
Dates
Deadline: March 30, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
THE PRIZE
The best part of this prize is the opportunity to cultivate a community of peers who care just as much about the oceans and marine resources as you do. Here are the specifics:
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Up to $5,000 to implement your winning campaign
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Mentorship and support from MCN
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Co-curate campaign action groups, mobilizing and coordinating with peers who are passionate about SDG 14
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Write for our media partners about your campaign
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Co-curate global webinars with the MCN and the Remmer Family Foundation during the academic year to keep peers engaged and involved.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
