Deadline:
January 27, 2025
Location(s)
Online
Overview
The Nine Dots Prize is a prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary societal issues. Entrants are asked to respond to a question in 3,000 words, with the winner receiving US$100,000 to write a short book expanding on their ideas.
Details
The aim of the Prize is to promote, encourage and engage innovative thinking to address problems facing the modern world. The name of the Prize references the nine dots puzzle – a lateral thinking puzzle which can only be solved by thinking outside the box.
The Prize was established in 2016 and has chosen four winners so far. Previous questions have considered issues around how politics is influenced by digital technologies, what home is, how the relationships between young and old affect the world, and why the rule of law has become so fragile.
Our fifth Cycle launched in October 2024 with the question 'Is data failing us?'
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
- The Nine Dots Prize is an international competition, welcoming entrants from across the globe.
- You do not need any specific qualifications to enter the Nine Dots Prize.
- The only stipulations are that applicants must be 18 years of age or over and that responses and the resulting book must be in English.
- Trustees of the Foundation, Board members of the Prize, or their family members, are not eligible.
What are the judging criteria?
The Board will award the Prize to the entry that in their view best responds to the set question. Responses can critique, agree or disagree with, or reject the premise of the question set, but they must engage with it fully and insightfully. The Board will be looking for originality of the ideas and arguments put forward, the ways in which the ideas are communicated and the conclusions or recommendations that the author comes to.
The Prize will be judged anonymously. The Board members will make their decision on anonymised versions of the response and outline structure only. The Prize organising team may use the justification statement and other information provided to validate the submissions. However, the final decision will be made on the strength and originality of the response to the set question.
Dates
Deadline: January 27, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
- The winner will receive support from the Nine Dots team throughout the period of writing the book. The opportunity to spend a term at CRASSH will provide a creative environment in which to develop their ideas and writing. The winner will also receive editorial support from an experienced team at Cambridge University Press.
- The US$100,000 is payable in three stages: on announcement of the winner; on delivery of the manuscript to CUP; and on publication of the book.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
