Competition + Syllabus

Format overview, phases, and official syllabus topics.

Phase 1: Online Qualifying Exam

2 tracks: individual (Bee) or team (Bowl). Includes multiple-choice questions assessing conceptual understanding, applied reasoning, and scenario-based systems thinking.

Open March 1 - April 30, 2026 • 1 attempt

Phrase 2: National Project Challenge

Project-based learning. Teams investigate themes in their own country, develop a feasible solution, and submit a report + concise video.

Judged on relevance, innovation, feasibility, communication, and evidence.

Phase 3: International Finals

In-person mini cases. Teams receive the same scenario, prepare a presentation, and answer Q&A.

Panel selects the International Champion by final vote.

Syllabus

Ten interdisciplinary core thematic areas

01

Earth Systems & Biogeochemical Cycles

Earth spheres: atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere
Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles
Energy and matter flow
Feedback loops and system interactions

04

Ecology, Biodiversity & Conservation

Ecosystem structure and function
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Trophic levels and food webs
Habitat loss, fragmentation, and restoration
Conservation strategies

07

Pollution, Waste & Circular Economy

Air, water, and soil pollution
Solid waste management
Recycling and material recovery
Plastics and emerging contaminants
Circular economy principles

10 Systems Thinking, Data Analysis & Integrated Solutions

Systems modeling and feedback loops
Data interpretation and visualization
Trend analysis and pattern recognition
Risk, uncertainty, and error analysis
Quantitative reasoning and estimation
Scenario analysis and decision-making
Trade-offs, optimization, and sustainability metrics
Integrated problem-solving using real-world data

02 Climate Science & Global Change

Greenhouse effect and radiative balance
Climate drivers and feedback mechanisms
Climate modeling and uncertainty
Impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies

03

Energy Systems & Transitions

Renewable and non-renewable energy sources
Energy efficiency and conservation
Electrification and energy storage
Energy economics and policy
Lifecycle analysis (LCA)

05 Water Resources & Management

Global freshwater distribution
Hydrologic cycle
Groundwater and surface water
Water scarcity and security
Water pollution and treatment

06 Food Systems & Sustainable Agirculture

Agricultural systems and food production
Soil health and nutrient management
Irrigation and water efficiency
Food security and food waste
Sustainable farming practices

08

Materials, Chemistry & Green Technology

Sustainable materials
Green chemistry principles
Life-cycle thinking
Resource extraction and processing
Technological innovation for sustainability

09

Environmental Economics, Policy & Governance

Market mechanisms and externalities
Environmental policy tools
Sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Environmental justice and equity
International environmental agreements

Exam format

Bee track (individual)

First round: 10 questions / 15 mins (80%+ to qualify) • Second round: 50 questions / 60 mins (85%+ to advance)

Bowl track (team)

First round: 20 questions / 30 mins • Second round: 70 questions / 90 mins

Team composition: 2–4 students

Attempts

1 attempts in Phase 1.

Registration due March 1 - April 30 • Fee details on the Registration section