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Phase 1

Format overview, phases, and official syllabus topics.

This stage is 100% free of charge and serves as the official gateway to the Phase 2 National Challenge. Upon completion, every participant will receive an official Certificate of Completion to recognize their commitment to sustainable leadership. This qualifying round is proudly hosted by the Human and Nature Youth Club.

Syllabus

Ten interdisciplinary core thematic areas

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

Unlimited attempts in Phase 1.

Registration due April 15 - June 30 • Free

01
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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

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

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03
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Energy Systems & Transitions

  • Renewable and non-renewable energy sources

  • Energy efficiency and conservation

  • Electrification and energy storage

  • Energy economics and policy

  • Lifecycle analysis (LCA)

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04
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Ecology, Biodiversity & Conservation

  • Ecosystem structure and function

  • Biodiversity and ecosystem services

  • Trophic levels and food webs

  • Habitat loss, fragmentation, and restoration

  • Conservation strategies

05
Water Resources & Management

  • Global freshwater distribution

  • Hydrologic cycle

  • Groundwater and surface water

  • Water scarcity and security

  • Water pollution and treatment

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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

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Pollution, Waste & Circular Economy

  • Air, water, and soil pollution

  • Solid waste management

  • Recycling and material recovery

  • Plastics and emerging contaminants

  • Circular economy principles

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Materials, Chemistry & Green Technology

  • Sustainable materials

  • Green chemistry principles

  • Life-cycle thinking

  • Resource extraction and processing

  • Technological innovation for sustainability

09
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Environmental Economics, Policy & Governance

  • Market mechanisms and externalities

  • Environmental policy tools

  • Sustainable development goals (SDGs)

  • Environmental justice and equity

  • International environmental agreements

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

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International Sustainability Bee and Bowl

Interdisciplinary sustainability competition for Grade 8–12 students.

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

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