The Schweickart Prize is awarded annually to an exceptional individual or team of graduate students and/or post-doc fellows for their innovative ideas and their potential for leadership in the advancement of planetary defense. Award applicants must submit a proposal for an innovative and original idea that, looking forward, would materially improve planetary defense capabilities in one or more areas that include asteroid impact prediction, impact mitigation, mitigation law and public policy development, and public outreach and education. The proposals are judged based on originality, implementability and likelihood to materially advance planetary defense.
The winning recipient will receive:
To apply, students must complete three separate steps including pre-application, proposal submission and, if selected as a finalist, an interview, which will assess their ability to articulate, defend, and refine their proposals based on feedback from the Schweickart Prize Selection Committee.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 5, 2025
Applicants must either be currently enrolled in a graduate or professional program beyond their undergraduate degree at an accredited university or have completed such a program within the previous year.
Eligible programs include, but are not limited to:
Team applications are encouraged, with the following criteria:
If an applicant's submission is not successful, they may reapply every year as long as they meet eligibility requirements. However, an applicant may only be awarded the Schweickart Prize once as an individual or as part of a group.
To be considered for the Schweickart Prize, applicants must first complete a pre-application form prior to the full proposal submission.
All application steps must be completed by March 5th, 2025.
1. The pre-application form requests the following required information:
2. Request two letters of recommendation, one for each of the selection criteria and have the author send them to sprize@b612foundation.org by/before March 5, 2025.
3. Submit the following materials as PDF attachments to sprize@b612foundation.org:
After assessment of the applications by the Schweickart Prize organization, select applicants will be contacted to participate in the interview phase, which will happen mid-April 2025. Interviews will be held by video conference between each finalist (or finalist group) and the Selection Committee. Finalists will be requested to submit a final version of their proposal (finished word count can be up to 1,000 words), taking into account questions and comments from the interview.
2025 Schweickart Prize Proposal Guidance
Find out more of the technical requirements and expectations for your proposal.
Read this year’s theme to inspire your proposal.
A collection of websites for students to learn more about the current state of planetary defense.
The SUNSET Collaboration Proposal aims to address the challenge of discovering SNEOs.
This area focuses on detecting, tracking, and characterizing asteroids to better understand their composition, trajectories, and potential threats. It also includes developing innovative technologies for deflection and impact mitigation to safeguard Earth.
Proposals in this category address the creation of international agreements, local evacuation plans, and frameworks for global cooperation. They explore how nations can share responsibilities and resources to effectively respond to asteroid threats.
This area emphasizes strategies for informing and educating the public about asteroid risks, from designing early warning systems to crafting effective evacuation messaging. It also includes public education campaigns and engaging media to ensure accurate information dissemination.
Legal-focused proposals explore space law, liability, and accountability in planetary defense, while economic frameworks examine funding, insurance, and financial preparedness. These solutions aim to create fair and sustainable systems for addressing asteroid threats.
Social and Ethical Considerations
Proposals in this area tackle issues of equity, ethical decision-making, and cultural sensitivities in planetary defense planning. They explore ways to involve communities, ensure fair access to resources, and address the broader societal impacts of asteroid threats.