With a new year ahead of us, we face big challenges but exciting opportunities. So I’m eagerly looking forward to a new semester, progress against the pandemic, and a fresh start that will see the climate crisis, environmental equity, and sustainability become the urgent priorities we know them to be. 

I’m also looking forward to new programming and opportunities for you here at Planet Forward! 

I’m delighted to announce Planet Forward’s seventh annual Storyfest competition! We’ll recognize and reward the best, most compelling student-told stories that focus on ideas and innovations that address climate change, sustainability, environmental equity. Stories qualify for Storyfest if posted to PlanetForward.org between June 1, 2020, and March 26, 2021. 

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: 

• Best Science Essay 

• Most Compelling Character 

• Most Creativity in the Art of Storytelling

• Best Use of Data

• Best Scalable Innovation. 

The Fan Favorite will also be back, where the audience selects the winner! 

You can see contest details of each category on our Storyfest page and please see the Official Rules for particulars of the contest. If you still have questions, the Storyfest FAQs should answer them. If not, feel free to reach out to storyfest@planetforward.org. For inspiration, see the great work of the Storyfest 2020 winners. 

Grand Prize winners will receive $500 cash, which can be used to purchase production equipment or fund a future storytelling project. Winners will also have 50 trees planted in their name in a US National Forest by our Planet Forward partners, One Tree Planted. 

Stories inform, inspire, and prompt action. They elevate ideas and introduce us to people who make a difference. 

We look forward to seeing your story …  to move the planet forward.