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Each year, since 2011, the RELX Environmental Challenge has awarded projects that best demonstrate how they can provide sustainable access to safe water or sanitation. Awarding a $50,000 prize for the first place entry and a $25,000 prize for the second place entry, winners also receive free access for one year to ScienceDirect, our Scientific, Technical & Medical business’ database of full text, scientific information, including almost 250,000 articles since 2000 in Environmental Sciences.
In 2026, as we celebrate 15 years of impact, the Challenge introduces an expanded prize structure. There will now be two awards of $75,000 each:
Projects must demonstrate clear practical applicability, address a defined need, and contribute to advancing related issues such as health, education, equity, or human rights.
The RELX Environmental Challenge is open to individuals and organisations operating in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors.
Clean Water or Sanitation Category: Projects must advance sustainable access to safe water where it is at risk and/or improve access to sanitation.
Ocean Category: Projects must support ocean health, marine ecosystems, or ocean-based solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability and resilience.
All submissions will be evaluated against the following criteria:
These are the criteria against which projects will be assessed. Each winning project will receive a single payment of $75,000. Early stage projects are preferred.
The RELX Environmental Challenge 2026 is open to applications until 23:59 GMT on 12 July 2026.
Read the Official Challenge rules and Apply Here https://relxenvironmentalchallenge.awardsplatform.com