Three awards of $1 million are available to recognise and support researchers whose work contributes to combating global environmental challenges.

The Frontiers Research Foundation is inviting submissions for the fifth (2027) edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize, which recognises transformational research that shows the greatest potential to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.

The main ambition of the prize is to mobilize the scientific community in a pragmatic, concerted global effort to develop breakthrough ideas and solutions in the field of planetary boundary science. The prize focuses on nine planetary environmental and ecological boundaries that, if crossed, could lead to irreversible, runaway environmental change:

• Stratospheric ozone depletion.
• Loss of biosphere integrity.
• Chemical pollution.
• Climate change.
• Ocean acidification.
• Freshwater consumption.
• Land system change.
• Novel entities.
• Atmospheric aerosol loading.

Entry is open to researchers and research teams affiliated with universities and research institutions across the world that are registered as National Nominating Bodies (NNBs). Researchers can submit research papers to their NNB, which have their own respective internal application process and will compile submissions between May and September.

The NNBs forward their top three submissions to their National Representative Body, which will determine the top three national entries to go forward for judging. Winners are announced on 22 April on Earth Day.

Three International Champions will each receive a prize of $1 million to support their work and accelerate the scale and impact of their breakthrough research. The winners will also receive support to attend relevant international conferences and regional events to further promote their work.

Applicants should consult the directory of NNBs and check for the invitation for submissions at their respective host institution.