Yearly competition Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences

29-05-2026

 

Every year each Section of the Academy puts two questions forward on specific subjects. Each award-winning work in the yearly competition is granted a prize of 2,500 EUR.

  • In its February meeting, each Section sets the theme on which the question will be focused and appoints two members in charge of writing it. In its March meeting, each Section approves the final text of the question. Each question should be worded as broadly as possible in order to generate a real competition.
  • The competition is open to all scientists worldwide without any age restriction. Academy members are not allowed to take part.

 

Questions for the 2027 competition

Studies must reach the secretariat of the Academy before 1 March 2027.

Question 1

A study is requested on the difficult relationships between science, popularization and disinformation about non-European worlds.

Question 2

A study is requested on the environmental dynamics at work under the impact of climate change in overseas regions, focusing on the adaptation responses developed by societies according to their vulnerability, as well as strategies for the sustainable management of environments.

Question 3

An original study is requested to sustainably improve river navigability and the development of integrated transport chains in tropical river basins served mainly by natural waterways.

 

Questions for the Competition 2028

Studies must reach the secretariat of the Academy before 1 March 2028.

Question 1

A study is requested in the humanities or social sciences on how the general public and/or the academic and/or political worlds currently apprehend the Belgian colonial past or the Congolese colonial past.

Question 2

A study is requested on the impact of climate change on the spread of tropical diseases in humans or animals through changes in biodiversity and vector ecology.

Question 3

A scientific study is requested on sustainable circular economy models in one or more overseas countries.

 

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