Macmillan Education Caribbean has announced the launch of the 2025 Young Environmental Scientists (YES) Competition, set to commence in early October 2025.
The group stated in a press release that the initiative invites primary school students aged 7 to 11 from across the Caribbean to participate in a contest that emphasizes environmental awareness and scientific exploration. Both regional and national recognitions will be awarded, with a single overall winner selected from the entire region.
Additionally, country-specific winners will be announced based on the number of entries received. Beyond accolades, victorious teams will be awarded a classroom workshop and monetary vouchers redeemable at local bookstores, continuing the tradition of providing practical, educational rewards aimed at enhancing students’ skills and classroom resources.
Macmillan Education Caribbean emphasizes that the YES Competition serves a purpose beyond mere competition.
According to Marketing Manager Katy Corderoy, “It is a platform for cultivating environmental awareness, fostering critical thinking, encouraging teamwork, and nurturing scientific curiosity among young people across the Caribbean. With each new cycle, the competition amplifies the voices of young environmental scientists and empowers a new
generation to drive sustainable change in their communities.”
Organizers stated that the competition also welcomes older students aged 12 to 18, inviting them to explore local environmental issues and develop innovative, actionable solutions aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Over recent years, the YES Competition has reportedly inspired impressive and innovative contributions from young participants. For example, the company shared that in the previous year’s edition, four students from Windsor Primary School in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines created a sustainable, plant-based battery using non-toxic local materials.
Their project, which was inspired by their success at the VINLEC National Science Fair, earned them fourth place in the primary category of the YES Competition. They were only surpassed by teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Guyana. Such accomplishments highlight the diverse creativity and regional interest that the competition continues to evoke.
The 2025 edition encourages student teams of four to identify and tackle urgent environmental challenges within their communities. Participants are tasked with creating a short video, lasting between two and five minutes, that presents their research, proposed solutions, and the anticipated impact of their work. Visual aids such as models, posters, or photographs are encouraged to enrich their presentations.
Entries for the 2025 competition will be accepted until Friday, November 28, 2025. Submissions must be uploaded via the official competition portal by a teacher, parent, or guardian. The competition aims to amplify the voices of young environmental advocates and empower a new generation to lead sustainable change in their regions.
Further details, including guidelines and submission procedures, can be obtained by contacting [email protected] or through the entry portal at https://forms.microsoft.com/e/AVE58k4uss.
Macmillan Education Caribbean said it eagerly anticipates the innovative ideas and creative solutions that this year’s participants will present, celebrating their efforts toward fostering a greener, more sustainable future for the Caribbean.