Blue Peter has launched a brand new competition searching for the next generation of young inventors, problem solvers and change-makers, giving young viewers the chance to be recognised by His Royal Highness, Prince William’s prestigious Earthshot Prize.
Children aged 5-15 are invited to submit an original idea aimed at achieving one of the five ‘Earthshots,” the aspirational environmental goals established by The Earthshot Prize: Fix our Climate, Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans and Build a Waste-free World.
Blue Peter is looking for aspiring environmentalists and leaders to describe their idea or innovation to help create a healthy, sustainable future: what it looks like, how it can be used and what benefit it could bring to the planet; and accompany this with a drawing or poster to bring the idea to life.
The competition also has the backing of five environmental champions who will introduce the topics and present Blue Peter films about projects in the UK working to protect and restore the planet:
- Fix Our Climate: Steve Backshall – Wildlife TV presenter and conservationist
- Protect and Restore Nature: Hamza Yassin – Wildlife Camera Operator, Conservationist and TV Presenter
- Clean Our Air: Bonnie Wright – Actress, Filmmaker and Environmentalist
- Revive Our Oceans: Inka Creswell – Wildlife Filmmaker and Marine Biologist
- Build a Waste Free World: Sam Bentley – Social Media Creator and Entrepreneur
Founded in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is scouring the globe for inspiring ideas, innovations, and technologies to protect the planet and create a healthy, sustainable future for all people. Innovators identified by The Earthshot Prize are helping solve some of our biggest environmental challenges by developing exciting projects, products, and technologies.
“I started the Earthshot Prize to search for solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges and we want to find the next generation of young inventors who can make a change,” says HRH Prince William.
“The optimism, creativity, and ingenuity of young people is the fuel that powers The Earthshot Prize and our efforts to find and support exciting environmental innovations,” says Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize. “We’re thrilled to partner with Blue Peter to inspire young minds to use their boundless imagination to envision the future they want to live in.”
Steve Backshall says: “We hope to empower children to see that their ideas can come to life and really make a difference. I hope we can guide Blue Peter viewers to learn about environmental challenges and inspire them to dream up their own inventive ideas as solutions!”
Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+ says: “Blue Peter has a proud history of engaging children in real world issues, and since 1988, the green badge has inspired kids to make positive changes to live in a more environmentally friendly way. We can’t wait to see the ideas, inventions and creative solutions that kids come up with to improve the world around them.”
The ideas will be judged in age categories and there will be five overall winners, one for each of the Earthshot categories. The winners will each receive a certificate and win an exclusive Blue Peter Orange competition winner’s badge.
They will also be invited to take part in special VIP filming with Blue Peter and receive a copy of the Earthshot Prize book ‘A Handbook for Dreamers and Thinkers: Solutions to Repair our Planet’.
The competition is open to UK residents aged between 5 and 15 years of age. Entries, competition rules and privacy notes can be found on the Blue Peter website.
Teachers and pupils can also engage with the competition through BBC Teach, as one of their Planet Create classroom challenges, with free resources for teachers to support this initiative. Primary pupils are encouraged to think about the environment and how they can lead a more sustainable life in an engaging and fun way; with Blue Peter’s new competition as their latest challenge for schools.
The competition closes on Monday 28 October 2024 at 5pm and the winner will be announced on Blue Peter in 2025.