GEORGETOWN FUTURE SHAPERS CHALLENGE

 

Building a Sustainable and Equitable Future Through Innovation

As the world faces unprecedented global challenges, from accelerating climate change to widening social inequalities, the need for transformative leadership has never been greater. The GFSC 2025 theme, Building a Sustainable and Equitable Future Through Innovation, calls on young leaders to craft bold policies at the nexus of sustainability, technology, and equity. Cities, as hubs of greenhouse gas emissions, must embrace innovative urban solutions to combat climate change while prioritizing the needs of vulnerable communities. At the same time, advancements in artificial intelligence present opportunities to revolutionize industries and address critical global issues, but only if developed responsibly with a focus on ethics and equitable access. Addressing global disparities requires policies that ensure shared benefits from natural resource use, universal access to education, and the protection of fragile ecosystems. GFSC challenges participants to think critically and collaboratively as they design solutions to create a future that is not only innovative but also inclusive and sustainable for generations to come.

ABOUT US

The Georgetown International Relations Association is proud to host the second annual Future Shapers Challenge virtually involving middle school and high school students. The Future Shapers Challenge is an annual two-round innovation competition that encourages young people across the world to help design an innovation that will positively impact relations between G20 countries.

Each year, teams of 2-5 students from junior high and high schools in the G20 countries will help design and present an innovation that serves to help improve the relationship between the G20. Through the Georgetown Future Shapers Challenge, students will learn more about the often undiscussed intersection between diplomacy and other areas of study, including the humanities and sciences.

 

Allow students to discover unique approaches to diplomacy between the G20 countries

TIMELINE

Registration Deadline — March 31, 2025

Preliminary Round Submission — April 15, 2025

Finalists Announcement — April 30, 2025

Final Round Submission & Pitch — May 17-18, 2025

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

 

CHALLENGE CATEGORIES

Categories: The three categories for the Georgetown Future Shapers Challenge 2025 are Sustainability, Technology, and Equity & Development . Your innovation to strengthen the bond between the G20 countries should follow fit into one of these categories.

Sustainability

Sustainability lies at the heart of pressing global challenges, from mitigating climate change to preserving the planet’s biodiversity. Cities, responsible for over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, are uniquely positioned to lead the fight against climate change by implementing innovative urban policies in transportation, energy, and waste management. At the same time, sustainability extends to safeguarding fragile ecosystems, such as the deep sea, from unchecked exploitation. As the demand for resources like critical minerals grows, balancing economic development with environmental protection is essential to ensure long-term ecological health and equitable access for future generations.

Equity & Development

Global disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and solutions remain a significant barrier to progress, particularly for vulnerable populations. Urban climate action must prioritize equity by addressing the unique challenges faced by communities in both the Global North and South. Similarly, efforts to regulate deep-sea mining must ensure that resource benefits are shared equitably under the principle of the "common heritage of humankind." Lastly, addressing childhood mortality, food insecurity, and malnutrition is critical to advancing comprehensive development, breaking cycles of poverty, and ensuring that every child has the foundation for a healthy and prosperous future.

Technology

Technological innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, offers immense potential to revolutionize industries and tackle critical global challenges like sustainable development. AI can drive breakthroughs in sectors such as energy, healthcare, and education, enabling more efficient and impactful solutions to climate adaptation and mitigation. However, technology must be carefully managed to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities or causing unintended societal harms. Harnessing AI responsibly offers an unprecedented opportunity to foster sustainability while addressing the urgent needs of a changing planet.

 

INNOVATIONS FROM PAST CHALLENGES

Business

  • Increasing educational opportunities for entrepreneurship competitions amongst young scholars from G20 countries;   

  • Hosting cross-sector international conferences among G20 countries that allow individuals to share their opinions on ongoing international issues;  

  • Proposals on governmental policies that eliminate barriers among international cooperation of public and private cooperation among G20 Countries.

Film

  • Increasing partnership between G20 Countries in film production;  

  • Pop artist collaboration between G20 Countries;  

  • Preserving and sharing artistic traditions of smaller ethnic groups within G20 Countries;  

  • Sponsoring film festivals among G20 Countries.

Health

  • Cooperation in research and development in biotechnology and bioinformatics among G20 countries;

  • Cooperation in disease control among G20 countries;

  • Establishing companies that are dedicated in foreign direct investment in health-related industries;