Student Awards

Three competitions for the next generation of thinkers

Ideas and argument, reasoning and structure, design and implementation. The Forum’s three student competitions ask one question from three directions: how can AI strengthen democratic life?

i.

Essay Prize

For ideas and argument: original student research on AI and democratic institutions.

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ii.

Applied Mathematics Challenge

For reasoning and structure: Olympiad-difficulty problems through the lens of AI.

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iii.

Engineering for Society Challenge

For design and implementation: responsible AI solutions to real social problems.

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Competition i

The Forum Prize for AI & Democracy

An essay prize recognising original student research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and democratic governance.

About the prize

Each year the Forum recognises one outstanding piece of student research — an essay, thesis chapter or working paper — that advances public understanding of how AI systems interact with democratic institutions. The winner presents their work at a Forum session and joins a Forum working group for the following year.

The Prize is judged by the Evaluation Committee. Submissions are reviewed anonymously.

Key facts
EligibilityUndergraduate & graduate students, any nationality
Format3,000–8,000 word paper, English or French
Deadline15 January, annually
NotificationLate February
Prize€5,000 and a fully-funded trip to the Forum
Competition ii

Applied Mathematics Challenge

An applied mathematics competition at Olympiad difficulty, designed to test reasoning, creativity and problem-solving through the lens of AI and democratic society.

About the Challenge

The AI Democracy Forum Applied Mathematics Challenge is a selective competition for students who want to test their problem-solving ability through the lens of artificial intelligence, governance and the public good.

Combining the depth of an Olympiad with the precision of a high-level aptitude test, it invites students to tackle problems inspired by real questions facing AI systems today: uncertainty, ranking, decision-making, fairness, optimisation and the structure of intelligent systems. This is not a conventional mathematics contest. It is an applied challenge for students who enjoy difficult problems and want to think seriously about the ideas that shape the future of AI and society.

Competition format

Round 1 · Applied reasoning qualifierA timed online round of shorter questions in a TMUA-hard style, testing speed, accuracy and reasoning across probability, logic, algebra, optimisation and data interpretation.
Round 2 · Olympiad-style finalShortlisted students tackle fewer but more demanding problems requiring careful reasoning, multi-step analysis and original insight, which may include structured-response or proof-style questions.
Reflection promptFinalists may be invited to reflect briefly on how one of the problems relates to AI, governance or the public good.

How entries are judged

Entries are assessed by the Evaluation Committee, with expertise in mathematics, AI, education and public policy, on mathematical reasoning, originality, clarity of thought, accuracy, depth of insight and relevance to the applied AI theme.

Why we created it

As AI becomes more influential in everyday life, it is increasingly important to support students who can reason clearly about the systems, trade-offs and choices that shape the technology, and to bring mathematical excellence together with public-interest thinking.

Who can enter

Students in their penultimate year of study, or an equivalent level defined by the Forum. No programming experience or specialist AI background is required.

  • Problem solving and logical reasoning
  • Applied mathematics
  • Data and uncertainty
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Society, governance and democracy
Example topic areas
  • Probability and uncertainty
  • Fairness and error rates
  • Decision thresholds
  • Ranking and recommendation
  • Network effects
  • Optimisation under constraints
  • Logical inference
  • Model behaviour and trade-offs
Awards
  • Winner’s prize and runner-up recognition
  • Certificates for shortlisted finalists
  • Publication or feature opportunities
  • Invitations to Forum events
  • Mentorship with experts
Competition iii

Engineering for Society Challenge

A competition for students to design responsible AI solutions to real-world social problems.

About the Challenge

The Engineering for Society Challenge invites students to think like engineers, product builders and systems designers: to identify a real-world need, design an AI-enabled response and explain how it could work safely, fairly and effectively in practice.

This is not a hackathon for speed alone. It is a challenge for students who can combine technical imagination with an understanding of users, constraints, risks and societal value.

Competition format

Stage 1 · Concept briefA short idea describing the problem, the users or communities affected, how AI is involved, why it matters, and what makes the approach responsible and feasible.
Stage 2 · Design developmentShortlisted entrants develop their idea into a prototype, clickable mockup, system design, technical concept paper or product blueprint.
Stage 3 · Final presentationFinalists present to a panel: the technical approach, user experience, social problem, risks and trade-offs, and how the solution could be deployed responsibly.

Evaluation criteria

Problem relevance, quality of design or engineering, feasibility, originality, user focus, responsible AI thinking, social impact and clarity of communication. The strongest entries show both technical credibility and a clear sense of public purpose.

Why we created it

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in public life, we want to support the next generation of engineers and designers who think not only about what is possible, but about what is responsible, useful and fair.

Who can enter

Students in their penultimate year of study, or another eligible level defined by the Forum, entering individually or as a team.

  • Engineering and computer science
  • Product and systems design
  • Human-computer interaction
  • Civic technology
  • Responsible AI and social innovation
Areas of interest
  • Access to public services
  • Education and learning
  • Trustworthy public information
  • Accessibility and inclusion
  • Civic participation
  • Transparency and trust in institutions
  • Media literacy
Awards
  • Winner and runner-up prizes
  • Certificates and shortlist recognition
  • Showcase and publication opportunities
  • Invitations to Forum events
  • Mentorship and the chance to present to partners
Rules for all competitions

All entries must be the entrant’s or team’s own original work, completed without unauthorised assistance, submitted in the required format by the published deadline, and include each entrant’s name, school or institution, year of study and contact details. The Forum reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not meet the rules.