Biosphere Reserve Champions 2024
The United Schools Organisation Of India (USO), in collaboration with UNESCO, is proud to launch Biosphere Reserve Champions – National Competition for a Sustainable Future, a commendable program designed to provide school students with a comprehensive understanding of critical environmental issues from a scientific standpoint. Through this comprehensive program, participants will delve into and experience topics such as climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable practices. Using innovative approaches, Biosphere Champions empowers schools to increase awareness in their immediate communities about the environmental issues we face today. By engaging students in hands-on activities and real-world applications, the program not only educates but also inspires young individuals to become proactive stewards of the environment, fostering a generation that is well-informed and ready to advocate for sustainable solutions.
A dynamic collaboration between
Empowering Schools for sustainability - environmental Education
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.
Biosphere Reserve Champions: A Brief
‘Biosphere Reserve Champions’ is a National Competition for a Sustainable Future for school students from Std. 6-12 to promote and engage in the protection and sustainable management of the Earth’s biosphere reserves. Through this well-rounded program, students shall increase their awareness of the environment. All participants will delve into and experience topics such as – Climate Change; Biodiversity and Sustainable Practices. Using innovative approaches, these schools will then increase awareness in their immediate community about environment issues present today. This will greatly help us for a sustainable future.
Biosphere Reserve Champions: Purpose
This program is designed to equip school students with comprehensive scientific knowledge about crucial environmental issues with an overarching goal of cultivating a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship. This program shall empower schools – through their teachers and students – to make more conscientious and innovative efforts for the betterment of the environment, leading to a more sustainable future. We also aim to ignite a passion for environmental responsibility by instilling in students the understanding that our actions – however small – can bring about change.
Biosphere Reserve Champions: SDG Focus
Through this program, schools, teachers, and students shall not only learn about critical environmental issues but be also inspired to take meaningful action for a sustainable future. By integrating the principles of the SDGs into the program, we aim to cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious leaders committed to achieving a sustainable future for all. The students will not only learn about the importance of environmental stewardship but also actively participate in creating solutions that align with global sustainability goals. The following SDGs shall strongly apply to this program:
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is the practice of fulfilling current needs without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their requirements. It involves a harmonious balance between economic development, environmental protection, and social equity. By implementing sustainable practices, we can ensure the conservation of natural resources, the reduction of pollution, and the promotion of a more just and healthy society. Sustainability is paramount for safeguarding the health of our planet and securing a high quality of life for future generations.
Register Your School, And Give Your Teachers and Students
A Unique Opportunity To Be Invited To Delhi!!!
Biosphere Reserve Champions: School Registration Form
Biosphere Reserve Champions is open to all schools in India. There is a nominal fee from schools for participation in all three phases of the program. There is no fee for students to participate. The school registration fees are as follows:
- USO Member Schools (members as of May 31, 2024): Rs. 350
- All other schools: Rs. 500
- No Registration fee from students.
Schools need to fill online registration form, which also includes an online payment link.
Biosphere Reserve Champions: Details
This unique program shall be conducted in three phases to cultivate a holistic approach to environmental education to inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders and hence a more sustainable future. Each phase is strategically designed to progressively immerse students, teachers, and their immediate community in a transformative journey.
This program is open for all schools in India. It is open for all teachers and students of Std 6-12.
Nominal registration fees from schools shall apply as follows:
- USO Member Schools (members as of May 31, 2024): Rs. 350
- All other schools: Rs. 500
- No Registration fee from students.
Register Here: https://usoindia.org/bc2024/
Phase I – Comprehensive Learning Journey.
It is divided into 3 parts:
- Part 1 – Webinar Series: Students will explore Biosphere Reserves, ecosystems, environment, and personal connections in three UNESCO-led webinars.
- Part 2 – Community Clean-up Drive: The school will organize a community clean-up focusing on waste management, including recycling and responsible plastic disposal, at a local water body or public area.
- Part 3 – Awareness Campaign: After the clean-up drive, the school must hold an awareness camp for parents and the immediate community.
Following the clean-up drive and awareness camp, schools must submit reports on both events and provide lists of participating students and teachers using the provided templates.
Please have a look at the timeline below for details.
Phase II – Capturing Environmental Challenges
This phase will invite written scripts from students on environmental challenges in their community, emphasizing pollution, waste management, and climate change.
Please have a look at the timeline below for details.
Phase III – Script-To-Video Showdown
Selected students submit videos based on their scripts; the top 10 finalists will be invited to Delhi for the final competition event, where they will present their videos.
Please have a look at the timeline below for details
The mission of the Biosphere Reserve Champions Challenge is to inspire and motivate young students to share their creative ideas on a national platform. Through this program, we aim to teach students the importance of water conservation, cleanliness, biosphere reserves, community cleanup, and sustainability.
- All participating teachers and students shall receive Participation e-Certificates.
- Each school to receive a Plaque of Appreciation for conducting the program.
- Students submitting the written scripts (3 from each school) to receive a printed Certificate and goodies.
- Students submitting videos of the script (1 per school) to receive a medal, printed Certificate and goodies.
- The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes winners to receive printed certificates, trophies, and goodies. (4th and 5th prize winners may also be awarded to receive printed certificates, trophies, and goodies).
- Principals and teacher coordinator for this program from participating schools to receive goodies.
Biosphere Reserve Champions: Timeline
Phase I - Comprehensive Learning Journey
USO Schools may register online by July 4, 2024. An online Orientation Session designed to equip teachers with valuable insights and information about the Challenge shall be conducted on Friday, July 5, 2024. Phase I shall be divided into 3 parts.
- Part 1 - Webinar Series - July 9, 10, and 11, 2024. Through a series of 3 webinars led by UNESCO officials, students will learn about the significance of The Biosphere Reserves in India, Ecosystems, Environment, Pollution, and how it is connected to each of us.
- Part 2 - Community Clean-up Drive - July 15 - 31, 2024. The school shall hold a community clean-up drive emphasizing waste management principles such as recycling and responsible plastic disposal. This Clean-Up Drive may be carried out at a nearby water body or a public area. (Guidelines shall be shared with the schools).
- Part 3- Awareness Campaign - August 1-15, 2024. Following the community clean-up drive, the school must organize an awareness camp at school to educate and engage parents and the community on environmental conservation and sustainable practices. (Guidelines shall be shared with the schools).
Report & List Submission
- School to submit a report on the Clean-Up Drive and Awareness Campaign. (Template shall be provided).
- Schools to send the list of participating students and teachers. (Template shall be provided).
Phase II - Capturing Environmental Challenges
This phase shall invite written scripts from interested students articulating the environmental challenges facing their immediate community, focusing on issues such as pollution, waste management, and/or climate change.
- Interested students to submit their written script based on the Community Clean-up Drive and the Awareness Campaign. (Template shall be provided). The last date to submit shall be Saturday, August 31, 2024.
- School to select and send top 3 written scripts to USO.
USO and UNESCO to select 1 script from each school to move to Phase III. This shall be communicated by Friday, September 10, 2024.
Phase III - Script-To-Video Showdown
Selected students (1 from each school) to submit their video based on their submitted script by Friday, September 20, 2024. (Guidelines shall be provided).
Grand Finale: The top 10 selected students and their teachers shall be invited to Delhi to present their videos in front of a panel of judges. The top three finalists shall be awarded prizes at the Grand Finale & Prize Distribution Ceremony on Monday, November 4, 2024.
Biosphere Reserve Champions:
Registration Form
Biosphere Reserve Champions: Frequently Asked Questions
Biosphere Reserve Champions is a program for schools that offers students from Std. 6-12, a scientific understanding of key environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. Through innovative approaches, students will raise awareness in their communities and propose creative, sustainable solutions to real-world challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Phase I & Phase II of the program shall be conducted online.
The last part of Phase III shall be conducted offline, and 10 finalists (students and their teachers), shall be invited to Delhi.
Teachers and Students from Std. 6 – 12 from USO Member Schools are eligible to participate.
No, there is no registration fee for individual students. However, USO Member Schools are required to register their school. Registration fees are Rs. 350.
The registration fees for USO Non-Member schools is Rs. 500.
To register your school, you need to fill out the online registration form available on the website during the specified registration period.
(Click Here To Fill The Online Form).
While we encourage meaningful discussions – which may be in a group or class format – each submission needs to come from an individual student.
The students will be guided through their teacher mentors. Guidelines for the competition and submission templates shall be shared with the teachers to help guide the students.
5 SDGs have been identified for this program. They are:
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
A template with details shall be provided to the school. A teacher mentor from the school shall guide the students and help with submission. These shall be online.
Submissions will be evaluated based on the content, accuracy, depth, and most importantly the message.
The results of the competition were announced on November 4, 2024. Names of the winners shall also be released on the USO website and communicated to the school.
Thursday, July 4, 2024, is the last date for schools to register.