EN 
BG 
HR 
CS 
DA 
NL 
ET 
FI 
FR 
DE 
EL 
HU 
IT 
LV 
LT 
LB 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SK 
SL 
SV 
ES 
NB ECHO Soil Challenge - Soil Stories
The ECHO Soil Challenge – Soil Stories aims to raise awareness among students, teachers, educators and citizens about the value of soil as a vital resource for ecosystems, food security and climate. It promotes creativity, scientific experimentation, and science communication, while also contributing to the dissemination of the ECHO SoiLab for Teens kit as an educational tool for hands-on school activities.
Categories
The contest has four categories, with separate selection processes:
- Category 1: children aged 6–10 (primary school)
- Category 2: children aged 11–13 (lower secondary school)
- Category 3: young people aged 14–19 (upper secondary school)
- Category 4: ECHO Soil Ambassador
For each category, 3 winners will be selected.
Who can participate?
For Categories 1-3, submissions must be presented by teachers, professors, or educators on behalf of children or young people aged 6–19. Projects may be developed by classes or groups, under the guidance of the submitting teacher or educator. The teacher or educator acts as the official applicant and contact person, and is responsible for submitting the project, communicating with the ECHO team, and ensuring compliance with the contest rules.
Category 4 is open to people who are involved in the ECHO project as ECHO Soil Ambassador.
Participants from all countries involved in the ECHO project are welcome.
What can be submitted?
We welcome creative, scientific or educational works, developed by classes or groups, under the guidance of the submitting teacher or educator.
Examples of eligible submissions include: drawings, collages, photographs, infographics, experiments, educational projects, videos, reels, musical content and podcasts focused on soil.
Submissions should be inspired by the ECHO sampling kit or the SoiLab for Teens but may be freely reinterpreted using different creative approaches and languages.
Only one submission per application is allowed. For Categories 1-3, teachers, professors and educators may submit up to three projects as long as they involve different classes or groups; in this case, the submission form must be completed separately and in full for each project.
Submissions may be presented in the language of the participating country or in English. For videos, reels, podcasts and musical content produced in the national language, English subtitles or an English translation of the script are required.
Format and Length of Submissions
All submissions must be submitted in digital format and comply with the following guidelines:
- Drawings, collages, photographs, infographics: jpg/png/pdf format; maximum size 10 MB; a brief summary of the project in English.
- Experiments, educational projects: pdf format; maximum 3 pages including images/diagrams/charts; the text must describe objectives, methodology, materials used, and results/observations; a brief summary of the project in English.
- Videos, reels, podcasts, musical content: mp4/mp3 format; in English or in the national language with English subtitles or translated text; maximum length 5 minutes.
How to apply
Submissions must be made through the online form below.
Supporting materials
For additional inspiration and support, you can consult the following materials:
- SoiLab for Teens (link)
- Educational resources available on the ECHO project website (link)
- Introductory webinar where the ECHO Soil Challenge – Soil Stories aims and specifications will be explained. You can watch it live online or view a recording of the event later. It will be held in English.
Timeline
- Submission opening: February 5, 2026
- Introductory webinar: February 16, 2026
- Submission deadline: November 9, 2026
- Announcement of winners: December 16, 2026
- Final webinar with winners: January 15, 2027
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated by a jury composed of members of the ECHO consortium with expertise in education, science communication, soil science, and creative communication.
Each project will be assessed using a common evaluation grid (scale 1–5):
- Creativity and originality: ability to present soil in an engaging, innovative, and personal way.
- Scientific accuracy: relevance and quality of the information provided.
- Communication effectiveness and educational impact: clarity, storytelling ability, capacity to engage, explain the value of soil, and inspire sustainable behaviours.
For each category, 3 winners will be selected.
Recognitions
- Official ECHO Soil Challenge Certificate
- Presentation of the project during the final webinar (January 15, 2027)
- Opportunity to organize a virtual “coffee chat” with an ECHO expert
- The project will be published on the official ECHO website and shared through social media channels, subject to participants’ consent
