STEM Impact
Awards
Southeast Asia 2026
A regional competition for influencers and creators who make science, technology, engineering and mathematics inspiring and accessible across Southeast Asia. Win real sponsorship contracts — not just trophies.
Step by Step
How to Participate
Everything happens through the YouthsToday Influencer platform — free, straightforward, and takes less than 10 minutes to get started.
Eligibility
Who Can Participate?
Open to creators of all ages and backgrounds — students, hobbyists, working professionals, academics and industry experts. There is a category for everyone.
Youth Creator · Age 16–25
For students, young activists and early-stage creators passionate about STEM. Curiosity is your only prerequisite.
- Age 16–25 at time of submission
- School students, undergrads and recent graduates
- Parent/guardian consent required for ages 16–17
- Individual or team entry (up to 3 members)
- Any SEA language accepted with English subtitles
- Access to dedicated youth mentorship sessions
Open Creator · Age 18+
For hobbyist creators, science communicators, and anyone with a STEM story to share. No minimum follower count needed.
- Age 18+, any nationality in SEA
- No follower count minimum — growth is what's measured
- Full-time and part-time creators equally welcome
- Individual or team entry (up to 5 members)
- First-time and experienced creators both eligible
Professional & Industry · Age 26+
For scientists, engineers, academics, doctors, journalists and established creators wanting regional exposure and sponsor access.
- Age 26+ with professional STEM background
- Engineers, researchers, academics, clinicians, industry experts
- Corporate or institutional entries accepted (1 spokesperson)
- Judged on depth of expertise plus communication quality
- Eligible for direct client sponsorship contract discussions
How to Win
Judging Criteria & Scoring
Your entry is evaluated across three pillars and six content qualities. Understanding these is your competitive advantage — the best entries score well on all of them.
Awareness & Reach
How widely your content spreads. Measured by verified impressions, unique reach, engagement rate and cross-platform amplification.
- Total verified impressions across platforms
- Unique reach and audience growth during campaign window
- Engagement rate — comments, shares, saves
- Cross-border amplification across SEA countries
- Media pick-up and earned coverage
Content Quality
The educational and creative standard of your video. Judged by a panel of academics, industry experts and communications professionals.
- Scientific and technical accuracy — facts must be verifiable
- Clarity of explanation — can a layperson understand it?
- Storytelling and narrative structure
- Production quality — audio, visuals, pacing
- Language localisation and cultural relevance to SEA
AI Innovation
How creatively and responsibly you use AI tools. Transparency is rewarded — show your workflow, not just your output.
- Originality of AI application in the creative process
- Transparency — AI disclosure clearly stated
- Human-AI collaboration depth and intentionality
- Reproducibility — open workflow others can learn from
- Responsible and ethical use of AI tools
What Makes Winning Content?
The jury evaluates each entry against these six qualities. Great STEM content does not need a big budget — it needs a clear idea, genuine passion, and these six ingredients.
Innovation
A fresh angle on a STEM topic. Does your video present an idea, experiment or perspective not covered the same way before? Novelty is rewarded over repetition.
Accuracy & Credibility
Your facts must be correct and verifiable. Claims should be grounded in current science or established engineering principles. Misinformation — even unintentional — disqualifies an entry.
Creativity & Storytelling
A strong hook in the first three seconds, a clear narrative arc, and a memorable conclusion all score highly. Visual creativity and editing quality matter.
SEA Relevance
Does your content speak to a Southeast Asian audience? Local examples, regional challenges, and content in local languages with subtitles demonstrate cultural relevance.
Practicality & Real-World Impact
Does your content connect to real-world problems, solutions or career pathways? Applied STEM content scores higher than purely theoretical explanations.
Accessibility & Clarity
Can your target audience understand your content? Avoiding unnecessary jargon, using clear visuals and explaining step by step all demonstrate communication excellence.
Scoring Summary
| Pillar | Weight | Who Judges | What They Look For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness & Reach | 40% | Platform Analytics (verified) | Impressions, reach, engagement rate, shares |
| Content Quality | 40% | Expert Jury Panel | Accuracy, clarity, storytelling, production, cultural relevance |
| AI Innovation | 20% | Technology Jury | Creative AI use, transparency, responsible workflow |
| People's Choice (bonus award — separate from scoring) | Public Vote | Public — November 2026 | Audience connection, shareability, community engagement |
Rewards
What You Will Win
Real sponsorship contracts and industry access — not just trophies and certificates.
🥇 Grand Prize Pool Award
Grand Prize Pool Award
A total prize pool of USD 20,000 – USD 50,000 will be awarded across all winners, including sponsored content opportunities, brand collaborations, regional media exposure, platform recognition, and exclusive invitations to industry events such as the SEA STEM Summit 2026. Winners may also receive opportunities to work with Tier-1 corporate brands aligned with their content verticals.
Category Track Winners
One winner per award track. A 6-month sponsored content agreement with the category title sponsor.
AI Excellence Award
12-month AI tools subscription bundle and direct mentorship from a senior industry AI team.
Rising Educator Award
University content partnership, academic grant access, and Ministry of Education certification.
People's Choice Award
Major platform promotion campaign across Xamble and YouthsToday, plus SEA media press coverage.
Award Tracks with Individual Category Winners
Schedule
Competition Timeline 2026
Every phase gives you maximum time to create, publish and promote your best STEM content.
Phase 1 — Launch
Campaign Opens on YouthsToday · Registration Begins
STEM Impact Awards campaign goes live on YouthsToday Influencer on 1 August 2026. Accept the task, sign up, and complete your screening. Early registrants get exclusive AI tool briefing sessions.
Phase 2 — Creation Window
Create, Publish & Build Your Audience
Three months to create and publish your STEM video. Join free creator masterclasses, AI workshops at partner universities, and roadshows across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Use #STEMImpactAwardsSEA.
Phase 3 — Deadline
Entry Submission Closes · 11:59 PM GMT+8
All official video entries must be submitted through your YouthsToday creator dashboard. No extensions. Ensure your video is published and analytics are captured.
Phase 4 — Judging & Public Vote
Technical Jury Review · Finalists Announced · Public Voting
Judges review all entries. Finalists announced 15 November 2026. Public voting for People's Choice Award: 15–30 November 2026.
Phase 5 — Celebration
Awards Gala & Sponsorship Contract Signing
Live-streamed awards gala. Winners announced, sponsorship contracts signed on stage, attended by ministers, sponsors, media and creators.
Awards Ceremony
Prize Giving Ceremony
An elegant gala evening celebrating STEM excellence across Southeast Asia.
Venue to Be Announced
We are finalising an iconic venue for December 2026. The ceremony will be live-streamed for creators across the region. Venue details revealed October 2026.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Join the STEM Impact
Awards 2026
Everything happens on YouthsToday Influencer. The campaign link goes live 1 August 2026. Early registrants get exclusive workshops and AI tool credits.
📎 Campaign link live from 1 August 2026
Inspiration Gallery
Content Examples
These are real videos that represent the standard of STEM content we're looking for. Study what makes them effective — clear storytelling, educational value, strong visual presentation, and genuine audience engagement.