Uranium Mine Challenge
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Uranium Mine Challenge: Call for Student Submissions is a global virtual student competition by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Students have to use Minecraft Education to design, build, and demonstrate a smart and sustainable uranium mining operation that supports clean energy, safety, innovation, and responsible resource management. The challenge is aimed at university students from earth sciences, geological engineering, mining engineering, and related fields.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Mode of Conduct: Online / Virtual
- Platform Required: Minecraft Education
- Submission Format: Game recording video, preferably in MP4 format Video
- Duration: 5 to 7 minutes
- Maximum File Size: 1 GB
- Team Size: 2 to 4 students
- Main Task: Teams must create a virtual smart uranium mine and explain how their design uses technology, sustainability, safety, and responsible mining practices.
📅 Important Dates
- Registration Opens: 31 March 2026
- Submission Deadline: 1 July 2026, 11:59 PM Vienna time
- Judging Phase: 2 July 2026 – 30 July 2026
- Finalists Announcement: 31 July 2026
- Public Voting Phase: 31 July 2026 – 28 August 2026
- Winning Team Announcement: 31 August 2026
- Grand Prize Trip / Conference Dates: 13 October 2026 – 15 October 2026, Vienna, Austria
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibility: Open to university-level students in earth sciences, geological engineering, mining engineering, or closely related fields.
- Team Requirement: Each team must have minimum 2 and maximum 4 students.
- Cross-Institution Teams: Students can collaborate with peers from the same or different educational institutions.
- One-Team Rule: A student can be part of only one team.
- Documents Required: Teams must provide team name, team member details, associated university, and enrolment confirmation letter.
- Originality Rule: The submission must be original work. Plagiarised or AI-generated content can lead to disqualification.
- Language Requirement: Video submission, build descriptions, and supporting materials must be in English.
- Technical Rule: The video should not include personal identifying information, such as faces, names, age, or personal location; only team name and country should be shared.
- Round 1 Evaluation: Judges will select the top 5 submissions based on:
- Technical Accuracy: 20%
- Innovation in Technology: 20%
- Environmental Sustainability: 10%
- Safety & Ethics: 10%
- Communication & Reflection: 10%
- Round 2 Evaluation: Finalists will present their work using a PPT/PDF presentation.
- Finalist Presentation: Each finalist gets a 10-minute live presentation followed by a 2-minute Q&A.
- Round 2 Scoring:
- Presentation and Q&A: 20%
- Public Voting: 10%
- Final Selection: Final scores are calculated using all judging criteria to choose the winning team.
🏆 Prize Details and Value
- Grand Prize: The winning team will receive an all-expense-covered trip to Vienna, Austria.
- Conference Opportunity: Winners will attend the International Conference on Fuel Supply Chain for Sustainable Nuclear Power Development.
- Travel Support: Prize includes pre-paid ticket from the nearest international airport in the country of origin to Vienna Airport.
- Accommodation Support: Accommodation will be covered from 12 October 2026 to 16 October 2026. Meals Support: Winners will receive paid meals or meal allowance.
- Global Exposure: Winners get the opportunity to present their idea at an international nuclear energy and fuel supply conference.