The Climate Systems Engineering initiative (CSEi) at the University of Chicago invites all undergraduate students in the college to take part in its inaugural CSEi Student Essay Contest.
The contest asks one question: Should humanity deliberately deploy aerosols in the stratosphere to offset part of the warming caused by CO₂ emissions?
Participants are challenged to build rigorous, well-reasoned arguments that confront the technical possibilities and societal risks of intervening in Earth’s climate system.
Essays should be submitted via this form before 11:59 pm CT on March 31, 2026.
For questions related to the contest, reach out to Jim Franke (jfranke@uchicago.edu). Good luck and may the best essays win!
Prompt
Write an essay that argues for or against the deliberate deployment of aerosols (or their chemical precursors) in the stratosphere as a strategy to offset the majority of CO2-driven warming in the coming decades. You may use physical, economic, political, and/or social reasoning to support your position. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2026.
Eligibility
- The contest is open to ALL current undergraduate students in the College at the University of Chicago, regardless of major or concentration.
Guidelines
- Essays should be no longer than 1,500 words (excluding citations).
- Submissions will be judged by a mixture of faculty and postdocs on:
- Originality of argument
- Strength of reasoning and evidence
- Clarity and feasibility of policy recommendations
- Submissions are due at 11:59 pm CT on March 31, 2026, via this form.
Participation Requirements After Submission
- After submitting, each entrant will be paired up and must complete a peer review of another student’s essay.
- After reviewing, you will meet in person with your peer to provide feedback.
- Revised essays will then be evaluated by senior researchers (faculty, postdocs, etc.) and finalists will be chosen.
Prizes and Opportunities
- A total of $7,000 in prizes will be awarded to finalists.
- One winner from each side of the debate (pro and con) will be invited to present their arguments in a public forum on campus.