Our Covenant With Earth
The Climate Generation Speaks
STUDENT RESEARCH PAPER & ESSAY CONTESTS
Awardees will receive a cash prize
and the opportunity to publicly present their work
The National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue (NCMD) of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) is thrilled to announce the Covenant with Earth research paper and essay competition that explores the topics and concerns raised in Laudato si: Care of our Common Home (https://www.laudatosi.org/the-letter/encyclical-letter/) and Al-Mizan: Covenant for the Earth (https://www.almizan.earth ). We invite high schoolers, undergraduate students, and graduate students to share your perspective on Catholic and Muslim responses to the ecological crisis and pathways of thought and action toward care for the earth. Essays could include such themes as:
- The Human Legacy of the Ecological Crisis
- Integral Ecology as an Ecological Ethics
- Eco-Justice: A Shared Vision of Muslims and Catholics
- Pathways to Living the Covenant of Earth with Integrity
- Economic and Ecology: Renewed Commitments to the Common Good.
- Ihsan: ‘Doing the Beautiful’
- ‘Care for Our Common Home’
- Living the Covenant
- Lessons Learned from Local Actions
- Best Practices for Communities and Organizations
- Environmental Justice as Intergenerational Justice
- Nurturing an Ecological Culture as Giving Witness to the Goodness of God’s Creation
Research Paper Competition (for Graduate and PhD students)
Eligibility: Students pursuing Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Ecclesial Degrees (STL, STD), Islamic Ijaza in various fields, Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, International Studies, Economics, Social Work, or Ph.D students in these and related fields.
Submission Guidelines:
- 2,000 words, Double-Spaced, 12 pt Font
- Microsoft WORD or PDF
- Style: Turabian or Chicago Manual
Prize:
- Cash prize: $750
- Public Presentation: Winner will present their work in a public forum held in Washington, D.C. on September 10, 2025. The National Catholic Muslim Dialogue Group of the Unites Stated Catholic Conference of Bishops and Catholic University of America will host the event.
Essay Competition (for High Schoolers and Undergraduates):
The essay can be non-fiction or fiction (eco-fiction, climate fiction) drawing from the themes suggested or other perspectives raised by the documents Laudato si and Al-Mizan
Eligibility: High School and Undergraduate College Students (Two separate awards)
Submission Guidelines:
- 450-600 words, Double Spaced, 12 pt. Font
- Microsoft WORD or PDF
Prize:
- Cash prize: $150
- Public Presentation: Winner will present their work in a public forum held in Washington, D.C. on September 10, 2025. The National Catholic Muslim Dialogue Group of the Unites Stated Catholic Conference of Bishops and Catholic University of America will host the event.
All entrees must be original work. All resources used must be properly cited in footnotes or bibliography. Citations are not included in the word count. AI-generated work is not invited to be entered into the contest, and if entered, it will be subject to disqualification
DUE July 18, 2025
Email Entrees to: acirelli@usccb.org
Anthony Cirelli, Ph.D., Associate Director
Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Contest is sponsored by The Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (CEIA) of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), NCMD Muslim Group, Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, IN.
