***ATTENTION ALL FACULTY, STAFF, and STUDENTS***
The Office of Research will be awarding a $500 prize for best “Big Idea” submitted by an individual or team from WSU to the NSF 2026 Idea Machine (details below). To be eligible you must submit your idea to NSF by October 5 and send proof of submission to or.orap@wsu.edu. The WSU “Big Idea” Prize winner will be announced on Monday, October 15, during the launch of Research Week.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announces the launch of the NSF 2026 Idea Machine, a prize competition to help set the U.S. agenda for fundamental research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education. Participants can earn cash prizes and receive public recognition by suggesting the pressing research questions that need to be answered in the coming decade, the next set of “Big Ideas” for future investment by NSF. It’s an opportunity for researchers, the public and other interested stakeholders to contribute to NSF’s mission to support basic research and enable new discoveries that drive the U.S. economy, enhance national security and advance knowledge to sustain the country’s global leadership in science and engineering.
Entries will be accepted through October 26. For more information, including entry instructions, eligibility, rules, and judging criteria, please visit the NSF 2026 Idea Machine website.
