The Potomac ACM Chapter invites students to submit original technology policy research for the 2027 Challenge. Students from any country may participate.
2027 Application Schedule
- Applications open on Thursday, July 1, 2027.
- Submissions are due on Wednesday, September 15, 2027 (end of day, Anywhere on Earth (AoE, UTC−12)).
- The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday, September 22, 2027.
- Award decisions will be made by Friday, October 15, 2027.
See the submission instructions and research advisor recommendation guidance to prepare your application.
Participation, Review and Publication
Coauthored manuscripts are welcome. The committee reviews manuscripts anonymously and considers each candidate’s identified CV and research advisor recommendation separately. The Challenge does not publish the full text of winning manuscripts.
Eligibility
Before the submission deadline, a candidate must have accrued the following:
- A sustained level of contribution to activities in technology policy over time, with a clear impact within their community.
- An original research manuscript in technology policy under a research advisor.
- Enrolling in a college-level course, including college-level classes in high school: the A-Levels, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
The Challenge is open to students from any country. Candidates must be twenty-two years old or younger by the submission deadline date.
Each candidate must provide the following:
- The candidate’s resume
- A reference letter from the research advisor
- A manuscript in MS Word format in line with the ACM reference guide
The manuscript shall have a maximum of 6,000 words (the word count limit includes the title, abstract, tables, figures, and references list). The Challenge Committee evaluates each candidate independently and makes every effort to recognize scholarship and community accomplishments equitably. For the distinction between anonymous manuscript review and identified supporting-material review, see Participation, Review and Publication.
Suggested Research Topics
- Endless Frontier Act
- Net Neutrality
- Misinformation
- Antitrust
- Online Harassment&Bullying
- Human Enhancement
- AI Ethics
- Digital Space and Democracy
Selection Criteria
Successful candidates for the Challenge must impact technology policy in scholarship and leadership contributions. Therefore, the research advisor’s reference letter should address the candidate’s most significant accomplishments and conditions, such as:
- Specific theoretical or practical achievements that demonstrate innovation, originality, and creativity.
- Leadership roles demonstrate outstanding service to the community.
- Candidates who receive/qualify for free or reduced lunch in the school participate in a TRIO program and qualify for fee waivers from the ACT, College Board, and NACAC.
Past Results
View the 2026 award recipients and competition archive.
For questions about the Challenge, contact challenge@potomac.acm.org.