The TAFU – BCS Award


Great Opportunity. Unleash your creativity and knowledge, and harness the power of technology to create a sustainable and better tomorrow! The TAFU-BCS Sustainable IT for Sustainability Aware invites students of all levels.
  1. POSTGRADUATES and RECENT GRADUATES
  2. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS & APPRENTICES
  3. A-Level, T-Level, and BTEC Students
  4. GCSE Students
  5. Year 9 and below students








  1. Innovate: Innovate and develop tech solutions that address the environmental changes of today.
  2. Impact: Showcase your innocation and make an impact.
  3. Celebrate: Win awards and present yourself to industry leaders.
  4. Get support: Be supported by the British Computing Society (BCS), a leading organisation. Gain backing from TAFU, a global naturue conservation organisation.
  5. Be part of positive change: Be part of the new world of sustainable IT, where your ideas help build humanity and nature.

start your career with a meaningful project






  1. prizes

    Winners receive some brilliant prizes which will certainly take you far!
  2. recognition and mentorship

    winners also receive significant recognition and gain mentorship from experts in the field!
  3. networking opportunities

    all participants will benefit from exceptional networking opportunities, gaining invaluable connections with industry leaders and peers!
  4. visibility

    the competition provides an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and ideas to industry leaders!
  5. skill development

    this award provides you with practical experience that enhances your skills in problem solving, project management, innovation, and communication!
  6. career planning

    whether you win or not, taking part will provide you with invaluable experience, skills, and insights that will aid you no-matter that your career may bring





there are five different categories in the competition for students at different levels

  1. POSTGRADUATES and RECENT GRADUATES
  2. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS & APPRENTICES
  3. A-Level, T-Level, and BTEC Students
  4. GCSE Students
  5. Year 9 and below students

Each category will have a winner, a runner-up, as well as 3 honourable mentions. The awards ceremony will be held at IBM’s London office, to which all finalists will be invited! Exact date to be announced closer to the time.

1st prize

  1. mentorship

    Mentorship from professionals in the field. This can be to help you with your career, academic progression, or even to continue your project.
  2. INTERNSHIP/SUMMER SKILLS CAMP

    A place on a summer skills camp or internship programme to help you further your skills and get started in your career.
  3. RECOGNITION

    Official recognition from both organisations (great on a CV!)
  4. INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

    Aid in making additional industry connections particularly related to your project


Each category will have a winner, a runner-up, as well as 3 honourable mentions. The awards ceremony will be held at IBM’s London office, to which all finalists will be invited! Exact date to be announced closer to the time.

1Runner-up prize:

  1. mentorship

    Mentorship from professionals in the field. This can be to help you with your career, academic progression, or even to continue your project.
  2. INTERNSHIP/SUMMER SKILLS CAMP

    A place on a summer skills camp or internship programme to help you further your skills and get started in your career.
  3. RECOGNITION

    Official recognition from both organisations (great on a CV!)

Each category will have a winner, a runner-up, as well as 3 honourable mentions. The awards ceremony will be held at IBM’s London office, to which all finalists will be invited! Exact date to be announced closer to the time.

Honourable mention

  1. mentorship

    Mentorship from professionals in the field. This can be to help you with your career, academic progression, or even to continue your project.
  2. RECOGNITION

    Official recognition from both organisations (great on a CV!)




Here is what you’re expected to submit:

  1. report

    A detailed project description in a report style outlining the problem, proposed solution, technology used, and potential impact.
  2. video

    A short video presentation where all group members take part in summarising the project.
  3. CODE, DESIGNS, & PROTOTYPES

    Any code, designs, or prototypes must could also be submitted for ease of explanation.



Each category will have a winner, a runner-up, as well as 3 honourable mentions. The awards ceremony will be held at IBM’s London office, to which all finalists will be invited! Exact date to be announced closer to the time.

judging criteria

  1. INNOVATIVENESS

    Entries will be evaluated for their originality and creativity. The judges will look for solutions that showcase a novel approach to the challenge. Innovative submissions should demonstrate a clear departure from conventional methods and introduce a new perspective or technique that has the potential to change the way we think about and address the challenge.
  2. Design

    Design quality is not just about aesthetics but also usability, accessibility, and user experience. Submissions should be thoughtfully and effectively designed, ensuring that they are user-friendly and appeal to the intended audience. The design should also be coherent, with each element serving a purpose towards the overall function and objectives of the project.
  3. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

    The practicality of implementing the proposed solution is crucial. The judges will consider how feasible it is to bring the project to life with the current resources, technology, and knowledge available. The entries should present a realistic plan for implementation that is both technically and economically viable.

  1. impact

    The impact of the innovation will be assessed by the solution’s ability to create meaningful and sustainable change in addressing the challenge. The effectiveness of the solution in achieving measurable outcomes that drive significant improvements will be a key factor in determining its impact.
  2. scalability

    The scalability criterion assesses whether the solution can be expanded or adapted to have a broader application. The judges will consider if the project has the potential to grow, whether it can be replicated in different contexts or regions, and whether it has the capability to benefit a larger population or a wider environmental scope.
  3. ALIGNMENT TO THE THEME

    Submissions must be relevant to the theme of the competition. They should address the specific challenges outlined in the theme, demonstrating a deep understanding of the issue and presenting a solution that is directly applicable to solving it.

The Jury

Karen Medhat, MSc

Chair of the IT Jury

Dr Diana Pritchard

Chair of the Sustainability Jury

Dr Kitty Hung

All Categories

Dr. Colin Summerhayes

All Categories

David Briggs

All Categories

Christine Sonvilla

All Categories

Marc Graf

All Categories

Dr Rasha Ibrahim

All Categories

Dr Oliver Kerr

Postgraduate & Undergraduate

Dr Jon Machtynger

Postgraduate & Undergraduate

Joe Arday

Sixth Form, GCSE, & year 9>

Paul Moore

Sixth Form, GCSE, & year 9>










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