The African Academy of Sciences (AAS), in partnership with the Frontiers Research Foundation, has launched the second cycle of the African Planet Prize (APP), designed to identify and support African researchers whose work could compete for the global Frontiers Planet Prize.

The initiative targets scientists within seven years of completing their PhDs and aims to address structural barriers that have limited the visibility of African planetary research internationally. These include limited access to global scientific platforms, weak institutional connections and challenges in translating locally relevant research into internationally recognised work.

Up to three researchers will be selected under the current cycle, with each receiving a USD5000 award for career development, alongside international exposure and access to a mentorship network of global experts.

The AAS says the competition is intended not only to reward individual researchers but also to strengthen the pipeline through which African scientific discoveries reach global audiences and recognition systems.

Applicants must be affiliated with an African university or research institution and working in areas linked to planetary boundaries, including climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater use, land-system change and pollution. Their nominations must also be supported by an institution based on the continent.

Candidates are required to have at least one peer-reviewed publication directly relevant to planetary boundaries in a journal with an impact factor above four. The research will be assessed against four broad areas, with scientific excellence carrying the greatest weight at 40 percent.

Societal relevance accounts for another 30 percent, requiring research to demonstrate potential value in African contexts, contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and engagement with stakeholders. Impact and visibility contribute 20 percent, including evidence that research has influenced policy, practice or innovation.

The remaining 10 percent focuses on leadership and capacity building, including mentoring young researchers, fostering collaboration and strengthening African research ecosystems.

The criteria place particular emphasis on research that moves beyond scientific discovery to demonstrate practical influence. Candidates are expected to provide evidence of policy engagement, while nominated research must have a citation score above 100 based on Scopus or an equivalent field-normalised indicator.

The approach reflects a growing effort to ensure African scientists are not only contributors to research on global environmental challenges but also visible leaders in developing solutions.

By creating a structured route from African institutions to an international prize, the APP could help address the visibility gap facing researchers working on challenges that directly affect the continent.

For the AAS, the competition represents a mechanism to build a stronger and more connected African planetary science community while giving early-career researchers the recognition, mentorship and resources needed to expand their work and compete on the global stage.

This angle makes the representation and visibility gap the central news story, rather than simply announcing the prize criteria.

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo courtesy:A frican Academy Of Sciences

https://aasciences.africa/news/african-planet-prize-app-criteria-for-research-candidate-selection