NATO STO Women and Girls in Science Challenge 2026

This NATO Science & Technology Organization competition invites young women to submit visionary research proposals addressing defence and security challenges through five fictional foresight scenarios. Participants explore creative solutions to disruption scenarios including loss of space capabilities, energy disruption, internet outages, antibiotic shortages, and absence of physical military presence. Winners receive recognition from NATO leadership and the opportunity to visit the Centre for Maritime Research Experimentation in Italy, plus access to STEM Forward, a professional community for scientific collaboration.