Florida Water and Climate Alliance (FloridaWCA) is pleased to invite nominations for the Rising Stars in Water and Climate Award. The award celebrates emerging leaders whose work advances innovative, equitable, and impactful solutions at the intersection of water, climate, sustainability, and resilience.  

Through this recognition, FloridaWCA seeks to showcase exceptional early-career professionals, researchers, practitioners, and community leaders who are driving meaningful impact and shaping the future of water and climate science, policy, engineering, and practice.  

Award Details 

Up to three award recipients selected will receive: 

• A FloridaWCA Rising Stars in Water and Climate Award Certificate 
• An invitation to present their work during a special FloridaWCA webinar (date to be determined based on awardee availability) 
• Recognition through a featured Rising Star Spotlight on the FloridaWCA website 
• Promotion of their recognition to over 3,000 people through the FloridaWCA listserv and UF Water Institute social media accounts 

Eligibility  

• Nominees should be an early- career professional (within 5 years of their highest degree or career start).
• Nominees from academia, government, industry, nonprofit organizations, and other sectors are encouraged to apply.
• Nominees should work in fields related to water, climate, sustainability, engineering, policy, planning, or related disciplines.
• Nominees should demonstrate significant accomplishments, leadership, or impact within their area of expertise.
• Current students who are also in the workforce are eligible, however this is not a student award. The nomination package must highlight excellence in the workforce and not academic merit.
• Self-nominations are welcome.
• Each person is only allowed to submit one nomination per call. 

Selection Process 

Up to three Rising Stars in Water and Climate Award recipients will be selected through a competitive review process conducted by the FloridaWCA Steering Committee.  Nominations will be evaluated based on: 

• Excellence and innovation in water and climate-related work. 
• Collaborative leadership that bridges disciplines, organizations, sectors, and stakeholder communities.  
• Actionable contributions that inform decision-making through useful science, tools, practices, or policies.  
• Demonstrated impact and local relevance in supporting resilience, sustainability, and community-based solutions to water and climate challenges.  
• Professional achievement and future leadership potential in advancing water and climate solutions. 

Nomination Guidelines and Materials  

To submit a nomination, please complete the online survey and upload a single PDF (Aptos body size 11 or similar) containing the following materials: 

• Nomination Statement (2-page limit) – A brief statement describing the nominee’s achievements, collaborative leadership, actionable contributions, and impact in addressing water and climate challenges. 
• Professional Biography or Curriculum Vitae (3-page limit) – A summary of the nominee’s education, professional experience, accomplishments, awards, publications, and other relevant activities. 
• Presentation Abstract (1-page limit) – A brief abstract describing the presentation the nominee would deliver during the FloridaWCA Rising Stars Webinar if selected. 
• Combined PDF Submission – Please combine all nomination materials into a single PDF file, include the nominees name in the file name, and upload it through the survey. 

Call Opens	Submission Deadline	Notification of Selection	Date of Rising Stars Webinar
September 29, 2026	November 13, 2026	January 15, 2027	February or March, 2027 Exact TBD based on awardee availability