Sci X Sci-Fi Flash Fiction Contest 2026

About

Imagine a future you are excited to live in, that you can’t wait to get to. If it’s difficult, you’re not alone. Dystopic visions of the future dominate popular culture, but what if we empower each other with hope by letting ourselves dream? That’s why Yale Planetary Solutions hosts Sci X Sci-Fi, a new conversation between world builders and those innovating and inventing. 

Sci X Sci-Fi has joint objectives of:

• Inspiring hope and optimism around climate and sustainability through creative storytelling
• Encouraging community engagement and dialogue across Yale and the broader New Haven community
• Showcasing innovative technologies and solutions that are poised to create a sustainable, resilient, thriving future

Stories submitted to the Sci X Sci-Fi Flash Fiction Contest should reflect these objectives. 

Writers are strongly encouraged to draw inspiration from current technologies and extrapolate their impacts for the future. Explore research by Yale faculty like Mae-Ling Lokko, Liangbing Hu, Colin Carlson, and others for inspiration.

Eligibility

You must be a current college or university (undergraduate or graduate) student in the New Haven area to participate in the contest. Students at Yale, the University of New Haven, Albertus Magnus, Southern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University, and Gateway Community College are eligible to participate. 

Prize winners must be available to attend an evening event on March 27, 2026, where they will do a live reading of their pieces. Submitted stories must be previously unpublished.

Prizes

First and second-place prizes will be awarded. First place will receive $350.00, and second place will receive $250.00. An honorary mention will also be selected. 

Additionally, the first and second-place winners will be published on the Yale Planetary Solutions website. 

Submission Window

Submissions are now closed. The deadline to submit was Friday, February 27, at 11:59 PM ET.

Submission Guidelines

For the 2026 Sci X Sci-Fi Flash Fiction contest, we are only accepting submissions of prose that is between 300 and 1,000 words. All other word counts will be rejected. We accept a maximum of two written pieces per submitter. 

Please omit your name and contact information from all pieces you submit.