EVOKE · CU BOULDER · FALL 2026
Your team turns a climate story into a real solution.
Eight weeks, 12 missions and a team of students from different majors.
You join a team, pick a real climate problem on campus or in Boulder and build a solution that you test with the people it affects. At the end, your team presents it to a panel of judges.
For CU Boulder undergraduates. Free. Any major, no experience needed.
- 8WEEKS
- 12MISSIONS IN FOUR PHASES
- 30PLACES
- 18 to 22AGES
THE CHALLENGE
CU Boulder students take a climate mystery and turn it into a solution for their own community.
In September, students at CU Boulder opened a climate mystery: a base under the Antarctic ice that is not on any map. In three days, mixed-major teams turned it into a graphic novel and a Minecraft world.
The eight weeks start from that story. Your team brings it home: you pick a real climate problem on campus or in Boulder, talk to the people who live with it, build a solution and test it with them.
You do not need to be a climate expert to apply. Mentors guide your team through every mission.
IS IT FOR YOU?
The challenge is for CU Boulder undergraduates from any major who want to work on a real climate problem.
- Who
- Ages 18 to 22CU Boulder undergraduates from environmental studies, engineering, computer science, business, creative technology, design and any other major.
- How
- In teams, with mentors12 missions in four phases. Free, and no experience needed.
- When
- Fall 2026Eight weeks, from late October to mid-December. Exact dates to be announced.
- Where
- On campusIn-person sessions on the CU Boulder campus, and missions between sessions.
For CU Boulder undergraduates. Free. Any major, no experience needed.
THE 12 MISSIONS
Your team completes 12 missions in four phases.
Your team completes the missions on the Evoke Hub, and mentors review the work as it comes in.
01 · Missions 1 to 3
Explore
You pick a climate problem, interview the people affected and map what is going on.
02 · Missions 4 to 6
Imagine
You analyze what you found, come up with ideas and design the prototype.
03 · Missions 7 to 9
Act
You build the prototype, test it with the people it affects and improve it.
04 · Missions 10 to 12
Communicate
You put the solution together and pitch it to the judges.
The last mission is your complete solution, tested with real people and ready to present.
WHAT YOU GET
Your team finishes with a climate solution tested with real people and a pitch to back it.
- YOU BUILD
- A solution to a real climate problem on campus or in Boulder, tested with the people it affects, with the evidence your team collected.
- YOU PRESENT
- A pitch and a demo of your prototype at the final session, in front of a panel of judges.
- YOU GET
- A mentor for your team, teammates from other majors and portfolio-ready work. Participants who complete the missions receive an Evoke certificate.
- AND YES
- Prizes for the top three teams.
Each team needs people with different skills.
CU Boulder undergraduates aged 18 to 22, from any major. Writers, artists, designers, developers, engineers, business and social science students all have a role in the team.
WHO'S BEEN THERE
In September, CU Boulder students spent three days creating with Evoke.
Mixed-major teams turned a climate mystery set in Antarctica into a graphic novel and a Minecraft world. That same weekend, young people in Harare, Bogotá and São Paulo ran their own challenges.
“Creating something unique with talented peers.”
Participant
Creative Challenge · Boulder · Sep 2026
“A community centered around figuring out solutions to environmental issues via creative tools and AI powered tools.”
Participant
Creative Challenge · Boulder · Sep 2026
“Three-day collaborative creative project on climate change in Antarctica in which we created a graphic novel, AI agent, and Minecraft world that can be used to educate students.”
Participant
Creative Challenge · Boulder · Sep 2026
ABOUT EVOKE · WHO'S BEHIND IT
Evoke connects young people, mentors and organizations to build solutions to real problems.
The World Bank created Evoke in 2010 as a learning experience built on stories, games and team missions. Today Evoke is an independent nonprofit and has run campaigns in more than ten countries.
Evoke’s methodology, the Social Innovators’ Framework, organizes creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and the ability to act into four powers. In every mission, your team works on all four in a project for your own community.
- 2010Born at the World Bank
- 15+Years of impact
- 10+Countries
The four powers
Creative Visionary
See what others don't
Develop the ability to envision new possibilities and create innovative solutions that haven't been tried before.
- Vision
- Creativity
- Imagination
Deep Collaborator
Stronger together
Master the art of working with diverse teams, building networks and communicating ideas that inspire action.
- Teamwork
- Networking
- Communication
System Thinker
See the big picture
Learn to understand complex systems, identify root causes and develop solutions that address the whole problem.
- Analysis
- Problem solving
- Critical reflection
Empathetic Activist
Lead with heart
Build the emotional intelligence to understand others' needs and the courage to take action for positive change.
- Empathy
- Courage
- Leadership
Where Evoke has been
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South Africa2010
Brazil2012
Mexico2014
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Mozambique2025, 2026
Nigeria2025
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United States2026
RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME · 2026
Teams in four countries run the eight weeks at the same time.
Evoke uses the same method in Brazil, Colombia, the United States and Zimbabwe, and each place works on its own challenge.
You build in Boulder while teams in Harare, São Paulo and Algarrobo build solutions for their own communities.
Where it is happening
- 01BrazilLar Sírio, São Paulo
- 02ColombiaAlgarrobo, Magdalena
- 03United StatesCU Boulder, ColoradoHere
- 04ZimbabweImpact Hub Harare
QUESTIONS
About the eight weeks.
Who can apply?
CU Boulder undergraduates aged 18 to 22, from any major. Evoke wants teams that mix environmental studies, engineering, computer science, business, creative technology, design and more.
When does it start?
In late October, at the same time as the Evoke teams in Brazil, Colombia and Zimbabwe, and it ends in mid-December. Exact dates to be announced.
How do I apply?
Fill in the form on this page. It takes a few minutes, and each person applies with their own form.
Can I join with friends?
Yes. Each person applies with their own form. When the teams form, you can choose to work with friends who are also in the challenge.
I took part in September. Is this the same thing?
The eight weeks start from the September story, but the work is different: your team leaves the fiction and builds a solution to a real climate problem, over eight weeks instead of three days.
Do I need experience with climate or with tech?
No. Mentors guide each team through the missions, and the first phase is about learning the problem from the people who live with it.
What do the winners get?
The top three teams win prizes. Every participant who completes the missions receives an Evoke certificate.
APPLY
Apply now.
It takes about five minutes. Each person applies with their own form.
We have your application.
A confirmation is on its way to your email, with your personal link. Evoke will email you the result after applications close.
BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU
Teams work better with people who do different things. Send your link to someone whose major looks nothing like yours.
TEXT TO SHARE
The text and your personal link go together.
I just applied to the Evoke Global Impact Challenge at CU Boulder: eight weeks, in a team, turning a climate story into a real solution. For CU Boulder undergraduates. Free. Any major.
YOUR PERSONAL LINK
boulder.evokenet.org/
Whoever applies through this link shows up in the selection as invited by you.
On a phone, Share opens your messages, Instagram and everything else you have. On a computer, download the image and post it from your phone.
