[LMGlobal.Org – Media Release] The 2025 J.U.C. Media/Digital Art, Research, Writing & Innovation Awards, an international encouragement awards challenging high school students to address global water issues, has concluded with a strong showing of young talent. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the program has steadily grown, receiving 48 submissions from five countries in Burundi, India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Türkiye this year.
“We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.”
— Jacques Yves Cousteau
Inspired by the UN Water Action Decade (2018-2028) along with the UN 2023 Water Conference, young innovators, researchers, and artists from around the world submitted projects that highlight the importance of clean water and sustainable water management.The J.U.C. Awards, initiated in 2020, aims to foster the next generation of leaders. By providing a platform for young people to share their ideas and solutions, the program empowers them to make a positive impact on the world.
A Brief Introduction Of The 2025 J.U.C. Awards ~
Distinguished Evaluation Committee Of Experts:
Co-Chairs:
Ambassador Mr. Rodrigo A. Carazo of Costa Rica to the United Nations (2018-2022); Member, UN Human Rights Committee (Geneva)
Prof. Olcay Ünver, Arizona State University; Vice-Chair of UN-Water and Senior Water Advisor at UN FAO.
Members:
• Ambassador Mr. Yogendra Kumar of India (Retired) & Author of two books & Editor another
• Prof. Victor Lawrence, Director of the Center for Intelligent Networked Systems (iNetS), and former Associate Dean and Bachelor Chair Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology (New Jersey); Secretary General, LMGlobal.Org
• Prof. Günay Smith, Professor of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Southside Virginia Community College (Retired.); Adviser, LMGlobal.Org
• Dr. Dahlia Sabri, Chair, IWRA-Egypt Chapter
• Ms. Ilknur Boray, V.P. Ataturk Society of America & The Atatürk World Platform
• Ms. Bircan Ünver, M.A., Author and Project Director, LMGlobal.Org
Youth:
Mr. Ren Jie, Ph.D. Candidate (2029), School of Marxism, Environmental Politics and Ecological Civilization, Peking University
– Evaluation process will begin mid of January 2025.
Global Participation and Impact
The 2025 J.U.C. Awards received submissions from students at several schools and organizations around the world, including:
Darüşşafaka High School (Istanbul, Türkiye)
Whyteleafe Performing Arts Academy (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
The Institution of Green Engineers (IGEN) (Chennai, India)
Association of Young Leaders United for Sustainable Development (Burundi)
The program’s success is also due to the dedicated efforts of its student coordinators:
Ms. Duru Büyükbaşaran (Türkiye)
Ms. Rukhshana R.A. (India)
Mr. Lyonga Jewis (Cameroon)
Ms. Mimoza Irtem (Türkiye / U.S. – Outreach Coordinator)
The 2025 J.U.C. Awards will announce the winners around the World Water Day in March 2025. The winning projects will be recognized for their creativity, innovation, and potential to inspire positive change.
A Brief History of the J.U.C. Awards
The J.U.C. Media, Research, and Writing Awards were initiated in 2020 by the Light Millennium, a global humanitarian organization. The program was inspired by the legacy of John Unver Culkin and aims to empower young people to address global challenges through creative expression and critical thinking. By providing a platform for students to showcase their talents and ideas, the J.U.C. Awards fosters a new generation of global citizens committed to sustainable development.
“In Loving Memory of J.U.C.”; the 2025 J.U.C. Media, Research, Writing & Innovation Awards designed for international High School students by The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (LMGlobal.Org, 2001, New York) With Tax-Exempt Status#501(c)3.
The submissions received based on the GUIDELINES of the 2025 J.U.C. Awards, which is available via the following link:
https://www.lmglobal.org/2024/03/14/call-to-high-school-students-for-entries-to-the-2025-j-u-c-awards-the-water-cycle-and-the-life-cycle-are-one/
Guidelines – Booklet#4
INTERACTIVE SESSION > Interview with Bircan Ünver on the Guidelines of the 2025 J.U.C. Awards | Conducted by Duru Büyükbaşaran
For more information, please visit: www.lmglobal.org
Contact: JUCAwards(at)lightmillennium.org
Hashtags: #lightmillennium, #LMGlobalOrg, #TheLightMillenniumTV, #HopeNeverFades, #JUCAwards2025, #JUCAwards, #WaterActionDecade, #WorldWaterDay2025, #WaterAction, #SDG6, #JUCAwardsEvaluationCommittee, #UNWithCivilSociety
• Special Thanks To: Ambassador Mr. Ramu Damodaran, Permanent Observer of the University For Peace to the United Nations.
