Photo contest

The annual Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability photo contest showcases the vibrant perspectives and experiences of our community, from research and collaborations in the lab to the wonders of nature big and small. With hundreds of submissions each year, this annual contest brings together stories and artistry from across the university.

Submissions for 2025 are now closed. Stay tuned in early 2026 to enter next year's contest.

Read about the 2025 winners

2025 photo contest finalists

Deep blue sky full of stars above trees and a tent illuminated from the inside
EPS 5 students camp under the Milky Way during a field trip to the California Coast. Photographer: Jacob Long. First place, Action and Impact in the Field
Vast spiraling streaks of white lines in gray night sky. Below, a red glow on a small crowd of people and an observatory
This image shows the stars revolving around the celestial pole and planes leaving from the San Francisco International Airport. Photographer: Peter Marinos. First place, Action and Impact on Campus
Overhead view of two volcano peaks, orange lava and smoke spewing from lower one. Morning sky, flat clouds in background
Volcan Fuego, the world's most regularly erupting volcano, spews out lava at dawn near the village of Antigua, Guatemala. Photographer: Philippe Roberge. First place, Beauty in Nature
Overhead view. Small islet in clear teal water, wave rolling by. Reefs below in row formations. Island in background
A rare Spur and Groove reef formation at Mangareva. This reef structure plays an important role in local coastal protection and was visibly impacted by the 2024 global bleaching event. Photographer: Erika Tande Hill. First place, Challenges We Face
Looking up, a person aims a green laser pointing diagonally into the night sky. Background of stars and tree silhouettes
Philippe Roberge, PhD ’26, uses a laser for polar alignment to image the Whirlpool Galaxy in Pinnacles National Park, California. Photographer: Max Kessler. Second place, Action and Impact in the Field
A child pats down soil around a plant in the ground while a person smiles behind
President of the nonprofit Mi Oaxaca Fabiola Santiago watches her son plant a seedling during a Prakash Lab co-sponsored event with Stanford Humanities Center research workshop “Fiber Optics.” Photographer Kevin Ly. Second place, Action & Impact on Campus
Towering rectangular icebergs in choppy water. Silhouette of a bird flying by
A sooty albatross swoops in front of a large iceberg on a windy day in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean. Photographer: James Lauer. Second place, Beauty in Nature
Burnt washer and dryer stand among house rubble. Light blue sky and trees in the background
Burnt washer and dryer inside a collapsed home after the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, California. Photographer: Frida D. Garcia Ledezma. Second place, Challenges We Face
Overhead view. Two people handle a large research instrument on a colorful ship. Blue choppy waves splash over the edge
Marine technicians aboard the Nathaniel B Palmer deploying a CTD for phytoplankton research above the Australian-Antarctic ridge. Photographer: Cara Askren. Third place, Action and Impact in the Field
Close-up of a shiny black salamander with yellow spots, standing in front of grass
Stanford’s lands safeguard California Tiger Salamanders. Lake Lagunita serves as an especially important breeding ground for these rare amphibians. Photographer: TJ Francisco. Third place, Action and Impact on Campus
Close-up of baby whale in vibrant blue water, second whale close behind. Reflective water surface frames top of photo
A baby humpback under the watchful eye of their mother, off the coast of Moʻorea. Photographer: Laurie LaPat-Polasko. Third place, Beauty in Nature
Lightning strike illuminates puffy gray and purple clouds on right. Plane wing on left and sunset in distance
Lightning illuminates a towering cumulonimbus cloud above Lake Constance, photographed from a June 2024 flight amid storms that caused severe flooding across Europe. Photographer: Albert Wu. Third place, Challenges We Face
Vibrant purple flower with large green leaves. A bee with bright blue stripes hovers nearby
A native blue-banded bee pollinates a Melastoma plant on the island of Minjerribah, Australia. Photographer: Hannah McGoran. Honorable mention, Action and Impact in the Field
View looking up at the open roof of an observatory. Red-orange panels and curved lines of the roof frame the night sky
The Stanford Student Observatory opens its doors and telescopes to visitors on campus. Photographer: Dean DeVlugt. Honorable mention, Action and Impact on Campus
Close-up of a lighter lying in the sand with a tiny hermit crab starting to climb on it
A hermit crab discovers lighter litter on South Ari Atoll, Maldives. Co-photographers: Stephanie Lim and David Kwan. Honorable mention, Challenges We Face
Two people wade in water, hold nets, look at camera. Net lines extend across photo. Boat, fisher nearby, distant trees
Migration & environmental health impacts collide: People seeking work and a better life end up in jobs like mosquito net fishing, which is destructive to human health & coastal ecosystems. Photographer Xavier Basurto. Honorable mention, Challenges We Face

Revisit all photo contest winners