Dedicated to overseas countries the Academy contributes to the progress of scientific knowledge about overseas regions. It acts as a meeting place for communication between North and South and represents an independent reference. It also promotes research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning overseas countries, both inside these countries and within Belgium.
In order to stimulate high-quality scientific research regarding problems inherent to overseas regions, the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences (RAOS) organizes yearly competitions.
Every year each Section of the Academy puts two questions forward on specific subjects. Award-winning works of the annual competition is granted a cash prize of 2,500 EUR.
The competition is open to all scientists worldwide without any age restriction. Academy members are not allowed to take part. Work submitted should be an original and recent (max. five years old) scientific manuscript: a PhD thesis or a work of at least the same level in one of the four languages accepted - English, French, Dutch, German or Spanish.
Questions for 2021 are available here and should be submitted by 1st March 2021.
Questions for 2022 are available here and should be submitted by 1st March 2022.
More information on the yearly competitions including rules for submission and assessment can be found on their website here.