Mission Biosecurity A Student Competition
Complete the Mission.
Win Rewards
This isn’t a typical science competition. In Operation Outbreak’s 2026–27 Mission Biosecurity Competition, you become an outbreak response agent, completing a series of classified “operations” inspired by real-world health security challenges. Team up with classmates and a faculty sponsor to investigate how your own community prepares for outbreaks, submit mission deliverables, and unlock the next operation as you go.
Interested in participating?
*Operation Constellation is now open! Learn more
*Operation Constellation opens August 31. Learn more
Enter your faculty sponsor’s information below,
and we’ll email you with competition updates.
Get Ready
- Students and faculty sponsors can sign up for updates
Operation Constellation
- Competition officially opens
- Final submissions due October 31
- Prize: $3,000
Judging and Awards
- Submissions reviewed by the Operation Outbreak judging committee
- Award winner notified around November 9, 2026
Operation Lumen
- Teams that complete Operation Constellation unlock Operation Lumen
- Second challenge opens with a new mission and deliverables
- Prize: $2,000
Operation Sentinel
- Teams that complete Operation Lumen unlock Operation Sentinel
- Complete the last operation to finish the full competition journey
- Grand prize: $5,000
Constellation
PRIZE: $3,000
Lumen
PRIZE: $2,000
Sentinel
GRAND PRIZE: $5,000MISSION ESSENTIALS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
You’re eligible if you’re a high school (ages 14–18) or undergraduate student (ages 18–24) from any country, working on a team of three or more students with a faculty sponsor. Teams must be ready to participate when an operation opens and complete each operation to unlock the next. If that sounds like you, your mission is waiting.
Top teams can win cash awards (e.g., Operation Constellation, $3,000) and may be invited to present their work to outbreak science professionals at a regional or national event, with separate awards recognizing the top high school and top college submissions. All teams that submit a completed operation receive recognition for their work, and every completed operation unlocks new opportunities within Operation Outbreak. Beyond prizes, you’ll gain real-world experience, build standout skills, and join a growing community focused on outbreak preparedness.
Start by forming a team of three or more students and find a faculty sponsor to support your work. Sign up to get alerted when the competition opens. Once you unlock your first operation, review the mission brief, dive into the challenge, and begin building your submission.
Find Other Ways to Get
Involved
Want to keep going beyond the competition? As an Outbreak Science Ambassador, you can help your community build outbreak preparedness through education, leadership, and action. Start a student-run Operation Outbreak Club or Embassy and work alongside peers and educators to make a real-world impact.
BECOME AN AMBASSADOR