Any seventh-grade student in North Carolina may participate.  We encourage students to work in small groups and find an adult sponsor (teacher, parent, etc.).

You can register and submit a project by completing our online Entry Form.

Projects usually fall into four categories, including but not limited to:

• Poster
• Web-based (website, online games, Minecraft creations, etc.)
• Artistic/creative
• Video

   

Projects are evaluated based on their facts, quality and creativity.

All submissions are accepted through the online form through our Entry Form and can be submitted anytime from now through the due date. 

Due date for the 2026-2027 contest is March 8, 2027. 

Each year the AQ-IQ Contest highlights special topic areas with additional recognition because they highlight current air quality challenges, successes, and educational goals. The Division of Air Quality will recognize the best project in the three categories at the State Recognition Ceremony in July 2027.

Special Categories for the 2026-2027 contest! 

From the Directors Office: 25 years of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act - Celebration is near! On June 20, 2027, we will be celebrating 25 years of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act. The NC Clean Smokestacks Act was created to cut air pollution from the state’s coal fired power plants. This helped create cleaner air, removed haze from the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains, and improved the health of all North Carolinians. Help us celebrate clean air through your project.  

Camera, Lights, Action, Sing! - Air pollution in song and film – We’re looking for projects that bring all the drama to the big DEQ screen. Whether you are singing an original air quality song, acting out a skit about an air quality challenge, or filming your own air quality news, we want to see all your creativity and learn about how we can work to keep the air clean for all.  

Wildfire Smoke: Impacts of on air quality and health – Cough. Cough. "Did you know wildfire smoke can travel far beyond the location of the fire?"  Explore how wildfire smoke is made, investigate how it changes the air quality as it travels, and discover why certain pollutants can pose risk to human health. 

Air Quality Acronyms – Give me a “A”, Give me a “I”, Give me a “R”, what does that stand for? AIR. This special topic explores acronyms commonly found in an Air Quality specialist’s vocabulary. From AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and NAAQS, there are many acronyms used to help scientists and communities understand what’s in the air, and how it affects health and the environment. Explore the meaning of one, or a few, of these acronyms and develop your own creative way to help others understand these important air-quality terms.