create
collaborate
excel
Expand your horizons
What is Horizons?
Utah State University’s Office of Research presents Horizons, a competition challenging USU students to tackle the complex, long-term problems facing our state, nation, and world. Horizons is presented as part of as part of USU’s 2025 Year of Undergraduate Research celebrating 50 years of undergraduate research at USU.
Horizons invites students to tackle the big challenges of our time by developing and presenting research proposals that will positively impact our future. Students are encouraged to think innovatively and ambitiously. While the proposals should be realistic, participants will not conduct the research themselves, allowing for creative exploration of solutions to complex problems.
The Prizes
1st Place
$4,000
Category Winners
$1,500
Final Stage Contenders
$500
How It Works
Select a Challenge
Interdisciplinary student teams select one of the challenges identified by expert advisors as a grand challenge
Training and Support
Team mentors and the Office of Research provide training and support
Report on Solutions
Teams produce reports examining possible solutions and identifying an innovative strategy
Pitch Strategy
Teams pitch their strategy to our panel of expert advisors from the public and private sectors
Win Prizes
Winners, selected for creativity, innovation, and feasibility, present to decision-makers and earn valuable prizes
Why Get Involved?
Students
Tackle the problems defining your future using research. Learn to innovate, network, and pitch your ideas to decision-makers. Compete for big prizes!
Advisors
Share your expertise in business, legislation, community leadership, and academia. Assess our contestants and help shape Utah's future workforce.
Mentors
Guide the innovators of tomorrow. We need mentors from all disciplines to help Horizons participants reach their full potential.