ANSTO Elements of the 21st Century 2026: Digital Art for Australian School Students — 20 Nov
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is running Elements of the 21st Century 2026, a free visual art and science competition for primary and high-school students across Australia. Entrants create a square periodic-table tile showing how a chemical element is used in contemporary life. Digital artwork is a separate judging category from hand-drawn artwork.
Eligibility and entry deadline
ANSTO explicitly invites students in all primary and secondary school grades across Australia, whether entering individually or through a teacher. Only one entry is allowed per student, and the artwork must be created by the student. Submissions close at midnight AEST on Friday 20 November 2026. Winners are scheduled to be announced on Monday 7 December. Entry is free; the named prizes are periodic-table-themed packs, and winning art may feature in ANSTO's digital gallery.
Digital design rules
Create a square 18 cm by 18 cm design containing the chosen element's name, chemical symbol and atomic number, plus an illustration of a modern use. A short explanatory paragraph about that use must accompany the work. The published rules permit digital drawing software and even generative AI within the digital-art category; three-dimensional works are excluded. Hand-drawn entries and two-dimensional collage works are considered separately. Applicants using AI or other tools must still meet the requirement that their submitted work is created by the student.
How to submit online
Individuals upload a clear photograph or scan of the completed tile via ANSTO's official individual student form and provide the explanatory paragraph. Teachers assemble photographed or scanned student work and use the separate teacher submission form. ANSTO's rules state file-size and upload limits for class submissions. The official page provides design templates, entry forms and a resources list.
Organiser and historical record
ANSTO is Australia's national nuclear science and technology organisation, with science-education initiatives for schools. Its official site presents galleries of previous Elements competition winners and continues to run other educational contests, including Think Science. Its education team and contact information appear directly on the primary call, providing an identifiable organiser and submission route.
Entry information verification
The competition, timing, digital category, student eligibility and official forms are documented on the ANSTO website. The digital-category allowance for generative AI is specific to ANSTO's published 2026 rules; it should not be assumed for other art competitions. ANSTO determines all judging outcomes and publication of winning entries.
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information checked: 19 October 2026.
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