Climate of Our Future

Win a Digital Camera or Other Prizes; Photos must be snapped April 19-30

Springtime is here again. And that means changes are taking place in the air, land, water and wildlife all around us. Celebrate Earth Day with middle school students across the country by taking a photograph of something that is changing in your local environment.

If you are in grades 5-8, you can be part of this unique national effort to capture our changing world by taking a photograph anytime from Monday April 19 through Friday April 30, 2010 (Earth Day itself is April 22). The picture could show a change taking place in your backyard or neighborhood, near your school or in a local park, or off in the distance toward the horizon.

Then, research and write an essay about the photograph (400 words or less) that answers the following questions:

· What is the change taking place in your photograph?             
· What may be causing the change?
· Was the change expected?
· How might the change impact surrounding areas, including people?
· How might this picture look different in the future?

Entries will be judged by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) staff based on relevance to the contest theme (depiction of change in the environment), uniqueness and overall appearance of the photo, and quality of the essay.

The top three winners will receive a digital camera, digital photo frame and digital photo keychain, respectively. The top 10 winners will receive their photograph in a special frame commemorating Earth Day 2010, and their photographs and accompanying descriptions will be featured on the IGES Web site.

Entries must be received by email or postmarked by May 12, 2010. Winners will be announced on the IGES Web site around June 1, 2010.

For submission instructions, entry form, and suggestions for using this activity in the classroom, please visit:

www.strategies.org/EarthDayPhoto

About IGES: Located in Arlington, Va., IGES was established in 1994 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supported by public and private entities. IGES is a trusted leader in Earth and space science education, communication and outreach, and in fostering national and international cooperation in observing the Earth.

Sponsor a Student Contest: Is your company or organization looking for a way to support science education? Contact IGES at info@strategies.org for sponsorship opportunities. In addition to the photo contest for grades 5-8, IGES offers a science-themed art contest for students in grades 2-4, and cash awards for grades 9-12 students demonstrating the best use of geospatial tools or data to study Earth.

CONTACT
Dan Stillman
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
(703) 312-7138 (Phone)
(703) 312-8657 (FAX)
Email: dan_stillman@strategies.org