| The challenge |
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National Geographic, in association with the energy company Vattenfall, wants you to come up with an idea as to how you would promote sustainable solutions to help combat climate change.
Tell us your idea for a project that could have an impact in terms of improving the environment and help to combat climate change. Your project should take into account the current climate and energy issues and also outline the steps you would take to implement your idea.
Go to The challenge to find out challenge details.
Don’t forget to send in an Entry form with your project.
Please make sure you read the Terms & conditions carefully before entering the competition.
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 You can win... |
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The overall winners and their teacher will win a place on an Earthwatch Volunteer Expedition to Puerto Rico where they will be able to contribute to an important project researching into the sustainable use of tropical rainforest.
Earthwatch is an international environmental charity that supports scientific field research around the world and inspires people to get involved with hands-on conservation. Through Earthwatch, ordinary people can become directly involved in protecting the planet’s wildlife by working as volunteers alongside leading scientists. Results from these projects assist conservation efforts and leave a legacy of knowledge and skills within local communities.
www.earthwatchexpeditions.org/
Europe/exped/silverstone_family.html
Runners-up will be able to win a fantastic camera phone and National Geographic handy tips books about camera phone photography.
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| Who can enter? |
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Anyone aged 14-19 years and attending school in Europe can enter the National Geographic / Vattenfall “Combat Climate Change!” competition, between 1st February 2008 and 15th May 2008.
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| When is the closing date? |
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The closing date for applications is the 15th May 2008. Please make sure you submit your entries to the competition online before the closing date as late entries cannot be considered for judging.
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| How should the project be presented? |
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The project should be no more than 1,500 words in total and based around the following structure:
Proposal summary:
This should be no longer than 200 words and should explain briefly: which global energy problem you have chosen to confront, why you have chosen it, how it applies to where you live and a short synopsis of your proposed solution.
Problem, cause and consequence:
In this section you will need to summarise the environmental issues currently facing the world. Describe in more detail a specific global problem that relates to your own country and why you think it needs to be changed. You should highlight what you believe are the causes of this problem and what its global consequences are. (For example: cars cause a massive amount of air pollution around the world which adds to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This leads to global warming. On a local level many people in towns and villages could probably cut down on their car usage).
Solution proposal:
This should form the main body of your text. In this section you should describe your proposed solution to the problem that you have highlighted above. Explain how your solution works, and why it will benefit both the local and global environment. Also, explain any other benefits that might result from your solution. Perhaps it might help people get to know each other in your community, or maybe it will save people money as well as saving the environment. You might want to use annotated diagrams and pictures to help you explain your project. Remember, you need to convince the European fund that you deserve their investment!
Note: The options and approaches you take are limitless but solutions that are both practical and creative will be rewarded most generously by the judges.
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| Where did you hear of the competition? |
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TV
National Geographic Magazine
Website
Other
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| Rules of entry |
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All entries should conform to the following guidelines:
Entries should be typewritten.
Diagrams can be scanned or photographed and attached to the online submission.
Floppy disks, CD ROMS, videos, entries by post or any other form than email cannot be accepted.
Each entry must be approved by a teacher or guardian by completing the relevant boxes of the entry form if the entrant is 17 years old or younger.
Once your project is complete attach your document and fill out the entry online no later than the 15th May 2008.
Entries must be in English language only.
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| What happens once I have entered? |
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Once we have received your online entry then you will receive an acknowledgement email from us confirming that you have been entered into the competition.
Between 15th May and the end of July 2008 the first round of judging will take place to find the regional winners of the prize. Regional winners will be selected as follows: one from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland and Sweden and one from the rest of Europe.
The overall and regional winners will be announced by the end of September 2008.
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| What are the judges looking for? |
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Here are some clues to what the judges will be considering when it comes to looking at your proposals:
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| Structure and clarity of presentation |
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Are your ideas ordered in a clear and understandable fashion? Are your illustrations and diagrams well presented and relevant to the text? It may help to focus your responses around the following structure:
Problem – Cause – Consequence – Solution
Make sure you have a good balance of illustrations/diagrams and text.
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| Background knowledge |
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Can you show evidence of research into climate change and sustainable energies? Have you thought about the global implications of your project?
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| Practicality |
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Would your ideas work, and could they be put into action? A solar panel on the planet Mercury just isn’t going to happen (yet)!
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| Originality, creativity and innovation |
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Have you thought around the problem in an original way? Are your ideas fresh and exciting? Could your proposal provide extra benefits to your community and country outside of the environment?
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