From the massive Gulf oil spill to the continued decline of Arctic sea ice, satellites and other observing instruments have proved crucial this year in monitoring the many environmental changes -- both natural and human-induced -- occurring on global, regional and local scales.
The 2011 Thacher Environmental Research Contest, sponsored by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, challenges high school students (grades 9-12) to conduct innovative research on our changing planet using the latest geospatial tools and data, which in recent years have become increasingly accessible to the public.
Eligible geospatial tools and data include satellite remote sensing, aerial photography, geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). The main focus of the project must be on the application of the geospatial tool(s) or data to study a problem related to Earth's environment.
Geospatial tools and data have numerous uses in science research, ranging from climate prediction to archaeology. They can be used to improve our understanding of Earth systems, including interactions within and among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere. They also can be used to improve the quality of our lives by supporting weather prediction, natural hazards monitoring, agriculture, land-use planning, coastal management, transportation, public health, emergency response and other fields.
The Thacher Environmental Research Contest (formerly the Thacher Scholars Award) was founded in honor of former IGES board member Peter Thacher, who was a leader in promoting the use of satellite remote sensing. Thacher was former deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, NASA advisor and, at the time of his death, president of the Earth Council Foundation/U.S.
Awards
Student Awards: The best projects will receive cash awards in the amount of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place. Entries can be submitted by individuals or teams. In the case of team entries, the cash award will be split equally among the winning team members. Winners also will be featured in an Encyclopedia of Earth article.
Teacher Awards: In addition to the student prizes, teachers of the first-, second- and third-place students or teams will receive a $200 amazon.com gift card. If participation is part of an after-school club or other activity independent of school, the student or team can identify an adult "coach" who would be eligible for this award (e.g., a parent, club leader, etc.). Only one teacher or coach recognition award will be provided for each 1st, 2nd and 3rd place entry.
Eligibility
1. Any student who is enrolled in and attending high school (grades 9-12 - public, private, parochial, Native American reservation, or home school) in the United States or U.S. territories; or
2. Any student who is a United States citizen and enrolled in a high school (grades 9-12) attending:
- Department of Defense Dependents' Overseas School or an accredited overseas American or International School; or
- foreign school as an exchange student; or
- a foreign school because his/her parent(s) are temporarily working and living abroad.
3. Entries can be submitted by individuals or teams. In the case of team entries, the cash award will be split equally among the winning team members. All team members must meet eligibility requirements.
Deadline
Entries must be received April 11, 2011. IGES plans to announce the winning entries around May 18, 2011.
Contest Rules
- Only one entry per student.
- Student reports should not exceed 20 pages (including title page, abstract, text, charts/tables/images, and any appendices).
- Students should pick a presentation style that best suits their project. However, all reports should contain a title page (with project title, student's name and contact information, teacher/coach name and contact information); abstract (a short description of the project, no more than 300 words); discussion of the procedures that they followed, results, and what was learned; and references.
- Every submission must include a completed entry form.
- Page format: 8 1/2 x 11" single-sided paper, 1 inch margins (top, bottom, and sides), 12 point font and double spacing.
- All sources and or references used (including websites) must be credited/referenced. Students may use the style guide of their choice. There are several major style guides from which students can choose, e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, and stylebooks of several newspapers (N.Y. Times, Wall Street Journal, etc.).
- No project will be eligible that involves human or non-human vertebrate animal experimentation.
- Entries can be submitted either as (a) hard copies or (b) emailed as PDF files to ThacherContest@strategies.org. If you are submitting your entry in hard copy, please include two sets of the entire entry (1 original and 1 copy), including entry form, are submitted to IGES.
- Signed, complete entries must be postmarked April 11, 2011.
- The names of the winning entries will be posted around May 18, 2011 at http://www.strategies.org.
- Late or incomplete entries will be disqualified.
- All entries will become the property of IGES and will not be returned.
- Winners agree that information and photographs related to their entries can be used on the IGES website and in IGES publications (e.g., brochures, annual reports), press releases, and for other publicity purposes.
- As a condition of entry, entrants agree that IGES shall have the right to use, copy, reproduce, publish, modify and make available the entry to the public via IGES' website for any purpose, including but not limited to advertising and promotion of the contest.
- Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for, and winners consent to, IGES to use a winner's name, likeness and entry for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation.
- IGES plans to periodically contact winning students (e.g., annually to track academic and career paths). Winning entrants agree to respond to brief follow-up surveys.
Submit Entries To :
Email PDF entries (by 11:59 p.m. entrant's local time, April 11, 2011) to : ThacherContest@strategies.org
Or send two sets of the entry (one original and one copy) to :
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Attention: Thacher Contest
1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 901
Arlington, VA 22209
703-312-0823
or submit your entry as a PDF file by emailing it to: ThacherContest@strategies.org
more information
DEADLINE : April 11, 2011
Label: