Young environmental journalist of the year award
Are you a budding environmental journalist? Get writing and you could win an Earthwatch trip of a lifetime.
You could win a place on one of three Earthwatch expeditions: 'Spanish Dolphins'; 'Forest Catepillars' in Costa Rica: and 'Crocodiles of Okavango' in Botswana.
Earthwatch Institute (Europe) and BBC Wildlife Magazine are inviting young environmental journalists 'in the making' between the ages of 16 and 25 to apply for the first annual Young Environmental Journalist of the Year Award. The award acknowledges an exceptional piece of journalistic work by a young person, which tackles relevant issues related to environmental conservation. The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2005.
The award winner will spend up to two weeks on an international Earthwatch field research project where they will work alongside leading scientists and play a direct role helping preserve the environment.
Spanish Dolphins: In recent decades many dolphin species have experienced dramatic declines. Volunteers will help Earthwatch researchers document the range, social behaviour and ecology of dolphins in an effort to understand their habitat and needs.
Forest Caterpillars: Working at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, volunteers will become a catepillar farmer and stay at the on-site research facility.
Crocodiles of Okavango: Volunteers will research and monitor crocodiles at a research camp by investigating the ecology and physiology of the keystone species in the ecosystem.
The winning article will also be published in the November issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Earthwatch Europe's Director of Programme Operations Eve Carpenter said: "This award is designed to inspire the next generation of environmental writers at a time when the world really needs excellent journalism to raise awareness of important environmental issues and to demonstrate how relevant they are to everyone's lives."
Articles of 1,000 words can be submitted for the competition by young journalists who are knowledgeable about current environmental issues, objective and accurate in their research, and creative enough to capture and hold a reader's interest.
The generous award is provided by the Max Nicholson Fund, named after Max Nicholson, the late conservationist, ornithologist, writer and civil servant. A co-founder of Earthwatch Institute (Europe) and WWF, Nicolson inspired nature reserves and ecological research around the world.
Among the competition's judges will be journalist Richard Donkin, Zac Goldsmith, editor of the Ecologist magazine, as well as James Fair, environment editor of BBC Wildlife.
For more information about the award and conditions of entry, pick up the May issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine available at newsagents. The award winner will be announced in the November issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine. To download an application form, click here.
For press information, images and interview please contact: Zoe Gamble, Press Officer, Earthwatch, on + 44 (0) 1865 318806 / zgamble@earthwatch.org.uk
Editors Notes