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Action Against Climate Change
WINNER - Going Solar
Location, location, location!
Solar panels are just like real estate. It's all about ‘location, location, location'.
This is according to Year 10 Melbourne Grammar School boys Tom Rogerson and Charles Vaughan, whose project, Going Solar, looked at the financial and environmental implications of installing solar panels at their school. They decided the best location for solar panels was the sun-bathed roof of the new Centre for Learning and Leadership.
For a web-based video of their project, the two boys have won first place in the Macquarie University Action Against Climate Change Eureka Schools Prize.
The award is for an online science presentation on strategies to reduce the effects of climate change. First prize is $4,000 plus a $1,000 Abbey's bookshop voucher.
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are the most prestigious awards in Australian science. Winners were announced last night in Sydney, at a star-studded formal dinner, attended by the country's most inspiring minds.
Turning twenty this year, ‘The Eurekas,' as they are fondly known, have become the most coveted science awards in this country. Every scientist knows a ‘eureka' moment comes after decades of singular dedication, deep inquiry and rich collaboration. Receiving an Australian Museum Eureka Prize is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for any Australian scientist.
The boys' presentation explains the science behind solar panels and calculated that the school's current electricity use created 1,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions - ‘equivalent to half a million candles burning continuously' - for one year.
"This generation has been galvanized into action on global warming and knows that it's science which will provide the answers. The boys costed-out the financial savings to the school of installing solar panels and determined it would take 40 years to pay for itself. Even so, they concluded there is a moral imperative to act," says Australian Museum Director, Frank Howarth.
The winning video can be viewed at: http://intranet.mgs.vic.edu.au/content/Intranet/SciComp2009/GoingSolar.m4v
Second prize of $3,000 was awarded to a Year 11 student at Keebra Park State High School, Gold Coast, for his project on tidal energy as alternate energy source.
Using only equipment available on the domestic market, Year 11 student Tony Bose built a water wheel, which they connected to a small-scale generator; then measured how much electricity could be harnessed by local riverfront homes. Tony's website includes a project journal and a video of the water wheel in action and can be viewed at:
http://www.keebraparkshs.eq.edu.au/EUREKA2009-tidalpower/homepage.htm
Mona El-mohtadi and Khaulah Bachsinar, Year 10 students at the Australian Islamic College of Sydney, have taken out the third prize of $2,000. They were so inspired by the project, that as well as offering nine simple actions against climate change, they have written and performed a song about the issue.
Their action plan includes nine simple actions, ranging from; using less heat and air-conditioning; planting a tree, and the simple saying: ‘use the off switch'. Their video can be viewed at:
http://www.wix.com/ClimateChange/GoGreen
Prize money is divided equally between the winning students and their schools, and each winning student receives a copy of Microsoft Student and a Abbey's Bookstore gift voucher. Each winning team receives a copy of Microsoft Expression Web Designer for their school.
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Sponsor
The Macquarie University Eureka Prize for Action Against Climate Change is sponsored by Macquarie University.
Description
The Macquarie University Eureka Schools Science Prize for Action Against Climate Change is awarded for an online science presentation about reducing the effects of climate change.
Any area of science can be used to investigate and form a reduction strategy. Students are to apply scientific methods in their investigation. Students can use their home, school or community as the basis for their study.
prize
1st - $4,000 plus a $1,000 book voucher from Abbey's Bookshop, Sydney
2nd - $3,000
3rd - $2,000
4th - $1,000
Prize money is divided equally between the winning students and their schools. Book vouchers are shared equally by members of the winning team. Each winning student will receive a copy of Microsoft Student. Each winning team will win for their school a copy of Microsoft Expression Web Designer.
PLUS: a representative of each finalist will win a trip to Sydney for the 2009 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Award Dinner on 18 August.
Purpose
The Macquarie University Eureka Schools Science Prize for Action Against Climate Change is designed to encourage students to consider science-based responses to CO2 emissions associated with climate change.
Using their home or school as a case study, students are asked to use scientific methods to identify and estimate CO2 emissions and suggest ways these might be reduced.
The results of the scientific analysis and the proposed CO2 reduction strategy are to be reported creatively in a 2 -3 minute presentation that must be uploaded and available to view online.
This presentation could be done in a variety of ways - as a documentary, debate, short film, animation, song, play, discussion etc. Be as creative as you like.
How the presentation is made is not the critical issue. What matters is how effectively the chosen Action Against Climate Change message is conveyed - and that the presentation is available for viewing online.
Prize money is divided equally between the winning students and their schools. Each winning student will receive a copy of Microsoft Student. Each winning team will win for their school a copy of Microsoft Expression Web Designer.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged against the following criteria:
1. Scientific content: the nature and quality of the science used to identify and estimate/calculate CO2 emissions (30%)
2. Reduction strategy: the nature and practicality of proposals for reducing CO2 emissions (30%)
3. Communication: the effectiveness of the entry in communicating the scientific findings and proposed strategy (40% )
The prize is open to students in years 7-12. Students will be judged in two age groups, years 7-9 and years 10-12. Both groups will be judged on the same criteria, but not against each other.
The winner will be determined by their submission excelling relative to their age group. Only one entry per student is permitted, although there is no limit to the number of entries from a school.
While presentation is important to communicate a clear scientific message, the prizes are to reward scientific content. The judging criteria are not related to money spent on the production and editing.
Independent entries can be submitted by students but the applicants must be supported by their school.
Teacher notes and lesson plans are available here.
Conditions of entry
The prize is open to Australian secondary students in Years 7-12.
The prize is open to an individual student or a team of no more than six (6) students.
An individual can only enter once in any year, whether individually or in a group.
There is no limit to the number of entries received from a school.
An entry is to take the form of a presentation uploaded online and live at the time of submission of the online entry form. An entry should be no less than 1 minute (minimum) and no longer than 3 minutes (maximum) in length, including any titles and credits.
Online entries close at midnight on Friday 1 May 2009, at which time the multimedia presentation must be online, live and accessible from within Australia.
Entries must remain online, live and accessible from within Australia at least until 31 December 2009.
Copyright considerations are the responsibility of the students. All sources of information, including illustrations and music, should be clearly referenced, acknowledged and/or credited.
The work entered/nominated for this prize may not be entered/nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
Information provided by the entrant(s) in relations to the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (including photos), may be used by the Australian Museum for promotional/publicity purposes.
Personal information provided in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will be used only by the Australian Museum and only in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
How to enter
1. Complete your presentation and upload this online
2. Complete and submit an online entry form
Submit the online entry form before midnight on Friday 1 May 2009. Your presentation must be online, live and accessible from anywhere in Australia by this date and must remain live until 31 December 2010.
If you require further information or help, please contact the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Unit on +61 2 9320 6483 or email eureka@austmus.gov.au
