2007 International Science Poetry Competition
June 6, 2007
(For school students, and sponsored by Science Time Educational Consultancy and The Science Education Review.)
Three age group divisions: 9-11, 12-14, and 15+ years of age
Why a Science Poetry Competition?
There are many good reasons for encouraging students to write science poetry. These include:
People can have at least seven different ways to be intelligent, or smart. One can be word smart (read it, write about it, talk about it, listen to it), number/logic smart (calculate it, reason), picture smart (see it, draw it, visualise it, colour it, mind-map it), body smart (build it, act it out, touch it), music smart (sing it, write a poem about it, rap it), people smart (teach it to someone else, learn it in a small group, understand others), and self smart (analyse it, think about it, connect it to your own life, understand yourself). Future successful adults will need to be resourceful and flexible, and use many of these different ways of being smart. For example, there are people who presently earn income by combining science with drama and music, as they make their audiences aware of how scientific discoveries are affecting, or may affect, our lives.
Poetry can help us to be creative. When you write poetry, you need to use your whole brain; both the left side of your brain (e.g., language and logic) and the right side (e.g., visualisation and creativity). These days, many employers are looking for people who can be creative by using their whole brain. We also want our future scientists to be creative problem solvers, and exceptional scientists are those who look at the same things everyone else looks at, but see something different.
The rhyme and rhythm of poetry (and music) can help us to remember things.
For further information about the benefits of using science poetry, and relevant classroom techniques and resources, please click here.
What can be Won?
The author of the winning poem in each age division of this annual competition receives a certificate and an individual trophy. In addition, students whose work is Highly Commended receive a certificate. Depending on entries, there is discretion to also make other awards, such as the best poem from a particular country.
What Needs to be Done?
Post your poem/s or rhyme/s, together with the completed Entry Form, to reach us by July 31, 2007 (which is an extension of the former June 20 date). Include the student name, age (as of the closing date), and school on each poem (possibly on the back). The entry fee of 4.40 AUD (Australian dollars) per poem needs to accompany the Entry Form. There is a minimum fee of 22 AUD per school (not applicable to homeschoolers), but no maximum limit. The entry fees contribute to judging and administration costs, including the posting of certificates.
What Conditions Apply?
Entries must be original, in English, and in hard copy (printed) format only.
Entrants need to be primary or high school students at the time of entry.
Your poem must have something to do with science (e.g., a science experiment, a science idea, or a scientific issue that is important in our lives; even a science teacher!) and should have rhyme and rhythm.
There is no limit to the length of your poem, but short poems can be great.
A student may enter more than one poem.
The judges’ decision is final.
Permission is granted for Science Time to reproduce your entry.
Anything Else?
While receiving an award in this competition will give recipients much satisfaction, there are benefits for you in just trying to write poetry. You will practise a few different ways of being smart, and many entries will be displayed on this Web site for the whole world to see!
The judging process will take into account the skills that could be expected from a student at his/her age. A 9-year-old student, for example, should therefore not be concerned about entering a competition that also includes 11-year-olds.
If you would like some good ideas for writing poetry, the following excellent, inexpensive booklets can help.
I Need a Poem, Mum! Aimed at the primary student, it contains many poems (including science poems) and guidance for writing different types of poetry; couplets, parodies, limericks, story-telling, poetic language, acrostics, haiku, and shape “poems.”
Help! A Handbook for Writers and Performers of Rhymed Verse. Written for a more advanced audience.
Both may be purchased from Carmel Randle, “Splenda Crescent,” M/S 852, Preston, Qld. 4352 Australia (Fax 61-7-46309998 [within Australia 07 4630 9998]). Why not also suggest a copy of each for your school and/or public library?
May I Please Have an Example?
Yes. Click here to view some entries from previous years, plus comments from the adjudicator.
Payment
Payment may be made by credit card or bank draft (e.g., cheque or money order). Bank drafts need to be in Australian dollars (AUD), and payable to Science Time. In addition, payment may be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) by crediting the following account:
Warwick Credit Union Ltd.
101 Palmerin Street
Warwick Qld 4370
Australia
From Overseas
BSB: 034850
Account Number 205850
Account Name: Eastwell – Science Time
From Within Australia
BSB: 704687
Account Number: 20585
Account Name: Eastwell – Science Time
Reference: Official site: http://www.scienceeducationreview.com/poetcomp.html
IPF’s 2007 Letter Writing Competition
June 6, 2007
Letter can be handwritten or typed and must be in the English language. Maximum of 500 words. One entry allowed for each member. Entries close 31 August 2007. Prozes will be sent to winners in November 2007.
About IPF
Background
International Pen Friends (IPF) was founded in Dublin, Ireland on 7 April 1967 with the vision of giving people of all ages from every country the opportunity to gain penfriends and promote world peace and friendship through sincere letter writing.
On 1 February 2001 our Head Office moved from Ireland to Australia. We continue to be supported by hundreds of thousands of members worldwide, an established network of global representatives and a dedicated Head Office team.
The Fun of Letter Writing
Despite the many forms of communication available today, it is interesting that the most common feedback IPF receives from members is the enjoyment and fun they gain by receiving letters in the mail. It is hard to match the anticipation of waiting for letters to arrive, the stamps, postmarks, fancy writing paper, postcards, photos, tokens of friendship, the time and care people have taken to write the letters, sitting quietly and reading the letters time and time again, and possibly keeping them for many years as part of personal history. It is also better to receive letters in the mail than junk mail and bills!
Julie Delbridge
President
International Pen Friends
PO Box 156
Suffolk Park NSW 2481
Australia
Telephone: + 61 2 6685 4998
Facsimile: + 61 2 6685 4928
International Pen Friends (IPF)
Uniting the World Through Friendship, Fun and the Written Word
Complete information about this competition (the official site): http://members.ozemail.com.au/~penpals/2007comp.html
Official Site: http://www.ipf.net.au/
International Children’s Art Competition
June 6, 2007
To commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17th) and the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Postal Administration is pleased to announce:
AN ART COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN TO DESIGN
A UN STAMP ON THE THEME ‘WE CAN END POVERTY’
INTRODUCTION
As part of the activities to celebrate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the end of the first Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, the Division for Social Policy and Development at the United Nations invites children from all over the world to participate in an art competition on the theme “We can end poverty”.
The best 6 designs selected by the Panel of Judges will be presented during the commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, on 17 October 2007, and will be issued as stamps of the United Nations Postal Administration.
In addition to the best 6 designs, another 20 designs will receive special commendation. The total of 26 winning entries will be displayed in a special exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2007.
RULES OF THE COMPETITION
Who can participate? Children from all around the world from age 5 to 15 years.
Requirements for entry The entry should be made on paper or canvas A4 size or comparable. You may use ink, pencil, charcoal, crayon, water colour, marker, or any material that you might have available in your environment. Each design should be accompanied by a brief description of its meaning on the back of the entry. Please do not frame the art work.
Personal information On the back of each entry please provide the following information:
Your full name
Age
Gender
Full address
Country
Telephone number, fax number and e-mail address (if available)
Any other useful contact information.
Selection of designs The 6 best designs will be announced by the United Nations during the commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in October 17, 2007. These 6 best designs will be issues as stamps by the United Nations Postal Administration. In addition, 20 other designs will be awarded special commendations. All 26 designs will be displayed in a special exhibition at the United Nations in 2007.
Judging A Panel of Judges composed of members from the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development, the United Nations Department of Public Information and the United Nations Postal Administration will decide on the selection of winning entries.
Criteria for evaluation of entries Artistic expression, how well the design expresses the theme of the competition.
Deadline Please send the design, with information requested, as soon as possible, but no later than 30 June 2007 to the following address:
2 United Nations Plaza,
Room DC2-1328
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Source: UN Website: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/poverty/art.htm
