MAKING a short video about an environmental problem or solution will give high school students the chance to be named the University of Adelaide Young Scientist of the Year and win themselves cash prizes.
Entrants have to create a two-to-five minute video addressing one of Australia's big environmental challenges, with the overall winner collecting $500 and $1000 for their school.
Interim University of Adelaide Faculty of Sciences executive dean Professor Laura Parry said inspiring the next generation of future scientists to tackle environmental challenges such as climate change was critical in the pursuit of a sustainable planet.
"We are committed to helping young people take action to protect the future of our earth," she said.
"This competition empowers students to have a platform to share their ideas and to connect them with global scientific leaders at the University.
"Students can choose any problem area for the video that relates to one of the following three topics - energy and critical minerals, wildlife conservation, or agriculture. Participants, who must be students in years 7-10 attending an Australian school, will develop skills as part of the competition.
"Movie making can show young ecowarriors how science can transform lives while building their communication skills so that they can effectively share their ideas."
The student-focused website Careers with STEM has teamed up with the University for this competition. The top prize winner will have their video published on the University of Adelaide and Careers with STEM websites and receive a letter of commendation from the University.
Year 10 students at St Aloysius College in Adelaide, Charlotte Brisbin and Prefei Ren, will be entering the competition. Charlotte will be making a video on solar energy.
"We use video editing software across a lot of our curriculum, so the University's Young Scientist of the Year competition is a great opportunity to present a topic we are passionate about it in a medium we understand and enjoy," she said.
"Biomass is one of the most effective but underappreciated ways of creating energy through waste. My group has produced a video to examine the ways biomass can be beneficial for the environment," Prefei said.
The top ten finalists will kick start their careers in STEM by having the opportunity to interview a scientist from the University who is an expert in the area of their interest.
Entries are open now and close on Friday, October 29. Winners will be announced on Monday, December 6.
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