Atlantic Canada Marine Biodiversity Essay Contest
The Centre for Marine Biodiversity is pleased to announce the 5th annual Atlantic-wide essay contest open to all grade 12 students. The contest is intended to increase awareness of the biological diversity within Canada's vast ocean territories. In particular, it will provide an opportunity for motivated students at the pre-University level of education to learn about marine biodiversity in Canada and to share what is learned in a creative and effective manner. The student with the most creative and effective essay will be awarded their first year's tuition in a Science program at a contributing Atlantic Canadian University or College. Two subsidiary prizes of partial tuition fees will also be available.
Background
Contest Details
Judging
Contact
2007 Winners
Essay
Archives
The Centre for Marine Biodiversity (CMB) is a largely virtual institute established in 2000 to provide a focus for the broad array of marine biodiversity research being conducted in Atlantic Canada. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world bordering three Oceans, and has long been a leader in marine biological research. In the mid-1990s Canada signed the International Convention on Biological Diversity, which states that all member countries will identify the extent of biological diversity in their territories, and make plans to conserve or enhance this diversity. In spite of this, the full scope of biological diversity in Canada's marine waters it is not yet well understood.
Early in 2001 the Centre for Marine Biodiversity was granted $100,000 by the Census of Marine Life and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to conduct a workshop, in February of 2002, to outline future directions in research and management of marine biodiversity in Canada. The Census of Marine Life is a 10-year project established by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation that asks the questions, "what lived in the oceans, what lives in the oceans, and what will live in the oceans". The Census of Marine Life is currently funding a number of projects, which look at various technical aspects of how to answer these questions. It has contributed to the workshop because it is interested in knowing how a country like Canada will approach these questions. The information from this workshop is currently being used to develop a National Plan on Marine Biodiversity.
Both the Census of Marine Life and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are aware that future marine biodiversity research and decision making, which will govern the quality of Canada's Oceans, lies with young people now in high school and considering their educational directions. It is fitting that these young people be given an opportunity to learn and write about marine biological diversity and by doing so, benefit from their efforts by receiving assistance for post-secondary education.
The Centre for Marine Biodiversity expects to hold the 2007-2008 Essay Contest in a similar manner to the last five competitions. Please return to this page later this summer to check for updated contact information and the topic for the next competition. The information that follows (on threats to marine biodiversity in Arctic Ecosystems) relates to the 2006-07 competition. It has been left on this page at the present time to allow students to gain a general idea of how the competition is organised.
The essay contest will be open to any student currently enrolled in Grade 12 at a Canadian high school in the Atlantic Region (i.e. Newfoundland , Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island ). The student will write an original essay addressing the following statement:
Discuss the importance of and threats to marine biodiversity in Arctic ecosystems.
Within the body of the essay, the student should address the following topics:
- What is marine biodiversity (biological diversity)?
- Why should we know about and protect marine biodiversity in Arctic ecosystems?
- What are the threats to Arctic marine biodiversity?
- What can we do as Canadians, and members of an international community, to protect marine biodiversity?
The essay may be produced in either electronic or hard-copy form and it should contain no more than 2500 words. It can be written in French or English. All entries must be received no later than 16:30 Atlantic Standard Time on March 20, 2007.
All entries should be sent to:
Alida Bundy
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
1 Challenger Drive, P.O. Box 1006
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Canada, B2Y 4A2
Or they may be e-mailed to:
bundya@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
All entries will be judged according to the following criteria
- Understanding of the topics and use of factual information (50 %)
- Clarity of ideas and writing skills (30%)
- Originality (20%)
Judging will take place by a panel of researchers who have expertise in areas of biological diversity and their judgements will be final. Winners will be chosen by April 15th, 2007 and they will be invited to attend the Spring CMB meeting, where their essays will be on display. Essays will also be posted on the Centre for Marine Biodiversity website after the final decisions have been made. The students with winning entries must meet all eligibility requirements for the University of their choice before the prize is granted.
Please print up a brochure for distribution or further information.
Director of the Centre for Marine Biodiversity, Dr. Peter Lawton, presented awards to the 2007 essay contest winners during the spring meeting of the Society, held June 8, 2007, at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. In addtion to their tuition prize, each student received a mounted poster of Bay of Fundy marine life produced by CMB members Michael Strong and Maria-Ines Buzeta.
- 1st Place - Shayla McIssac, James M. Hill High School, Miramichi, N.B.
- 2nd Place - Meade Humble, Armbrae Academy, Halifax, N.S.
- 3rd Place - Cheryl Sexton, Northumberland Regional High School, Alma, N.S.
2006
2005
- Brent Maloney
- Allison MacKay
- Rachael Schwartz
2004
2003
