An opportunity to win a bike is up for grabs for children in Aberdeen with a poster competition being run to highlight the importance of the environment.
The children’s eco-art poster competition is open to all children under the age of 15 who have a relative or friend working or studying at the University of Aberdeen, and aims to show those who work and study at the institution how it can be a greener place.
The competition is being organised by the University with prizes from the Edinburgh Bike Co-operative.
It is thought that this will be a fun way to communicate the ‘green’ message, by having the children telling the adults how they can make changes in their daily lives.
Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice Principal, Research and Commercialisation, is backing the competition. He said "I am delighted that the University of Aberdeen is pursuing this innovative way of involving children in our concerns for the future of the planet.
“It is all part of the University's demonstration of our drive to raise awareness of the environment and to show what we can do as a community to reduce waste and improve efficiency."
Entrants will design a poster based on one of four chosen themes. The themes are:
· “Make new friends – car share!”
· “Afternoon energy slump? Eat more fruit, drink more water!”
· “Double sided photocopying. It’s the new black, try it!”
· “Buy fairtrade: it’s better for the environment, farmers and YOU!”
The children are encouraged to use a variety of materials or produce their work digitally, making sure that the theme sentence is included in the design.
It is hoped that the children will pass on these ideas to their friends or relatives, highlighting how they can do their bit for the environment they work or study in.
Alison de Souza is helping to organise a Sustainability Day at the University to coincide with World Earth Day. She explained, “As a child I was deeply impressed by the saying, ‘we do not own the earth, we borrow it from our children.’
“That’s what sustainability is all about - ensuring the future of the earth for our children and our descendants in the future. What better way of illustrating this than to get the message from the children themselves?”
There will be three age categories in the art competition, with a prize being awarded in each category by a panel of judges from within and outwith the University. All of the winners will be invited to attend a prize giving ceremony on Saturday, March 11. All of the entries will be included within an exhibition to be held within the University during the Suss Out Sustainability Event on March 21 and will also be available via a gallery on the web.
The Suss Out Sustainability event is targeted at an internal audience and is being held at lunch-time to enable as many staff and students as possible to attend (12 noon–2.00 pm). The event aims to raise awareness of sustainability and the importance that the University places on corporate social responsibility. Key speakers have been invited to give inspiring talks in the King’s Conference Centre Auditorium, while the adjoining James MacKay Hall will serve as a venue for exhibits and stalls on the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability.
The closing date for the art competition is Monday, March 6.