Hundreds of pupils from across the North-east have entered
a University of Aberdeen contest celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of one of science’s most important figures.
Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist, physician, zoologist and visionary who saw the need for a comprehensive system of naming plants and animals. His system of naming, ranking and classifying is still used today.
Linnaeus tercentenary celebrations are taking place at organisations across the world including the University of Aberdeen, which has embarked on an ambitious programme of events.
Secondary school pupils were challenged, by the organisers of the University's celebrations, to design a poster featuring a picture they had drawn or a photo they had taken of a plant or animal. The S1, S2 and S3 pupils were also asked to find out its Latin name and explain why they thought it was given this name.
Organisers are delighted at the response to their 'Creativity, Curiosity and Science' competition, which was judged yesterday (May 10).
Dr Andy Schofield, Lecturer and Academic Co-ordinator Promoting Science at the University, said: "Marie Fish, who was one of the Linnaeus co-organisers, and myself were really thrilled at the response we had to our competition. A total of 18 secondary schools from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire submitted entries to our competition, sending in an astonishing 458 posters. It is good to see that so many school pupils are enthusiastic and interested in the environment."
The judging panel were Dr Martyn Gorman, Reader in Zoology and Honorary Curator of the Zoology Museum at the University of Aberdeen; Alan Findlay, Facility Manager of the David Welch Winter Gardens at Aberdeen's Duthie Park, and Charlie Hackett, Lecturer in Textiles and Design, at Gray's School of Art.
Dr Martyn Gorman, one of the judging team, said: "The entries were really impressive, combining excellent design skills, a real understanding of the meaning of the scientific names of animals and in many cases, the really clever and witty use of a few words to put over a quite complex idea."
Charlie Hackett, another one of the judges, added: "The Linnaeus science-art competition gave the pupils the chance to combine both fantastical paintings and drawings with Latin text, breathing a new dimension into animal, insect and plant species. Their drawings were fantastically drawn and patterned giving vigour and character to their chosen species."
Celebrity gardener Jim McColl, from BBC's Beechgrove Garden, will present the prizes to the winners on Saturday May 26.
Every poster that has been submitted to the contest will also be displayed on the weekend of May 26 and 27, at the Zoology Building and the Natural History Centre at the University of Aberdeen, which is aimed at secondary school children and their families, and will feature exhibitions and nature and museum trails.
* Pupils from the following secondary schools submitted posters to the competition: Aberdeen Grammar School; Aboyne; Alford; Bridge of Don; Dyce; Ellon; Fraserburgh; Hazlehead; Kemnay; Mackie; Meldrum; Northfield; St Machar; Torry and Westhill Academies; The Gordon Schools, Huntly; Robert Gordon's College and St Margaret's School for Girls.
For more information about the University's Linnaeus celebrations see:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/nhc/linnaeus/