Earth Science Week 2009
Essay Contest

"Climate Connections"

About the Contest

AGI is sponsoring an essay contest to celebrate Earth Science Week 2009. The essay theme for this year is: "Climate Connections."

Please see below for contest guidelines.

Click here to download the essay contest entry form.

Contest Guidelines

Who can enter?

The essay contest is open to any interested person in grades 6-9. You must be a resident of the United States to enter.

What is the subject of the essay?

Your essay should focus on the topic "Climate Connections."

Earth science is all about the interactions among Earth’s systems: geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. These systems work together to produce Earth’s various climatic regions. Write an essay exploring the ways climate interacts with Earth’s systems in your area. What impact does climate have on each system? How do these systems influence climate?

How long should the essay be?

The essay should be no more than 300 words in length.

What do I need to submit?

A valid submission will contain the following information:

1. A typed essay of no more than 300 words, focusing on the topic “Climate Connections.” Each essay must be original, authentic, unpublished, the sole property of the entrant, and not previously submitted in any other contest.

2. Your personal information, printed at the top of the essay:

First and last name (as it appears on your permission form)
Mailing address
Phone number
E-mail address

3. A completed and signed entry form. Print out the entry form here and send it to us when you send your essay. Entries cannot be accepted without a signed entry form.

How should I submit my essay and permission form?

Essays must be submitted electronically. Paste the text of your essay, along with your contact information, into the body of an e-mail. Electronic submissions must be sent to info@earthsciweek.org with the subject heading as “ESW 2009 Essay Contest.”

Permission forms may be submitted electronically or by mail. Fill out your form, including the signature of a parent or guardian. Electronically submitted permission forms must be scanned and sent, along with essays, to info@earthsciweek.org with the subject heading as “ESW 2009 Essay Contest.”

All mailed permission forms must be sent to:

Earth Science Week 2009 Essay Contest
American Geological Institute
4220 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302-1502

IMPORTANT: Whether you use mail or e-mail, you must still submit a completed and signed entry form. You may mail the form separately to the address above, or scan the completed form and send it electronically along with your essay. If you mail the entry form separately, please indicate WHEN you sent your essay electronically.

If you have any problems submitting your essay, please e-mail the Earth Science Week staff at info@earthsciweek.org.

When is the deadline?

All mailed submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, October 16, 2009, and all electronic submissions must be received by 5 p.m. EST, Friday, October 16, 2009.

How will the essays be judged?

The essays will be judged by a panel of geoscientists on grammar, content, presentation, creativity, and, most importantly, relevance to and incorporation of the topic.

What are the prizes?

The selected entry will win $300 and a copy of AGI's Faces of Earth DVD. All finalists' entries will be posted to the Earth Science Week Website. The winner and finalists will be posted on the Earth Science Week Website. No cash substitution for prizes will be permitted, and prizes are nontransferable.

Disclaimer: By submitting an entry, an entrant agrees to allow the American Geological Institute to use his or her name to post on the AGI Web site, without compensation unless prohibited. All entries and all rights of ownership in and to the entries, including all rights to use, reproduce, publish, modify, edit, and distribute the same will become the exclusive property of AGI and will not be returned. AGI reserves the right to edit, modify, adapt, copyright, publish, use, and reproduce any and all entries without further compensation. The American Geological Institute, its agents and contractor, are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, incomplete, or postage-due entries. Contest void where prohibited or restricted by law.