The Great Linnaeus School Challenge

Combine your environmental teaching this autumn with the opportunity to go on the trip of a lifetime with your class – a visit to Swedish Lapland, the last wilderness in Europe

Saving our environment – on the agenda

Media and politicians are constantly warning us about the effects of climate change and global warming. The environment is on the public agenda, but how do we tackle these issues?

The Swedish Institute, in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, is now challenging students and schools around the world to stand up for the environment by joining The Great Linnaeus School Challenge.

Who was Linnaeus?

Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus is chiefly known for having classified the world’s plants and animals. But he was also fascinated by ecology and the sustainable use of our natural resources. The 300th anniversary of Linnaeus’ birth in 2007 is being marked by celebrations all around the world. Many of them focus on this aspect of his work as particularly relevant for the challenges we are facing today.

The Challenge

We are challenging schools around the world to take action

• We invite you and your students to participate by presenting an environmental project of your own choice.
• Your projects can be a small or a large step towards improving the environment, be it locally or globally. We need bold and clever ideas. The projects can be an invention, an experiment, an improvement or a lobbying activity for the environment.
• Entries will be judged on levels of innovation, creativity, and curiosity.

The simplest measures can sometimes make the biggest difference!

Teaching package

When you join the challenge you will be offered a package of materials for the study of environmental issues:

• www.linnaeus300.com, a website which presents a challenging new scientific issue every week throughout the year (check it out right now and subscribe to the question of the week.)
• an interactive forum on linnaeus300.com where your students can exchange ideas with contemporaries around the world
• Linnaean Lessons − teaching material for an introductory lesson about Carl Linnaeus
• The Linnaeus Expedition − a new film for a young audience which addresses the crucial questions of how we should act today in order to survive tomorrow.

A study trip to the “last wilderness in Europe”

In December 2007 a jury of experts will select the best project. The lucky students will be given the opportunity to travel to Swedish Lapland.

Join the challenge

Interested in incorporating The Great Linnaeus School Challenge into your teaching? School classes around the world aged 14−18 are welcome to join. Your projects should be submitted online to www.linnaeus300.com. All contributions will be published on an interactive forum on the website.

Detailed information, entry conditions and registration will be available from 27 August on www.linnaeus300.com. E-mail us now on anan@si.se and we’ll send you a reminder in August.

See you in Sweden!