The Great Linnaeus School Challenge 2007

What is the Challenge?

It is an environmental project open to schools worldwide under the aegis of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Institute. It also offers one lucky school the trip of a lifetime – a study visit to Swedish Lapland, the last wilderness in Europe.

We invite your school 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.

The simplest measures can sometimes make the biggest difference!

Who was Linnaeus?

Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus was 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.

Instructions for teachers

Many natural science teachers today devote teaching time to environmental issues such as climate change and sustainability − subjects that many young people feel passionately about.
Why not take one step further this autumn term and work with your students on an environmental project for the Great Linnaeus School Challenge. We encourage work in the fields of natural science or technology – or maybe a cross-disciplinary approach involving social studies also.

Students aged 14−18 are welcome to join the challenge
The project can involve up to 20 students.
All entries must be in English
There is no fee for entering the challenge
Only one project per project group may be entered
Please supply a list of the names and ages of everyone in the group when you submit your project
The project can consist of anything between 2,000 and 8,000 words of text and images saved in pdf-format. Or be imaginative – have fun with the media available to us today. Why not create a website, submit a digital film (max 10 minutes), post your project on YouTube… But don’t forget, it’s the quality of the concept that interests us most of all.
To give the projects a more personal touch, please include some digital pictures of your project group (don't forget the teacher!) and your school.
When the project is complete, submit it by clicking here
21 November 2007 is the closing date for the submission of entries.
From 3 December all projects will be published on the website, and will remain there for the lifetime of the website.
From 3 December, when all entries have been posted, students will be able to look at each other’s projects.

What do you get when you join the challenge?

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. (Subscribe to the question of the week right now!)
Linnaean Lessons − teaching material for an introductory lesson about Carl Linnaeus
The Linnaeus Expedition − a new film (DVD) for a young audience which addresses the crucial questions of how we should act today in order to survive tomorrow.
A book about Linnaeus and a poster, produced by the Swedish Institute.

Jury

An independent jury, appointed by the Swedish Institute will choose the best project.

Judging criteria

The jury will focus on the overall impression made by the project. The jury will pay particular attention to:

Relevance
Creativity
Innovation
Methodology
Presentation

A study trip to the “last wilderness in Europe”

In December 2007 the jury will select the best project according to the above criteria. The winning project will be announced here on 21 December.

The lucky school will be given the opportunity to send students and an accompanying teacher on a study trip to Swedish Lapland. The program of the study trip will be designed by the Swedish Institute in consultation with the winning school. It will include visits to interesting environments, lectures and social events as well as a prize ceremony.

The exact dates for the visit are flexible, but it should take place around Easter 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact judith.black@si.se.

Disclaimer

The organizers of the Great Linnaeus School Challenge accept no responsibility for any tax liability that might be incurred by the school that is offered a study trip to Lapland.