CONTEST GUIDELINES:
Content:
We are seeking fact-based analysis of an important condition or trend related to the environment and sustainable development (for example, HIV/AIDS, climate change, and tropical deforestation). Entries should discuss issues that have a global or regional (larger than single country) impact. It is strongly advised that contestants familiarize themselves with the feature articles currently on the EarthTrends website. Entries will be judged on quality of writing, depth of analysis, and relevance to the mission of the World Resources Institute.
It is not required that entrants utilize data currently available on EarthTrends (though they may!) when writing their essays. Topics and data can be related to a student's own research, class work, or personal interests as long as they meet the criteria above. We do expect that all entries will incorporate proper in-text citations, as well as include a full list of references; for example, a proper citation of EarthTrends information can be found here. Any data used that is not available on our website or the website of one of our data providers must have a citation that is verifiable, and preferably come from a source that is part of the peer-reviewed or published literature (not websites). Original data produced by the author may be incorporated, but again it is preferable if the author's data has been previously published and is citable.
Formatting:
Submissions should be between 750 and 1,500 words. Chosen topics should be specific enough to be discussed satisfactorily within the space allotted while remaining relevant to global issues and trends. Besides essay text, entries may include 1-4 graphs, charts, maps, or tables (properly cited in the text and referenced, if not produced by the author); these may be included with the text and submitted as a single document, or submitted as separate files.
Entry Deadline and Submission guidelines:
All entries must be received by midnight (12am) local time on April 1, 2006. Please send your submissions to EarthTrends as email attachments in word (.doc), OpenOffice, or .pdf formats to earthtrendscontest@wri.org. The body of the e-mail must include the student's name, major or degree program, title of the article, preferred e-mail address, and contact information for the entrant's academic advisor (to verify enrollment status).
Winners:
Winners will be notified in May, 2006. The selected articles will become the property of the World Resources Institute, which will cooperate with authors towards publication on the EarthTrends website. In addition, $500 and $250 prizes will be given to the first and second/third place entrants, respectively.
Additional guidelines:
Entrants are allowed to submit more than one essay entry.
Entered essays can be co-authored by no more than 2 individuals, provided both authors are verifiable part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate students. Note: If a winning entry contains more than one author, no additional prize money will be awarded.
