Prize winners to follow in the footsteps of polar researchers and Linnaeus
Three secondary college preparatory students, from Lidköping and Vara, are the first-place winners and will receive their awards from the King's own hand today at a ceremony at the Ice Arena in Jukkasjärvi. The competition was arranged as a cooperative effort by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, Linnaeus2007 and the National Resource Centre for Chemistry Teachers. The first-place winners will travel onboard the icebreaker Oden for part of an Arctic voyage in the summer of 2008. During the trip, they will experience on location how a polar research expedition prepares itself, conducts experiments and collects samples during the trip. Upper secondary college preparatory students competed based on the ideas expressed in their essays, with an emphasis on environmental chemistry.
The following essays took first prize:
"The poles make a difference" by Julia Främberg, class NV3B at De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidköping. Grounds: The essay provides an excellent problem formulation, and demonstrates a sound knowledge of the subject and an awareness of climate-related atmospheric problems.
and
"Are animals affected by the oestrogen in the water?" by Helena Maltinger and Kate Nyman, class NV3 at Lagmansgymnasiet, Vara. Grounds: The essay exhibits a scientific approach, demonstrates awareness of a current problem, and comprehensively covers the subject from the standpoint of environmental and waste chemistry, developmental biology and the environmental aspects.
The following essays took second place:
"A Biogas Plant" by Erika Porath and Emilia Sandberg, class N3A at Lillerudsgymnasiet, Vålberg. And
"Global forest" by Anders Andersson, Perstorp gymnasium, Perstorp.
The second-place winners will meet with environmental and polar researchers on December 17th and conduct laboratory experiments during a visit to Stockholm University and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.
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2007 marks the tercentenary of the birth of Sweden's foremost man of science, Carl Linnaeus. It is also the International Polar Year (IPY), one in which special attention will be focused on the polar regions. Promoting interest in the natural sciences among young people is one of the main goals of both the Linnaeus Anniversary and IPY.
To find out more, go to:
www.polar.se, www.linne2007.se, www.krc.su.se
Additional information about the polar trip is available from: Eva Grönlund, Information Officer, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, tel. 08-673 97 30, 070-344 92 51, e-mail eva@polar.se
