Grade 11 learners are invited to participate in the ‘Welcome to the Blue Planet’ Competition
We would like to invite Grade 11 science learners to participate in the first annual “Welcome to the Blue Planet” competition that will open during our National Marine Week (7-11th October 2022). The competition is in collaboration with South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), National Research Foundation (NRF), Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), University of Cape Town (UCT) and Alpha & Alpharines Foundation (AAF).
The competition aims to create or increase awareness of the ocean (blue planet), its roles, and careers in marine sciences. Furthermore, the learners’ participation in the competition will encourage them to develop research, writing and oral skills.
Competition Details
Eligibility
Alphas and Alpharines Foundation will select schools that participated in the 2022 Career Exhibition to participate in the competition.
Top (3) Grade 11 learners studying sciences stream from each school are invited to individually enter the competition through the help of the assigned Teacher from the School.
The assigned Teachers will also compete. Teachers will be judged by how much they showed support to learners by guiding them and also by how much engagement they showed with AAF throughout the competition.
Entry Requirements
The learners must be in Grade 11
The learners must be in the Top 3 of the class (Grade 11 June results must be submitted to Alphas and Alpharines Foundation)
The leaners must be studying Physical Sciences, Pure Mathematics and Life Sciences subjects.
From each leaner we will require a professional picture of them in school uniform like any of the below images:
For each assigned Teacher, we will also require a picture of them like the above (Teachers do not have to wear school uniform).
Competition Activities
The competition will consist of only one topic, which is “Me and the Ocean”.
Challenge 1
The 12 leaners from the 4 schools will be asked to write an essay about the following topic:
Me and the Ocean – The role of the ocean in the daily lives of the people of Limpopo
Write
After judgement of the essay; 6 learners will be eliminated and 6 leaners will go through to participate in the next challenge of the competition.
Challenge 2
Using this topic: Me and the Ocean – Threats to our oceans and how we can solve them.
Produce a video clip of no more than 1 minute long for online (i.e. Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or broadcast media. The video must be educative to raise awareness about the ocean and provide a solution for the threats.
Two winners will be announced as Winner and Runner up after judgement of this challenge.
NB: More information about each challenge will be sent on the day challenge starts.
Competition Timeline
The competition starts on 18th October 2022.
The schools are requested to send the names and surnames of their 3 learners and 1 teacher, together with their photographs by 14th October 2022. This information can be send to info.aaf@octoberoctopus.co.za or alphasandalpharinesf@gmail.com or WhatsApp it to 069 408 9610
Announcement of winners: 15 November 2022
All challenges can be send to info.aaf@octoberoctopus.co.za or alphasandalpharinesf@gmail.com or WhatsApp it to 069 408 9610 by either the teacher or learner.
Competition Closes: 14 November 2022
Competition Prize & Sponsors
The two learners who win the competition will be sponsored by NRF funding, with an educator as a chaperone to attend the weeklong Marine science camp hosted by SAEON. Learners are hosted for a week of fun, hands-on science, where they conduct their mini-research projects and learn about data gathering, analysis and presentation. The camp will take place during the December holidays after the final exams.
What will be covered through NRF Sponsorship:
- Airport shuttle from Polokwane to OR Tambo international Airport
- Accommodation, transport and Food in Cape Town
- Field trips in Cape Town: the trips include a visit to UCT (here, they will interact with the students, the lab), SAEON, South African Weather Service, SA Agulhas Research Vessel (if available), Cape Point, and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
The top 3 of the competition will be awarded Certificates of participation by Alphas and Alpharines Foundation, together with the assigned teachers from the schools the top 3 represents.
The winning two learners will be featured in an online Article by Alphas and Alpharines Foundation.
The winning Teacher will be featured in Alphas and Alpharines Foundation’s Black Excellence Blog.
All the winners will be given a 10 minutes radio slot to speak about their experience in Cape Town (The Radio Slot belongs to Alphas and Alpharines Foundation provided by Mokopane FM)
Competition Timeline
The Competition will be run on all Social media platforms of Alphas and Alpharines Foundation.
The Competition will also be on our website.
Entries close on: 14th October 2022
Competition Judges
We have 5 judges for this competition, the judges are listed in below
All Rubrics can be send to info.aaf@octoberoctopus.co.za or alphasandalpharinesf@gmail.com or WhatsApp it to 069 408 9610 by either the teacher or learner.
Competition Closes: 14 November 2022
NB: The winners will then be contacted after 15 November on what documents will be required for their travel and accommodation expenses. The trip will be in the first or second week of December and all details will be confirmed with the winners in due time.