In the first year, we received over 2,000 entries from all over the country, including Alaska. The theme of this year's awards was biodiversity, in honor of the opening of the Hall of Biodiversity in May 1998. Students were asked to respond to one of three suggested projects, all which involved observing the world and how it relates to biodiversity. The 1998 Young Naturalist Awards application outlines the projects in more detail.

On May 14, the Museum brought the twelve Young Naturalist Award winners to the Museum receive their awards from President Ellen V. Futter. She presented each of them with a certificate of recognition and a monetary award. In addition, the winners toured the new Hall of Biodiversity and met the scientists and educators who judged their submissions. The winning entries were published in three ways, on the Museum's Web site, in a printed catalogue, and in the June issue of Natural History magazine.

1998 Projects

1. Grab a notebook and pencil and take a walk through a natural area in your community. Find a rock or log and turn it over. What life forms do you see? Look closely and record your observations. In your entry describe the living things you see and what they are doing. Why do you think they live where they do? In nature, everything is connected. How do you think these living things depend on their environment? On each other?

2. Choose a species that most people would say is gross, frightening, or a pest (such as a slug, rattlesnake, or mosquito). The animal can be from any environment, including your own. Research the species. What are its roles in its ecosystem? If you can, observe it. If this species suddenly disappeared, how would its ecosystem be affected? How might humans be affected by the loss of this species?