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This year marks the third annual American Museum of Natural History Young Naturalist Awards. The Museum, a leading scientific and educational institution for more than a hundred years, created the program to recognize excellence in biology, Earth science, astronomy, and cultural studies in students from grades 7 to 12. The Young Naturalist Awards is administered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Inc., a nonprofit division of Scholastic that has been running their successful Art and Writing Awards since 1923.
We received nearly 1,000 entries from all over the country. The theme of this year's awards was Looking Back, Looking Ahead, an idea inspired by the turn of the century. Students were asked to choose a project in the category of Research, Exhibitions, or Expeditions. Students selected one of three projects listed below and were encouraged to include original artwork that supported their writing.
On May 12, the Museum brought the twelve Young Naturalist Award winners to the Museum to receive their awards from President Ellen V. Futter. She presented each of them with a certificate of recognition. The winners also received a cash prize. In addition, the winners met with scientists on the Museum's research staff who had judged their entries, and were guided on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum. The winning entries were published in three ways: on the Museum's Web site, in a printed catalog, and in the July issue of Natural History magazine.
Young Naturalist Projects 2000
LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD
The 20th Century has been a period of amazing scientific advancement,
filled with new discoveries, new ideas, and most importantly, new questions. As we approach the turn of the century, we can look back to try to understand who we are, where
we come from, where we fit in, and where we might be headed. Select one project below. |
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Over the last 100 years, our understanding of the world has evolved tremendously. At the beginning of
the century, the structure of DNA had yet to be unraveled, the idea of plate tectonics had not been developed, and we thought that the Milky Way galaxy was the
entire universe. At the end of the century, we understand that DNA is the master blueprint of all living things, that plate tectonics is a major force
that shapes Earth's surface, and that the universe stretches far beyond our galaxy.
Choose a scientific topic or question in biology, Earth science, or astronomy and look at what we knew in 1900,
what we know in 2000, and what we might know in 2100. What fascinates you about this question and why do you think it's significant? Include timelines,
maps, photographs, illustrations, and other visuals to support your writing.
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The American Museum of Natural History has three new permanent Exhibition Halls about major issues
and discoveries in biology, Earth science, and astronomy. The Hall of Biodiversity explores biodiversity, the variety and interrelatedness of all living things, and the threats to it. The Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth focuses on the dynamic processes that shape our planet. The Cullman Hall of the Universe focuses
on the origin of our universe and the planets, stars, and galaxies within it.
Design your own exhibition. Choose a scientific discovery to explore
in biology, Earth science, or astronomy as the topic for your exhibition. Why is this discovery significant? What impact do you think it might have
on science in the 21st century?
Write a description of what a visitor would see and do at your exhibition. How are the themes organized? What displays, specimens, or models would
you show? Include illustrations, photographs, floor plans, or captions that help explain your design. Please do not send three-dimensional
models of your exhibition.
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Every summer, Museum scientists travel across the planet to places as far away as the Gobi Desert in Mongolia
and as close as Central Park in New York City. Focused on a research question, scientists observe, collect, explore, and then document what they find in a field
journal. The field journal becomes a record of the expedition that they can return to again and again long after the expedition is over.
Go on an expedition. Choose a scientific question to explore in biology, Earth science,
or astronomy. Your expedition should provide new data, questions, specimens, or observations that relate to your question. Your expedition might be to your own
backyard or it might be to a faraway place via the Internet. If you choose to go on an expedition to someplace close, explore it over an extended period of time
to see how it changes.
Write a description of your expedition -- what you were looking for and what you found. Include field journal notes, illustrations, maps, or photographs from your
expedition. How do you think your expedition or site might change in the next century?
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