What is the theme for this year's awards program?
The theme of the Young Naturalist Awards is the same every year: "Scientific Discovery Begins with Expeditions!" Students choose a subject in biology, earth science, or astronomy and explore their subject through taking an expedition.

How do I get entry materials?
The entry form and contest guidelines are available on the Young Naturalist Awards Web site: www.amnh.org/youngnaturalistawards

You can also request entry materials from:
Young Naturalist Awards Administrator
NCSLET
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West @79th Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 533-0222
yna@amnh.org

If I was a past semi-finalist, finalist, or winner, can I enter again?
Yes. As long as you are in grades 7-12, we encourage you to enter each year.

Can more than one student from a class enter?
Yes.

Are collaborative entries (from 2 people to a whole class) allowed?
No, group projects are not eligible. Essays should be done individually by students and submitted as individual entries.

What will the judges look for in my entry? (Do I have to have visuals or can I just write a paper?)
Your work will be judged against others in your grade. A panel of distinguished Museum scientists, science writers, and science educators will select the 12 award recipients. Judges will look for evidence of observation, research, analysis, and interpretation in your writing and visuals. They will also look for accuracy in addressing the questions, clarity, and the presence of a personal voice. Preference will be shown to those entries that include original artwork and photography.

What do you mean by "take an expedition"?
When American Museum of Natural History scientists go on expeditions, they have a research question in mind as they explore, collect new data, and document their findings in a field journal.

For the Young Naturalist Awards projects, your expedition can be far away or close to home. Your expedition can be a class trip, a family vacation, visits to your local park, a backyard, or a building rooftop. As long as you engage in exploration, observation and data collection, you are on a scientific expedition.

How do I take an expedition to study astronomy?
Although you cannot take an expedition into space, you can conduct astronomy fieldwork by observing the night sky with a telescope, or binoculars, or at a local observatory. You can record data at varying intervals of time, such as at different times of the day or at the same time over the course of days or months. We encourage you to use your imagination for taking an expedition to study astronomy.

What's the difference between the project with the field journal and the narrative essay project?
Both projects are based on taking a scientific expedition that will provide new data, questions, specimens, or observations on your project.

In the narrative essay, you are asked to write a non-fiction story of your expedition. The narrative essay is your personal account of your goals, findings and conclusions. Although you are encouraged to keep a field journal during your expedition, your essay does not need to contain field notes.

The essay with a focus on field journal entries requires that you include parts of your field journal in the essay. This project is also an account of your expedition field experience, however, you should include excerpts from your field journal, including data collection, field sketches, questions, and observations.

For helpful information on field journals, visit:
How To Keep A Field Journal

How will I know if I am an awardee?
The 12 winners will be notified in March 2002. Finalists and semi-finalists will be notified in May 2002 by mail. Due to the large number of entries, only students who receive an award will be notified. Work will not be returned.