2019 Student Challenge National Environment Competition Winners

After much deliberation, the winners are:

1. Chayton Barber (Terra Terror video) First Prize: $2,800 expedition fund

2. Siobhan Kirk (Down the Drain painting) First Runner-up: $1,200 expedition fund

3. Abby Howes (Our Waste; Their Woe story) Second Runner-up: $700 expedition fund

4. Tess Poyner (The Power of Photography photos) 'Notable Mention' Award: $150 cash

All prize winners were sponsored by The George Alexander Foundation. Congratulations to everyone! We look forward to seeing you on one of our expeditions!

Winner highlights:

Terra Terror

Chayton Barber

Why have you chosen your project and why does it matter to you?

I created this film for my year 12 HSC art major, though I did not want its influence to stop there. When Earthwatch sent out information about this competition I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to display it, and in the process raise awareness for the environmental issues that it addresses. The film embodies my passions and subsequent concerns that I have for the planet through visual art, a skill that I hope to use to help raise awareness for, and help act upon the environmental issues of our time. This film, hopefully one of many to come, encompasses my passion for the environment in a manner which has the capacity to influence those that view it, which is why I have chosen to enter this project to the 2018-19 Student Challenge National Environment Competition.

Down the Drain

Siobhan Kirk

Why have you chosen your project and why does it matter to you?

We are all guilty of being consumerists. Our world is consumed by the purchase and discarding of products that are detrimental to the environment. We rarely consider the consequences of buying the ‘quick fix’, the product that will achieve the fastest, yet most harmful results. What travels ‘Down the Drain’? What happens once they infiltrate our ecosystems? The successful retail of these products by manipulative marketers contributes to the cycle of pollution. Green products allow for economic development whilst conserving for future generations, through products that are biodegradable, sustainable, energy efficient, ethical, recyclable and don’t contain toxic chemicals. Within marine environments, affects are acute through the direct impact on water quality and vegetation. Surfactants break down into carcinogenic, non-biodegradable chemicals and are consumed by aquatic species, impairing their reproductive methods. Other affects include eutrophication, biomagnification, land fill contributions and the use of non-renewable resources. Promotion of green products occurs through education, by recognising sustainable alternatives, limiting hazardous chemicals and ensuring organisations follow ethical practices. I chose this project because I possess a strong passion for our environment and conservation, and greatly support the promotion of green products and how they work to improve our ecosystem’s health.

Our Waste; Their Woe

Abby Howes

She soars above the ocean, tilting her wing until it cuts through the glassy surface, spraying water in an arc of sparkling droplets that shimmer like diamonds in the midday sun. The albatross, her broad black wingspan glistening as the water slides down her back, glides to rest on the surface, content from the morning’s fish. Her bold white head with its broad yellow beak gently tucks itself

under one wing.

Kilometres away, a large oil tanker lies upturned, plumes of black smoke billowing from its abandoned furnaces. It glows a bright orange as day turns to dusk, mingling with the hues of the setting sun on the horizon. Within minutes, the oil has spread, a thick black carpet endlessly creeping. The albatross lies unaware, deep in her slumber. Slowly, the seething black sea with its whorls of colours produced from fractured shards of light, encircles her. She sleeps in peace but wakes to a living terror.

The turtle breaches the ocean’s surface, welcoming the liberating oxygen, and swims sedately onwards. In the depths of the sea, far from civilisation, danger lurks ahead. An aged net, frayed from its perilous journey, drifts on the ocean currents. The softened strands have been strengthened overtime by the encrustation of barnacles and slime. The turtle observes its presence with curiosity and without fear. The net drifts closer, swirling enticingly like the sedate motions of an octopus’s tentacles, yet the turtle is aware of no danger until he is engulfed, the openings tightening like a noose around his neck and fins. His breath shortens and he paddles frantically, striving to rise towards the surface. Slowly, the net begins to sink, dragging those ensnared down to the ocean’s bottomless black depths.

The waves lap at the sand banks, a milky white by the light of the moon. The penguin waddles ashore on the deserted island, secure in the knowledge of a safe haven nearby. He advances across the coarse sand, his soft blue down protecting him from the chilly bite of the night air. Small black eyes scrutinise the shore, his small beak making tiny peeps to detect others presence. Unnoticed, a predator dances towards him, carried on the breeze. Spying the piece of coloured plastic that twirls by his feet, the penguin slows, intrigued, then bends down to sample the new morsel. He waddles on, ingesting such curious colourful commodities as he can find. The call of the night birds pierce the veil of darkness, their sinister tones foretelling peril. Peacefully unaware, he settles on a grassy knoll to sleep.

One by one, the stars are obscured by tendrils of cloud that render the night blind; blind to suffering. Each majestic creature struggles in vain to escape the ruthless pollution of man. The albatross wakes, limbs heavy in the drag of the oil slick. In vain, she raises her wings, trying to shake free the thick mass that inhibits her. The poisonous substance sears her skin, seeping through her layered feathers, and she cries out in pain. But it will not yield. In the sky above, she can hear the calls of her companions, endlessly circling, helpless to aid her in her torment. She stretches her neck skywards, searching desperately for a final glimpse of freedom before the seething black mass embraces her.

Down below, the turtle struggles futilely in the tangled grasp of the net. Deep lines scour his shell. The sea around him is swamped in a haze of red as blood oozes from small wounds in his delicate underbelly, torn by the encrusted barnacles; fingers of red mist that drift on invisible currents. His movements become sluggish as he is overcome by fear and agony. The fight is almost over. Gradually, all resistance dies and the ocean floor rises to greet him.

On the grassy knoll, the penguin is roused from his sleep in desperation. His breath is shortening as his intestines begin to decay, the pieces of plastic slowly forming a deadly obstruction. He feels as though a snake coils relentlessly around his middle and an iron fist clutches his throat. It will be several hours before he can escape the gnawing pain.

When the sun heralds a new day, the world has been robbed of three beautiful creatures; three out of the 100,000 sea mammals and over 1 million sea birds that die in pain and suffering every year as a result of marine pollution.*

*Fact cited from “11 Facts About Pollution”

https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-pollution

Why have you chosen your project and why does it matter to you?

Oil and plastic pollution have always been very big issues but I have become more aware of them since my year of sailing through the Pacific Islands with my family in 2017.There, I experienced many isolated islands, their shorelines covered in plastic debris. As a result of this experience, I have developed a passion for the welfare of animals and the environment, pollution playing a very big part in the destruction of this. So I have decided to combine my interest in such things with my love of writing, particularly descriptive short stories, to portray the devastating effects plastic and oil pollution can have on the environment, specifically, marine animals in their natural habitat.

The Power of Photography

Tess Poyner

Why have you chosen your project and why does it matter to you?

There’s no denying our earth is facing numerous changes at an alarming rate. Environmental problems like global warming, habitat destruction, water pollution and more affect every human and animal on this planet. I hope part of the solution to these issues, and others, can be photographs. I believe that education involves exposing people to the underlying problems, and images are key to this. Photography allows you to share events people might not normally see. Images have the power to tell a story, where emotions are felt and a connection is made. When people care, they get involved. In today’s society, we have so many opportunities to display photos and messages to educate people. We have more media platforms and technologies than ever before and can shine a spotlight on the issues we’re facing. Education is the key to conservation. My biggest passion is to spread awareness about protecting wildlife and our planet's natural beauty. I hope to inspire people all over the world to make a difference through education, science, conservation and photography. We can all do our part and by doing so, we can guarantee a brighter future for both animals and people.