Primary and secondary school children are challenged to combine their artistic and computer talents to prepare attractive and informative electronic contributions in the form of projects on topics related to the sea.

The competition is open to individuals or teams of Maltese children and youngsters in two separate age groups: (Age 5-10) and (Age 11-16). The selected original works and projects from young authors will participate in an international competition, and be shared with other kids in Malta and worldwide through the publishing on the IOI-KIDS website dedicated pages.

The submitted works are expected to consist of an instructive project prepared as an electronic file that can take the shape of several forms and have the following attributes:

• a write-up in the form of a lesson, an essay, poem or story, a web page, a database or collection that can be shared online, a set of notes on a selected topic, a PowerPoint presentation;

• focus on a theme that relates to the sea and/or the coast; and

• complemented with images (in the form of photos or drawings) and/or audio or video clips.

TOPICS

The accepted works can cover any topic related to the sea and the coast, and can take the shape of: interesting articles, compilations, events or notes; interesting and/or unusual incidents; recent scientific or other discoveries; conservation issues; species of plants or animals; ecosystems or places of interest; people whose work is connected to the sea, and many other imaginative contributions. Works dealing with the endeavours of the UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission are highly recommended.

Submissions Projects should be submitted electronically as Word documents, PowerPoint presentations or other easily supported format. Web pages must be in HTML. Any accompanying images must be in .jpg format, audio clips in wav/mp3 format, animations and video clips in flv or avi format.

PROJECTS MUST BE THE ORIGINAL WORK OF THE PARTICIPANT MATERIAL FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES MUST BE DULY REFERENCED THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS 31TH JULY 2010.

All works should be addressed to the attention of: Ms. Alicia Said, IOI-Malta Operational Centre, Room 315, Chemistry Building University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080 or emailed to ioi-moc@um.edu.mt

The contact telephone of IOI-MOC is 21 440972

SELECTION

Prizes shall apply for each age group. All entries will be evaluated on the basis of peer review and judged by a Selection Panel. The decisions taken by the Selection Panel will be final.

Winners will be further engaged in the IOI-KIDS Best Project International competition, where the shortlisted works will be judged by on online voting that will allow the direct involvement of children, youngsters and the general public in evaluating the submissions in addition to peer review by a Selection Panel.