BioIgnite Chronicles: Student's Journey at UWA's BES
Student Competition
This competition encourages students to consider their experiences, inspirations, and motivations as they reflect on their journey through the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Participants should provide compelling stories demonstrating their development and enthusiasm for biology and the environment.
Eligibility
All undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and completed at least 60 credit hours.
Submission Types
1. Essay of a maximum of 1,500 words following the format below.
Essay Requirements
Cover Page: Include the following
o Student name:
o Student UWA ID:
o Major:
o UWA email:
o Personal email:
o Phone number:
Essay: The essay should be written in English, typed, and double-spaced. The following are the suggested structure of the essay:
o Who you are? What is your background?
o How has your journey in the department been?
o What inspired you to pursue a biology major? Include specific events, people, or experiences that sparked your interest.
o What motivates you to continue studying biology and environmental sciences? Highlight challenges and how you overcame them.
o What significant experiences have you had at BES? Include coursework, research projects, internships, or extracurricular activities.
o How have these experiences contributed to your personal and academic development?
o Summarize the key points of your journey.
o Discuss your future aspirations and how your experiences at BES have prepared you for these goals.
Word Limit: 1,000 - 1,500 words
File Format: Word document
Submission Method: Email your entry to bes@uwa.edu by October 15, 2024.
Winners Announcement: XX
Essay Judging Criteria
Originality: The essay should be unique and reflect the student's journey.
Relevance: The content should be relevant to the competition's theme.
Clarity and Coherence: The essay should be well-organized, with a clear flow of ideas.
Language and Grammar: Proper language, grammar, and punctuation use.
Engagement: The narrative should be engaging and interest the reader.
2. A video expresses students’ school experiences that may include favorite classes, memorable moments, or unique aspects of UWA life.
Video Requirements
Theme: The video should focus on the student's experiences at BES, highlighting aspects such as favorite classes, extracurricular activities, or memorable events.
Length: Videos should be 3 minutes maximum long.
Format: Acceptable formats include MP4, MOV, or AVI.
Content: Videos should be appropriate for all audiences and adhere to school guidelines.
Video Judging Criteria
Relevance to Theme: How well does the video capture the student's UWA/BES experience?
Creativity and Originality: Is the video creative and unique?
Technical Quality: Consider the clarity of audio and video and editing skills.
Emotional Impact: Does the video effectively convey emotions or messages?
All submissions will be judged based on those criteria by at least three external judges (not affiliated with BES).
Awards
All individuals submitting an essay will receive DES swag. Monetary awards will be given to the top three submissions.
First Place: $100 and a certificate
Second Place: $75 and a certificate
Third Place: $50 and a certificate
Contact Information
For any questions regarding the competition, please contact Dr. Mustafa Morsy at mmorsy@uwa.edu or 205-652-5541.