Plant Biology Video Contest Begins

A competition for new YouTube videos that illustrate the remarkable aspects of plant life is being held this winter with up to $8,000 available to winners. The deadline for submitting a video is 1 March 2009, and winners will be announced on 31 March 2009. The competition, which is open to everyone, is organized by ChloroFilms, a nonprofit organization directed by Penn State Professor of Biology Daniel Cosgrove. Additional support for the video contest comes from the American Society of Plant Biologists, the Botanical Society of America, and the Canadian Botanical Association.

The goal of the video competition is to encourage a greater appreciation and understanding of plant life through the production of informative, creative, and entertaining videos. The best of the submitted videos will be posted on an easy-to-find Web site (http://www.chlorofilms.org/), which is intended to serve the general public and educators at all levels.

Video submissions can be made in three different categories: (1) general videos, which are intended for a general audience and do not assume that the viewer has knowledge of technical terms; (2) technical videos, which are intended for a technical audience and assume that the viewer has some technical background; (3) and videos in a series, which are intended for either a general or technical audience and consist of two of more videos that are connected by a common theme.

Entry forms and additional information about the contest are available on the Web athttp://www.chlorofilms.org/.

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CONTACTS:
Daniel Cosgrove: (+1) 814-863-3892, dcosgrove@psu.edu
Barbara Kennedy (PIO): (+1) 814-863-4682, science@psu.edu