IGES Announces 2007 Thacher Scholars Award

Entries Must Be Postmarked by April 2, 2007

Arlington, Va.—In an effort to engage the next generation of scientists in the use of geospatial technology to study the environment, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is now accepting entries for the 2007 Thacher Scholars Award, to be given to secondary school students designing and conducting the best projects using satellite observations of the Earth, also known as remote sensing.

The Thacher Scholars Award, previously known as the Thacher Scholarship, was founded in honor of former IGES board member Peter S. Thacher, an internationally recognized leader in promoting the use of satellite remote sensing. During a distinguished career, he served as deputy director of the United Nations Environment Program, as an advisor to NASA and, at the time of his death in 1999, as president of the Earth Council Foundation-U.S.

U.S. students in grades 9-12, including U.S. citizens attending schools in foreign countries, are eligible to receive cash awards in the amount of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place. For each winning student, a teacher or designated adult “coach” will receive a $200 gift card to Amazon.com.

Entries must be postmarked by April 2, 2007, and will be judged by IGES staff based on their scientific and technical accuracy; creativity and originality; quality of presentation; thoroughness of research, methods and procedures; and demonstration of knowledge gained. Winners will be announced by May 2, 2007.

Satellite observations of the Earth have numerous uses in science research, ranging from climate prediction to archaeology. They can improve human understanding of the Earth system, including interactions among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere. And they can improve quality of life by supporting weather prediction, natural hazards monitoring, transportation, land-use planning, agriculture, coastal management, public health and emergency response.

For more information on the Thacher Scholars Award, including contest rules and guidelines, please visit http://www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars.

CONTACT

Dan Stillman
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
(703) 312-7138 (Phone)
(703) 312-8657 (FAX)
E-mail: dan_stillman@strategies.org