N-Gen International Sonoran Desert Cartoon Contest

 

As part of the N-Gen Arts and Sciences Initiative we are seeking engaging depictions of life in the Sonoran Desert. From the satirical to the beautiful, connect your passion for the Sonoran Desert to a simple drawing that captures your view.

 What we are looking for:

Cartoons that explore conservation topics and ideas in a comical, original, and/or engaging way. The aim is to get participants to connect their passion for the Desert to a larger audience. Participants will be judged based on the originality of their work and the integration of biocultural concepts, rather than solely on artistic merit. Entries from outside of Mexico and the United States are welcome. The cartoons can be either in English, Spanish, or Spanglish.

 Topics that could be explored:

There are endless possibilities of subjects that you could be creative. Possible departure points are: any of the research disciplines represented by N-Gen members, conservation ecology, archaeological and fossil preservation, cultural traditions, native and local foods, border politics, fieldwork, tourism and ecotourism, mining, preservation and restoration, politics of conservation, development, academic associations.

 Who can participate?

The competition is open to anyone who is interested in and passionate about the Sonoran Desert.

 What do contestants win?

Depending on the amount of submitted materials, we will create a list of short listed finalists from which we will select the winning contestants. Short-listed and winning contestants will have their work published on the N-Gen website, social media, and N-Gen related publications.

1st Prize: Transborder Conservation & Desert Dreams movie      Book 1 Desert Dreams

 

2nd Prize: Dry Borders     Dry Borders

 

3rd Prize: The Southwest Inside Out     SW Inside Out

 

 

How can I submit my work?

♦ All applicants must send their cartoon submission along with the next information clearly typed in the body of their email: Full name, occupation, and place of residence.

♦ Each participant can submit a maximum of two cartoons.

♦ The cartoon can be single, or 2–4 panels (as you would see in the back of a newspaper).

♦ Cartoons may be in black and white or color and may be drawn using any technique.

♦ Cartoons can range from A5 size (5”X8”) sheet of paper to maximum of A4 size (8”x11”) Cartoons larger than an A4 size sheet of paper will be excluded from the competition.

♦ People with little drawing skills can rely on a cartoon generator like toonlet.com as long as the use of software is acknowledged by the author.

♦ Submissions can only be sent by email.

To submitt, please provide a high resolution JPEG of your cartoon. The JPEG will have to be less than 10 MB in order for us to receive it. Please email all submissions to the N-Gen Committee <nextgensd2012@gmail.com> with the subject line: Cartoon Contest

Any submissions which are unethical or disrespectful of anyone or any group of people will not be eligible. Any cartoons which have been plagiarized will also not be eligible.

For full details of the competition and an application form visit: http://nextgensd.com/cartoon-contest

 How will winners be determined?

 A panel of both scientists and artists will review the cartoon submission and assess them based on the following questions:

♦ Does the cartoon depict an aspect of the Sonoran Desert in a novel manner?

♦ Does the cartoon represent a cross border and /or cross discipline perspectve?

♦ Does it make us laugh? Does it make us cry? Does it make us think?

Deadline for submissions: 16 February 2015

Short-listed finalists and winning participants will be announces in our webpage 1 month and a half after the deadline.

We look forward to receiving your cartoons!

 

Tags: conservation, art and science, cartoon, outreach, visual