On June 5th, World Environment Day will be celebrated, this year focusing on the theme Land restoration, desertification & drought resilience. On the other hand, June 17th marks World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. With a view to awakening public opinion and new generations to this issue, this photography competition is organized that aims to translate these concerns, at a regional and global level, involving young people and the community in general. The competition aims to combine the art of photography with environmental concerns, raising awareness among the community, raising awareness of current challenges and contributing to possible solutions in a territory like Alentejo, with a vast area susceptible to desertification.

Participate in the photo exhibition “Restoring the Earth, a step towards resilience to drought and combating desertification: Concerns of a region” submitting a photo related to the theme of the competition by June 3rd. All photographs will be displayed in the online gallery, where information explaining some phenomena related to the theme will also be gradually introduced. The best photographs will be selected by public voting and by the organizing committee, to be part of an in-person photographic exhibition at Universidade de Évora and Instituto Politécnico de Beja.

How to participate:

• Submission and complementar information  here
• Each participant can submit upto 2 photos
• Deadline for participation: June 3, 2024

Important dates:

06/03/2024 – Deadline for uploading photographs (up to 2 per participant)

06/05/2024 – Opening of the online Photographic Exhibition and opening of voting to the community; The best photographs will be selected by public voting and by the organizing committee

06/11/2024 – Deadline to vote for the best photographs

18/06/2024 , 14:30 – Inauguração da Exposição Fotográfica presencial, na Galeria do Edifício dos Serviços Comuns I, Instituto Politécnico de Beja, e atribuição dos certificados de participação e prémios aos participantes.

19/06/2024, 16:00 – Inauguração da Exposição Fotográfica presencial, na Biblioteca do CLAV, Universidade de Évora, com as fotografias selecionadas, e atribuição dos certificados de participação e prémios aos participantes.

Awards:

The first three classified will have the opportunity to follow the journey of an environmental scientist for a day, with the possibility of visiting regional infrastructures (Alqueva hydro-meteorological platform, historic meteorological station, Vale Formoso Soil Erosion Experimental Center).

There will also be certificates and symbolic participation prizes for the selected photographs.

Organization and contacts:

• Sofia Capelo, Departamento de Paisagem, Ambiente e Ordenamento (UÉ) – Main organizer
• Maria João Costa, Departamento de Física (UÉ)
• Pedro Salgueiro, Departamento de Informática (UÉ)
• Daniele Bortoli, Departamento de Física (UÉ)
• Patrícia Palma, Departamento Tecnologias e Ciências Aplicadas (IPBeja)
• Ana Pardal, Departamento Tecnologias Aplicadas (IPBeja)
• Jorge Tavares, Departamento Tecnologias Aplicadas (IPBeja)
• Alexandra Tomaz, Departamento de Biociências (IPBeja)

Integrated into the activities of the SCIGLO project – European Researchers’ Night.

With the support of Núcleo de Alunos de Ecologia e Ambiente