ISTA Photography Competition 2024

The ISTA are delighted to announce details of this year’s science photography competition for Irish second-level students, proudly sponsored by Laboratory Apprenticeship IBEC. Students are challenged to submit a photo which captures this year’s theme – Science in Focus along with a short 100 word explaining the photos association with the theme. Full entry requirements, terms and conditions are below.

Theme – Science in Focus

The contribution of scientific investigation to nearly every aspect of our modern lives has been dramatic. From medical discoveries to the communication revolution, the contribution of scientific discovery has influenced nearly every aspect of our daily lives.

In this competition, you are asked to capture, in a photograph, a scene that conveys the idea of  ‘Science In Focus’ in a unique and interesting way. Your entry must include a description (100 words max) of how your image communicates the theme.
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Entry Requirements / Terms and Conditions

(Please Read Fully)

  1. The competition is open to all secondary school students in Ireland (students must submit the name of a science teacher in their school who is a current member of the Irish Science Teachers’ Association (ISTA) when submitting their entry). If the teacher selected is not a current member the entry will be disqualified.
  2. Each student can submit up to two entries. Both entries must be emailed together to istaphotographcompetition@gmail.com before 12pm (noon) on Sunday December 1st, 2024.
  3. A paragraph of up to 100 words must accompany each entry. This paragraph must explain how the entered photograph is in line with this year’s theme Science in Focus. This is an important part of the entry that will be considered by the judges.
  4. Images must be recently taken i.e., since the beginning of the school year in September.
  5. By submitting entries to this competition entrants automatically give their consent to the ISTA to publish prize-winning photographs on the ISTA website, in the ISTA Journal SCIENCE and on social media. All entries can also be displayed at ISTA events.
  6. All entries must be accompanied by the following:
    1. Full name of student
    2. Full name and address of the student’s school
    3. Current year in the school i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, TY, 5th or 6th.
    4. Name of a science teacher in the school (must be an ISTA member)
    5. Paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining how the photo is related to this year’s theme.
    6. All students entering must declare in their email that the photograph was not generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  7. Images should be supplied at as high a quality as possible (for printing up to A3 size if possible), suitable for printing in media and at exhibitions. Images must be supplied in a clean format (e.g., no text, symbols or borders etc). Photos must be in JPEG format. Photos should not be pasted into word documents or inserted into the email as a link. They should be attached to the email.
  8. No photographs generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be accepted.
  9. Basic editing, including colour enhancement, the use of filters, and cropping is acceptable. Advanced editing used to create illusions, deceptions and/or manipulations, and the adding/ removing of significant elements within the frame is prohibited.
  10. The decision of the team of judges is final. No negotiation will be entertained with respect to any such decision.
  11. Entry to the competition will close at 12 pm (noon) on Sunday December 1st, 2024