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NationalGeographic.com Press Releases: Kids

Updated: 24 Feb 20:21

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CALLS ON KIDS TO DESIGN OCEAN FLAG

24 Feb 12:21

NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2009)National Geographic Kids and the National Geographic Society invite kids to create a flag to fly on a National Geographic research ship during the Ocean Now expedition in 2010. The Ocean Flag Contest aims to engage children in ocean exploration and conservation.

The online contest at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Ocean-flag-contest is open to kids ages 8 to 14 and will be judged by renowned ocean researchers Robert Ballard, Sylvia Earle, Enric Sala, David de Rothschild and Nancy Knowlton. The judges will pick the top 10 designs, and kids will then vote online for the winning design. The winning flag will be hoisted above the National Geographic Ocean Now expedition ship in 2010. The winner will receive a patch bearing his/her flag design, as well as select National Geographic books and DVDs. The contest runs until Feb. 20, 2010, and the winner will be announced online in April 2010.

"As we continue our expeditions in 2010, we hope to engage children in the dialogue about conservation and inspire them to enjoy and care for the ocean," said Sala. "We need everyone's help, but children are especially important. The future of the ocean depends on their involvement now and throughout their lives."

For design inspiration, the National Geographic Kids Web site features amazing articles, photos and videos of the world under the sea, including a Q&A with Sala, a shark quiz and fun facts about leatherback turtles, jellyfish, coral reefs and underwater exploration.

The National Geographic's Ocean Now expeditions are an exploration, research and conservation project to find, survey and help protect the last healthy, undisturbed places in the ocean. By studying how marine ecosystems work without human interference, we can learn how to help healthy reefs thrive, help unhealthy reefs recover and better preserve the ocean, which covers more than two-thirds of our planet.

The Ocean Now team is working with local marine scientists and conservation organizations to document these aquatic ecosystems. The data, they hope, will help establish new scientific baselines for intact and critically important environments. Information about recent expeditions can be found at http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/content/about-the-expedition/.

To enter the Ocean Flag Contest, kids must create a design for a flag on plain paper not exceeding 8 x 11 inches in size. The design must represent ocean exploration and the protection of ocean ecosystems. Entrants also must write an essay, not exceeding 250 words, describing what inspired their design. The contest is open only to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico) who were 8 to14 years of age as of Nov. 1, 2009.
Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 20, 2010. Complete rules and details are online at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Ocean-flag-contest.

Kids.nationalgeographic.com, the Web site of National Geographic Kids magazine, is the online destination for all the quality kids content produced by National Geographic and is tied to the mission of inspiring kids to care about the planet and the people, places and animals on it. From a brand trusted by both parents and educators, kids.nationalgeographic.com and its companion Web site for younger kids, littlekids.nationalgeographic.com, feature high-quality videos, stunning photographs, animal profiles and interactive games.

Nationalgeographic.com is the award-winning Web site of the National Geographic Society and attracts 13 million unique visitors a month. Nationalgeographic.com combines National Geographic's video, photography and maps with in-depth information and interactive features about animals, science, nature, the environment, destinations and cultures. Nationalgeographic.com's news service, National Geographic News, publishes daily stories about science and discoveries around the globe.

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDENT EXPEDITIONS INTRODUCES WASHINGTON, D.C., STUDENT SUMMIT

24 Feb 12:21

WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2009)National Geographic Student Expeditions is introducing National Geographic Student Summit, a series of weeklong programs in Washington, D.C., for middle and high school students and their teachers.

The Student Summit incorporates hands-on activities and dynamic educational content to help students better understand the world around them through inquiry, engagement and reporting skills that have guided National Geographic explorers, photographers, writers and scientists over the years. Activities during the summit are organized into daily themes such as storytelling, conservation, geoliteracy, cultural heritage, exploration and stewardship. While activities are designed for all student groups, teachers may customize the program to meet the needs of their curriculum by choosing one of three areas of focus: science, social studies or journalism. The first Student Summit programs will take place from March through June 2010.

To make these programs possible, National Geographic has partnered with Putney Student Travel, a highly regarded organization that has offered quality educational travel experiences for high school students for more than 50 years.

"The National Geographic Student Summit is a unique, dynamic way to experience our nation's capital, while learning lifelong skills," said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic's senior vice president, travel and business development. "We're delighted to engage students from around the country in a program that exemplifies the spirit of exploration and discovery that has inspired National Geographic for more than a century."

During the Summit, students will step behind the scenes at National Geographic's headquarters and meet with editors, researchers, cartographers and explorers. They will explore Washington, D.C.'s many museums and monuments, as well as the centers of government, science centers, nonprofit foundations, news organizations and performance venues. Each trip also includes a community service component that allows students to put into practice the themes of stewardship and conservation that are central to National Geographic's mission. A sample itinerary can be viewed on the Student Summit Web site at www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

In addition to the participation of National Geographic experts, highly trained expedition leaders will guide each field expedition and support every aspect of the experience from providing stimulating on-site lessons and activities to managing logistics.

The Summits are only offered to school groups. Each of the weeklong programs begins on Sunday and ends the following Saturday. Teachers interested in organizing a student group to participate in spring 2010 should submit an application online at www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

For more information on the National Geographic Student Summit, or to receive additional materials, call (877) 877-8759, email dcsummit@ngstudentexpeditions.com or visit www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

In addition to the D.C. Student Summit, National Geographic's other travel programs include National Geographic Expeditions, National Geographic Student Expeditions and National Geographic Private Journeys, with expeditions to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. These trips are accompanied by top National Geographic experts whose insider perspectives enrich each travel experience. All proceeds from National Geographic's travel programs support the Society's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography, education and research. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

Young talent recognized in global photography competition

24 Feb 12:21

Airbus rewards young talent with the announcement of the winners of its international biodiversity photography competition, "See the Bigger Picture." Eight youngsters were chosen from 2,597 entries from 99 countries and took inspiration from surrounding nature for their unique shots.

The international competition, launched in July through a partnership between Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), part of the United Nations Environment Program, encouraged young people to engage in nature and consider the global loss of biodiversity. The competition was developed as part of Airbus' support for The Green Wave, a youth engagement program of the CBD to encourage young people to learn about the complexity of life on earth and its role in their future.

The winning images were captured by budding photographers from countries as widespread as Canada, Pakistan, Kenya and Estonia, and though divided by geography, all entrants showed a common love of photography, a passion for their natural environment and concern for their futures. Children of Airbus employees were also encouraged to enter and three internal prize winners were selected alongside the five global winners. A further 20 young people were awarded honorable mentions for their entries.

The eight talented winners will receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Washington, D.C., headquarters of National Geographic in December. The winners are Anthony Avellano, 12, from La Crescenta, California., USA; Chad Nelson, 12, from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic; Alex Marttunen, 11, from Vantaa, Finland; Clemence Bonnefous, 8, from Tournefeuille, France; Vinzent Raintung, 8, from Halstenbek, Germany; Julia Kresse, 15, from Jork, Germany; Patryk Majchrzak, 16, from Ostrow Wielkopolski, Poland; Prerona Kundu, 11, from Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

Commenting on the competition, Tom Enders, CEO and president, Airbus, said: "The standard of entries from every corner of the world has been extremely impressive and a great reminder of the variety of living species we have around us. At Airbus, we are working with the CBD and using our global outreach to raise awareness of the need to preserve the variety of life on earth. Acknowledging our responsibility for the world of tomorrow, we are relentlessly pursuing eco-efficiency through innovative technologies, processes and products."

Executive Secretary of the CBD, Ahmed Djoghlaf, said: "We are delighted Airbus and National Geographic are working with us to inspire the next generation about the importance of protecting the rich biodiversity of the world we live in. This competition is helping to deliver that commitment, engaging and educating today's children in the task of safeguarding the planet."

The world is losing biodiversity at an ever-increasing rate as a result of human activity. "This is a global problem that needs to be addressed today if we want to retain the diversity of the natural world for the generations of tomorrow. It is about the food that we eat and the air that we breathe," said See The Bigger Picture ambassador and world-renowned National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore.
Sartore was a member of a global panel of judges who were impressed by the range of subjects that engaged the entrants. Photographs featuring insects, animals, plants and landscapes were submitted by photographers as young as 6 years old.

To view the winning entries and learn more about how to get involved in The Green Wave, visit www.seethebiggerpicture.org. A gallery of the winning photographs can also be viewed at the ftp site http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/see_bigger_picture.

username: press | password: press

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Notes to editors

"See The Bigger Picture" honorable mentions:
Afton Carpenter, 14, Gilbert, Arizona, USA
Julian Kiesel, 12, Nyack, New York, USA
Samantha Shapiro, 14, Chappaqua, New York, USA
Alex Sorensen, 14, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Joshua Hartmann, 12, S. Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Chaitra Godbole, 14, Pune, India
Arjun Shankar, 16, Chennai, India
Sachin Vijayan, 13, Thodupuzha, India
Vince Ellison B. Leyeza, 11, Laguna, Philippines
Eleanor Bennett, 13, Stockport, United Kingdom
Malik Babi, 6, Beauzelle, France
Lnag Allain-Le Drogo, 12, Saint Luce Sur Loire, France
Richard Guerre, 9, Blagnac, France
Zoe Hamelin, 16, Paris, France
Diego Adrados, 13, Tarifa, Spain
Sara Cuenca Uac, 13, Alicante, Spain
Maril Moreno Ruz, 15, Cdiz, Spain
Jonas Harms, 16, Norderstedt, Germany
Marvin Pulter, 14, Germany
Tobias Abrahamsen, 16, Sarpsborg, Norway

Competition statistics:
Total of 2,597 entries from 99 countries. This includes 247 entries from children of Airbus employees in 6 countries.
Over half of the photographs taken were of land-dwelling animals, and the greatest proportion of these were insects.
Some children experimented with underwater shots requiring a high level of skill.
Just over 40% of entrants took photographs at home, showing awareness that biodiversity can be found in our own back yard.

The Green Wave:
The Green Wave is a global biodiversity campaign to educate children and youth about biodiversity.
The CBD is a United Nations treaty promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
2010 is the United Nations' International Year of Biodiversity. On May 22, 2010 (The International Day of Biodiversity), as part of The Green Wave initiative, young people are invited to plant a tree at 10 a.m. to celebrate biodiversity. This will create a wave of tree planting as the activity passes through each time zone across the world.
Photos and stories from the moment can then be uploaded to The Green Wave website to create a virtual wave on the Internet
Visit http://greenwave.cbd.int.

Airbus specific notes:
Airbus believes that growth in air travel is a global need and that the essential social and economic benefits derived from a more connected world can still be unlocked and deliver a greener world, if everybody plays their part
Airbus acknowledges the 2% that aviation contributes to global man-made CO2 emissions, but believes that it also has a responsibility to support others in tackling the remaining 98% of CO2 emissions. Deforestation alone, for example, generates nearly 20% of man-made CO2, so Airbus is working with the CBD, and using its global outreach to raise awareness of the importance of the need to preserve the variety of life on earth
This is why it has committed to support the CBD's The Green Wave initiative

National Geographic Kids November 2009

24 Feb 12:21

Amazing Animal Friends National Geographic Kids proves that any two creatures can be best friends. Six heartwarming stories of companionship, including between a dog and a goat in England, a cat and an orangutan in Florida and a rabbit and a deer in Germany, prove that friendship comes in all shapes and sizes. Page 20.

World's Coolest Skyscraper Humans have built some unbelievable structures, including the pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China and the Roman Coliseum. National Geographic Kids travels to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, where engineers are planning a first-of-its-kind super-structure: the Dynamic Tower, a shape-shifting mega-skyscraper that is in constant motion. Each floor will rotate independently at different speeds, resulting in an amazing building that will always look different. Plus: Learn remarkable facts about six of the world's skyscrapers. Page 14.

Wacky America National Geographic Kids takes a road trip around the United States to see six of the wackiest roadside attractions, from a giant penguin statue in Montana to an entire alley covered in wads of chewed gum in California. Plus: Go online to kids.nationalgeographic.com to see more wacky roadside attractions. Page 24.

Guardians of the Tomb For thousands of years a massive army of mysterious clay soldiers lay hidden underground near Xi'an, China. It is believed that China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, had these life-size terra cotta warriors built to protect him in the afterlife. But you don't have to go to China to see these ancient wonders. A new National Geographic Museum exhibit, "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," will display a collection of the figures in Washington, D.C., from Nov. 19, 2009, to March 31, 2010. Page 26.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" National Geographic Kids goes behind the scenes of the new movie "Fantastic Mr. Fox," based on the book by Roald Dahl, to find out if the characters in the film act anything like the real animals they depict. Do rabbits really prepare delicious food? Would a fox and rat wrestle in real life? Get the scoop on every character. Page 16.

Rhino Rescue National Geographic Kids heads to Kenya to meet Maalim, a baby rhinoceros abandoned by his mother. Saved by a group of government rangers and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Maalim one day may be released back into the wild. Learn the precautions Maalim's keepers must take in order to not disrupt his natural development and what the keepers must do to ensure Maalim's survival in the wild. Page 28.

National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Its numerous industry awards include Periodical of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.</>

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TO LAUNCH KIDS' MAGAZINE IN INDONESIA

24 Feb 12:21

WASHINGTON (Oct. 22, 2009)--The National Geographic Society will launch the newest edition of its children's magazine in Indonesia, bringing the number of international editions of its National Geographic Kids publication to 18. The November issue will be available beginning Oct. 26, and the official launch event will be held at SeaWorld Indonesia on Nov. 19.

National Geographic Kids Indonesia will be published by PT Penerbitan Sarana Bobo, the children's publishing arm of Kompas-Gramedia Group, the largest media corporation in Indonesia. Each issue will be completely bilingual in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Content for the magazine will be drawn primarily from the award-winning U.S. magazine National Geographic Kids and also will include local Indonesian content related to the environment, animal life and other topics that will excite kids about exploring their world. There will be 12 issues a year, and the magazine will be available by subscription, on newsstands and in Gramedia bookstores throughout Indonesia.

Local editions of National Geographic's children's magazine also are available in Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Latin America, The Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa (two editions), Turkey and the United Kingdom. This growth mirrors the global expansion of the famous yellow-bordered National Geographic magazine, now available in 32 local-language editions and read by more than 35 million people each month. The children's magazines, which accept advertising, also sport the familiar yellow border.

"The growth spurt of our children's publications allows National Geographic and the local-language publishers to reach an untapped youth market with this best-loved brand," said Society President John Fahey. "Giving young people in Indonesia a window to the world in their own language through National Geographic's incomparable photographs and storytelling is a compelling way to spread geographic knowledge and to extend the Society's mission to inspire people to care about the planet."

Founded in 1973, PT Penerbitan Sarana Bobo is the largest publishing company and market leader for children's magazines in Indonesia, with publications for children of all ages from toddlers to secondary school students. With a focus on information, communication and education, the Kompas-Gramedia Group has in the past four decades diversified its media business to include regional newspapers, books, magazines, a television channel, radio, bookstores, hotels, real estate development, travel bureaus and tissue paper production.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

Reuters: Science News

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Updated: 28 Feb 11:51

Shuttle Discovery crew outfits space station

27 Feb 21:59

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Shuttle Discovery astronauts worked alongside the International Space Station crew on Sunday to prepare the orbital outpost for life after the United States retires its three existing spaceships.

Alaska remains are oldest found in Arctic North America

26 Feb 00:25

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - The 11,500-year-old cremated remains of child discovered in Alaska are the oldest human remains found in the far north of North America and the second-youngest Ice Age child ever found on the continent, scientists say.

Samsung to set up biopharmaceutical joint venture

25 Feb 02:26

SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Group, South Korea's largest conglomerate, said on Friday it planned to set up a biopharmaceutical joint venture with initial capital of 300 billion won ($264.4 million).

Ancient megadroughts preview warmer climate: study

25 Feb 00:11

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ancient megadroughts that lasted thousands of years in what is now the American Southwest could offer a preview of a climate changed by modern greenhouse gas emissions, researchers reported on Wednesday.

NOAA scientists cleared in climate email review

24 Feb 22:50

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Thursday cleared scientists of charges that they manipulated data about climate change in e-mails that were stolen from a British university in 2009, triggering a climate scandal.